We received the following press release 4/5/04:
NBC’s hit reality series “The Apprentice”
will feature the broadcast debut of the new theatrical trailer for Columbia Pictures’
Spider-Man®2 during the show’s penultimate season episode on April
8. The Spider-Man® 2 trailer will begin its run in movie theaters on April 9. . .
Spider-Man® 2 reunites the cast and filmmakers from the first adventure, including Tobey
Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Rosemary Harris and J.K. Simmons, under the
leadership of director Sam Raimi and producers Laura Ziskin and Marvel's Avi Arad. . .
Spider-Man® 2 opens nationwide on June 30, 2004.
Spider-Man,
the Movie makes for a good Saturday matinee-- should draw comparisons of predecessors-- in
the super hero genre. Not that kids'll notice. Of course, there's Superman
(1978), and apparently there's a No. 4 in the works. We'll remember Christopher Reeves in very vividly
colored tights, contrasting Clark Kent drab: no other male rivaled Reeves for tight chic--
(we still very much dislike the actor playing Clark prior to the Fortress of Solitude).
Tobey Macguire's Peter Parker is more subtle in characterization; more genuinely portrayed
as someone with low self-confidence. But then he acquires powers much later in life, than
does Clark Kent. And the colors are as much "eye candy" when the morphing
begins, as seen in other recent films --although there are
criticisms of computer generation. Gee, you mean people really can't throw webs and spring
from windows to roofs?
Macguire isn't surrounded by less attractive men; James Franco
(Willem Defoe's son) and other would-be suitors of Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) are appealing
--you don't get the black/white, good/bad obvious "morality". The subtlety is
appreciated. Makers didn't go for camp, which was a drawback in scenes between Peter &
Mary Jane-- their dialogue was just too, too. The story centered on these two characters,
moreso than on Peter's super powers. Peter's motivation was always Mary Jane. Their
conversations just go awry: we suspect writers were going for Shakespeare's
"Globe" but wound up with Johnson & Johnson's "Young & the
Worthless"-- particularly when Peter finally gets around to admitting feelings to
her. The stagey kiss was silly, with him hanging upside down in an alley for a prolonged
tongue-swapping --a prolonged inversion is too distracting for a kiss, with Kirsten was
peeling the mask as a banana, stopping the peel at his lips. While trysts aren't as poetic
as Superman & Lois' (Can you read my mind?) it's still good matinee, and the WWF
sleazy/satire helped. Everyone sat up.
Now let's talk Spider-Man, 'cuz the legendary Stan Lee's
never been a slacker when it comes to flashin' (we're stoked he's an exec-producer for the
upcoming film). We're not fanatics but
we dig him. You can't talk Spidey without mentioning Marvel, and look out for that free desk-top offer, it'll have your
Spider-Sense tingling.
This guy is one web-tacular dude. While shootin' the web
for Spidey, so to speak; you'll find Flash™ and enjoy many of the Spider-Man web
sites --(click Spidey, at right) for a very justifiably fun flashing. Webbies? This is splendiferous
eye-candy. The kids love it!
Yep,
the Webbed-Wonder's been busy these days with the upcoming flick, this self-described
'hype site' tells us. Not 'flashy' but oh so informative fan-sites, include the Amazing Spider-Man Gallery with such detail
it'll bowl true Spider-Man fans over. These guys are serious, and there is no minutia too
small to reveal. On the web, there is no doubting that Peter
Parker and Aunt May have come a long way: you will learn that Spider-Man has been
made, as an action figure more
than any other Marvel hero.
Take it from us-- for cartoons, the fan-sites can't be beat for the latest.
Actually, our hero Spidey's
best (and seriously hype-less) gig we think, was the old 70's PBS/CTW series, The
Electric Company. Who remembers Morgan Freeman (Easy Reader that's my name, uh, uh uh) and Rita Moreno were
regulars playing various roles in the too-brief Spidey episodes? Lay-dees &
Jugglemans, nowhere to be heard in more than 25 years-- (we are proud to feature for your
downloading pleasure) our fave Spider-Man Theme
<==click to hear:
"Spider-Man,
where are you coming from Spider-Man?
Nobody knows who you are".
It's got soul.
© 2004 R K Puma
rk@rkpuma.com
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