Spiderman Review

First off, I watched this show because of the Xena connection. No denying there! A xenite here Directed by Sam Raimi and scattered with cameos from cast who were in the show, I had wanted to do 'Spot the Xena Cast' game in the cinema and I did exactly that. Spotted Lucy Lawless, Bruce Campbell and Ted Raimi. Thought I saw a lady who played one of the Chinese girls in the show (no, not Lao Ma) but I could be wrong. I had wanted to see if Sam Raimi could actually bring to the big screen the huge success that he brought to Xena and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Not too much at least. It's not the kind of 'I'm gonna make history.' kind of film but it's OK nonetheless. With a few flaws of course, as all films make.. and cliches (and those I have a HUGE problem with)

The pace of the film is fast enough not to make me shift in my seat so that's good. Superhero action interspersed with humour and some alternative or 'subtext' romance (it is to pretty maintext and blatant to me) made the show interesting for me. I have to say though that at some points of the show, I found the special effects fake. Well, they ARE fake CGI and whathaveyou but hey, I like to be deceived, especially when I'm paying $8.50 to see it.

An example would be the part when Spidey was flying through the air with his damsel in distress - Maryjane? - and the scene showed him flying across the screen, showing the back of his head. I could have sworn that that was more like a piece of cardboard moving across the screen with MJ's face imposed on it.

Another example of it would be the part when Spidey's fighting Beatleface (who's the villian?) on Golden Mile bridge in SF (hint any of subtext?) and he's landing on top of a vehicle. That's obviously effects generated and darn it the pose is ALL WRONG. It doesn't make me feel like he's all super hero and all. It only made me feel that he's super effects generated.

Ok, I'm nitpicking here but well, here's some little grouses I have with the show.

On to the more important issues here. On a feminist level here, I hated this show. The portrayal of hepless women in the show makes me wanna puke. Sure, it's got history behind it but darn it if MJ isn't a damsel in distress! I know I know, she IS supposed to be a damsel in distress but I just hate it when women are portrayed as being needed to be rescued by some superego guy who's too cowardly to admit that he's gay and so had to pretend that he's actually secretly admiring MJ so that he could persuade the whole world that he's straight. Ok, that's off point but that doesn't draw away from the issue that HE is always there to save HER. Doesn't she have any backbone and brains AT ALL?! Just what we need in today's society. Some self important man rescuing the 'in distress girl' seems to be the running theme in films these days. Thing is women do NOT need to be rescued, thank you very much. You can go rescue a man. It'll boost your ego a LOT more, trust me.

Frankly, coming from a person who has some background in Xena, a feminist show which empowers women, this is really kind of disappointing. Then again, knowing how they ended the show over at Xena - beheading our dear butch and stuffing her in a pot to be carried around by a now widowed Gabrielle who has to take good care not to scatter the pot so that she can talk to her soulmate's apparition - I guess they never really understood the issues a simple TV show stood for. I wondered why I watch films/TV shows anymore - perhaps it's to mock and get angry at the bastard ways we are conducting our world today.

Anyway, back to Spiderman. Feminist issues aside, I now move into subtext. I love subtext did I mention that? My friends who watched the show with me said I was being silly when I mentioned that Spidey's gay and he's together with Harry. Silly any? Then again, I've always been looney so heck! :P Sides, subtext won't be subtext if it's obvious now would it? Where's the fun in that?

Now which filthy rich guy would need to share his quarters with another guy? Harry's dad's rich enough to buy his own hall! Not to mention that MJ herself got the vibe, asking Spideyguy about 'the guy he sleeps with'. Note the guilty and in denial look on Spideyguy's face when he thought he and his guypal had been caught.

The most obvious part was the ending scene when MJ professed her love for Spideyguy (yeah yeah, women needs to be loved by her man to be happy ) and he actually hesitated! Ok, considering that there's lots of guy gets the girls ending, this is one part of the show which I actually liked. They guy DIDNT get the girl, which busts the whole cliched ending (YEAH!) but in my subtext mind, it means more than that. It means that he has chosen Harry over MJ! (YEAH! - busting of another cliche - the man wants the man! as to whether he gets him, that's for the next installment though I suspect it's gonna be major angst time what with need for revenge and Beatlebug Evil Villain 2 - unrequited and unfated love :( anyway, that's for next installment :P)

In fact, before Spideyguy rejects MJ with, "Actually..." I actually burst out laughing (my friend told me I completely spoilt the ending for her - well, sorry but not remourseful! :P)

Why?

I completed the sentence in my mind: "Actually, I'm in love with Harry." with all the dramatic drums and falling of petals.

I guess my mind was in a state of flux what with me expecting a cliched ending and was trying to brainwash my mind into an alternative ending and actually hearing his rejection of MJ. It's confusing and for some reason, I still did not understand why I laughed. Perhaps it's a combo of all the factors. Anyway, I'm deciding to stick to my version of the ending. That Spidey decided to blow off his cobwebs in the dark gloomy closet and rebuild a new one in bright sunshine with Harry. Now I can't wait now for the next installment of Spiderman, even if it's just for the subtext. There's gonna be major angst ahead for our SpiderBeatle couple. The big question is "Are they gonna make it through all the angst and remain all snuggly? Or will the death of BeatleDad drive a wedge so deep between the two Bugsy heroes that they can never be together again???" If it's the latter, you'll get anther review from me about the GLBT cliche :P but in the meantime, we'll just have to wait in agony for their fates...

Rating: Plot: 7.5/10 Subtext: 10/10 Pace: 7/10 Effects: 5/10 Het Romance Factor: 10/10 (Just for Spidey rejecting MJ :P) Alt Romance Factor: 0/10 (gone to subtect) Estrogen Factor: 0/10 (No Grrlpower whatsoever, only damsels - crying and love struck + desperate for a kiss) Overall: 5.5/10 (Kinda surprised at this rating. guess there's more to rant abt this show than I thought at the beginning :P Anyway, I'll recommend it just for the subtext and suspense built up for next installment. For the raging feminist, a definite no-no)

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