Its official folks, Spiderman 3 is smashing records all over the world! According to the Deadline Dailey site:
Spider-Man 3 opened May 1 in 16 countries around the globe and made $29.15 million in the single day. That's more than what the same 16 territories made for Spider-Man 1 ($10.6 mil) and Spider-Man 2 ($15.6 mil) combined! So far SM3 is running +86% over SM2.
Whoa… I guess the rumored 300 million budget for Spiderman 3 is gonna’ get paid off. Sony must be breathing a big sigh of relief. It’s weird though; this film is opening all over the world before it opens in the States. China… China gets Spiderman 3 before the US. Wha…
The film generally has good reviews, but I still wonder why Spidey appeals to an international audience? Granting that Spiderman 3 is well made, why are folks all over the world flocking to see an American icon, especially when opinions of the US are at such a low ebb? I have no idea. I’d like to think "the world" simply appreciates a good, entertaining story regardless of where it came from or maybe it's the modern everyman appeal of Spidey. For me personally, I’ve been a big fan for years, ever since I read his comics as kid, so I have no perspective at all. What do you all think? What is it about old webhead that’s got everybody going to the theaters around the world?
-Swinebread
5 comments:
Peter Parker seems to be the only American that gets the concept of "with great power comes great responsibility." I think the rest of the world watches Spiderman for the singular hope that such a person of understanding could exist in the USA.
(Of course, that is pure horse pucky, they are watching it for the entertainment value and the fact that Spiderman is both "super" and a regular working-class person that we can easily identify with). It sure isn't Kirsten Dunce.
I ditto Snabby, with also a comment that Toby McGuire is hottie, (we are SO tired of the action-movie big bicep guys, aren't we girls!).
I second that. Snab hits it on the head. Spiderman represents the America the world wishes we were.
People overlook the fact that America gives the world more than just the hope of nuclear anihilation or economic bullying. We're one of the biggest exporters of entertainment. Although the monopoly is breaking open a bit, Hollywood is still the place to be if you want to make movies. And living here you see it in the history of the town itself. People point to the schlock that Hollywood produces, but ignore the valid storytelling that exists here and there. In many ways Hollywood is the only part of America still in touch with the American dream, and I think the rest of the world needs to believe that dream more than they need to believe in America. Also, Kirsten Dunst has a nice rack.
Granting that Spiderman 3 is well made, why are folks all over the world flocking to see an American icon, especially when opinions of the US are at such a low ebb?
Probably because the gripe is against the U.S. government rather than the people or the entertainment media. Heck, even in Iran you see guys going to rallies and yelling, "Death to America", and then running over to the American journalist covering it to say hello and ask if she has any CDs or videos to trade.
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