A basic Spider-Man

There were so many hopes with SPIDERMAN 3 that ultimately, even though it made a lot of money, it sort of caved in on itself.

What’s the best way to solve a disaster that consisted of: a dull plot line, too many villains, and actors that seemed more tired than dedicated? If you’re Sam Raimi, you get back to the basics.

To start, Raimi did make a comment about the villains, “I think having so many villains detracted from the experience. I would agree with the criticism.” I think having so many villains in 3, boiled down to expectations and poor planning. Sandman wouldn’t have carried the movie, so Venom is brought in…but wait! How do we resolve the issue with Peter, Harry, and Norman’s death? Hell, let’s do that as well and bring Harry in as the vengeful Goblin with a heart. Obviously, it was just too much.

Raimi says that he learned some new lessons and storytelling tricks from DRAG ME TO HELL, which was a smaller and more intimate production. He had this to say on limitations, “I think I’ve learned about the importance of getting to the point and the importance of having limitations, and I’m hoping to take that into a production where I’m actually allowed to explore with more of the tools to pull it off with a little more splendour.

It’s hard to give up on Raimi. He’s made some really awesome, kick ass films that I can’t possibly imagine ever being without. A good director needs a slip up every once in a while. This separates the good from the bad. You either learn from your mistakes or you continue to make them and eventually just fade away to the $5.00 bin. Raimi sounds like he gets it, “I hope I don’t lose that edge that I’ve just found. That would be my approach to Spider-Man 4: to get back to the basics.”

As long as Tobey Maguire doesn’t do the pseudo-evil emo Peter Parker ever again, I’d say that’s a good step in the right direction.