Formspring Question #356--Reboot Mania Edition

Looking forward to Spiderman and Superman reboots? Superman I get as it died as a profitable franchise after last movie, but it feels weird to reboot spiderman after 3 was wildly successful (if a bit crap). Thoughts?

I have never been a big fan of any of the Spuerman films outside of the second one. Campy versions of super hero movies have never been my thing. Considering the darker tone of Chris Molan’s batman films have been successful, perhaps the new Superman film will impress.

I have doubts, however. The rejection of Kevin Smith’s script a few years ago is legendary. As far as a filmmaker goes, smith does not impress me, but he does know comic book mythology. He got hired to draft a script after critiquing all the inaccuracies in a superman script Warner Brothers was going to use to re-launch the franchise. This was long before J. J. Abrams turned in his script which was annihilated by the fan base called to arms by film geek Harry Knowles eight or nine years ago, leaving Abrams to screw up Star Trek instead. Back to the point, smith’s script, which can be found online with some searching, was true to the post-Crisis superman mythology and promptly canned by the powers that be because superman means a pop corn movie, not anything with which the audience might become emotionally invested.

So not much interest in a Superman film unless Warner Brothers has learned something with Nolan’s success with Batman. Probably not, though. Batman has always been a darker character surrounded by a brooding atmosphere. That ’60’s television show was an aberration within the character’s development. But superman has always been a clean cut, fun romp. I doubt anyone in charge will stray too far from the formula.

No interest in Spiderman whatsoever. I am a Marvel zombie who does not like seeing his characters messed with. I was one of those fans irritated at the news of organic web shooters in the Sam Raimi films. I am a purist. I did ultimately enjoy the first two, though I thought the third was too overblown. Now they are re-launching the franchise for the Twilight crowd. I am too old to care.

Emma Stone is hot, though:I have no idea if the film will be a big hit. Three years ago, I was certain Trekkies would reject Abrams’ re-imagining. I certainly blew that call big time, even though I still think the movie is one of the franchise’s worst. Who knows, but I cannot imagine myself getting too excited about it.