Supers for the Tree

There wasn't a lot of new christmas ornaments for our tree, but here's two that were hung for the first time this year.

You just gotta love Space Ghost and here he is hanging on the Swinebread family tree.


I bought this dark suit Spidey at an after Christmas sale last year so he's making his first appearance this time around.



I hope your Christmas eve is happy and safe.



-Swinebread

Spiderman 3

Spiderman 3… while entertaining fails to hit the high marks set by the previous Spiderman films. It’s not terrible, like say the Hulk; it’s just simply a lesser movie despite all the bucks that went into making it. Comic fans familiar with Spidey’s long 4 color history might get upset at some the decisions made for this film, while non comic types will probably feel a little strained following the multiple villains and storylines. Basically, It’s a very crowded film. In fact it was almost split into two movies and it shows at times.

Here is what I liked in no particular order (spoilers):

The Acting, still solid despite any problems with the plot

Tobias Maguire is wonderful as Peter Parker… again.

The Harry Osborn storyline is resolved

Sandman is in the film.

Tomas Haden Church as the Sandman

Lots of highflying action.

Peter fights goblin in his street clothes

Really enjoyed the Daily Bugle scenes

Never got bored

That Bruce Campbell cameo rocked!

Peter’s Hilter hair

Here is what I disliked in no particular order (spoilers):

No Alex Ross in the opening credits like Spiderman 2

The black suit didn’t have any powers when Peter wore it like in the comics.

No cool mask for goblin

Captain Stacy doesn’t’ seem very concerned that his daughter is about to fall to her death.

Why is Gwen Stacy in this movie? Oh yeah, in case Kirsten Dunst doesn’t come back for Spiderman 4.

Harry Osborn realizing he needs to help his friends because of something the butler said rather than figuring it out on his own.

Sandman killed Uncle Ben! Wha…

Too much unmasking

Missed Opportunities (spoilers):

Not having John Jameson, J. Jonah Jameson’s astronaut son, bring back the alien symbiote from space. This seemed like a really obvious thing to me.

The black costume/venom thing was too much story and needed its own film.


-Swinebread

Happy Cinco de Mayo, Free Comic Book Day, and Spidey movie opening! Whew, it's gonna be a busy weekend!

The Excitement Explodes for Spidey 3

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

Spidey for Breakfast!

While shopping at grocery store yesterday, I came across the new limited edition Spiderman 3 cereal. It’s got bright red and blue corn nuggets and a ton of sugar. You know a film is on to blockbuster status when it is part of nutritious breakfast (ah ha ha ha). So I thought, hey why not indulge with an impulse buy, since it was on sale and I’ve never bought a promotional cereal. But you know what, after doing a little research online, I’ve discovered that there is a collectors market for this kind of stuff. Wha… Now if I just save this box of Spidey cereal for 20 years, I’ll be able to pay for that island I’ve always wanted. Check out the cereal collector guy from this article

During my research I came across 2 other fascinating sites. So, check out this guy’s collection of superhero food here and this interesting blog of food and grocery reviews here.

-Swinebread

Spiderman 3... World Premiere In Japan...

Japan gets Spiderman before the states?! See here Well, I guess Sony Pictures IS fitting the bill. Plus, the Spiderman franchise's second biggest market is Japan, so why not. I have this feeling that Spiderman’s struggle resonates with Japanese folks, you know, the whole: noble hero that does the right thing but is unknown. I never really thought about it before, but that whole quiet nobility of Spiderman is kinda in the Japanese mindset.



You might think that Spiderman is a new thing with the movies, right? Well not exactly. Spiderman was licensed for a Japanese TV show back in the 1970s. He had a giant robot and fought space monsters in prototypical tokusatsu fashion. Japanese folks for the most part thought Spiderman was basically a corny Japanese TV show character, and couldn’t understand why the US would make a version of him.
Here a clip of the opening:


When they saw the original American Spiderman though, they were quite simply, blown away. Spiderman became a huge hit in Japan. Even my SO was surprised at how good the first film was and she finally understood why I like this superhero stuff so much. So, the deep recesses of the Japanese mindset was primed for Spiderman and they now get the world premiere for Spiderman 3. Spidey’s turning Japanese… ah.. ...but he already was since 1978!



-Swinebread

Still Excited for Spiderman 3

Despite how stupid the Spiderman’s comics have become, see Tom Foss’ blog The Fortress of soliloquy for details, I’m really getting amped for the new Spiderman movie. You see, the whole black costume Spiderman storyline came out when I was in junior high, and I just loved it (yes I still have the comics). Fans were angry that they changed his costume but once they read the actual comic book issues, they enjoyed it and wanted more. The black costume has a pretty convoluted origin (think Secret Wars) that’s been simplified for the film. It looks like they may have barrowed the explanation created by the 1990s Spiderman Cartoon. I was kinda surprised that Sony chose to do this story, as there are tons of other villains and stories that came before but hey I’m not complaining. Maybe in these screwed up times exploring the dark side of our heroes is exactly what we need. You see, what we’ve got with the 3rd movie is the 80’s Spiderman. It’s a little darker and a little more psychosocial but still wild and wahoo.

I’m a little worried about the fact that 3 villains are supposed be in it, because I don’t want Spidey to go the route of the Batman movies. Spiderman 3 will have: Sandman (a personal favorite), Osborn (goblin), and Venom. But, I do have faith that the director Sam Raimi, will put together a good film. In fact some of the stuff I disliked about Venom from the comics will be modified:

Venom didn't have the well-developed conscience and history of such earlier Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Marvel villains as Sandman, Doc Ock and Green Goblin. So the filmmakers reimagined Eddie Brock as a younger, slicker, emotionally torn menace with a taste for white-collar crime.

(from the LA Times see here)


After seeing the initial trailer I have been staying away from most info about the film. I mean, I learned way more than I wanted to already. I know a lot about Spiderman so one image could give me a lot of details and spoil it for me. It would be nice if there were some surprises right? Like everybody else, I’ll provide a review after it comes out and see if the rumored $250 million spent on Spiderman 3 was worth it.

Also, don’t forget Free Comic Book Day on May 5th, that’s part of the festivities.

-Swinebread