First
of all, let’s get something straight: despite whatever weaknesses some people
may prefer to focus on, Sam Raimi (director) and Tobey Maguire (Peter
Parker/Spider-Man) accomplished something great with the original Spider-Man
Trilogy, that will probably never be matched.
But, that is not to say that newer renditions cannot have merit and even
be very promising. I, for one, have high
hopes of what 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming could hold, as well as his role in this summer's Captain America: Civil War (releasing in just a few days). One of the
reasons that I have no regrets with regards to starting fresh again is not only
because there has already been another version (which was rather lackluster in
comparison to the original, in my opinion), but also because I consider the
original series to be quite complete as a trilogy. Granted, the prospective fourth movie, which
was halted early in progress, could have been very interesting. Nonetheless, I rather prefer to consider them
a complete and finished trilogy. Considered
as such, here is a bit of what they have to offer:
Spider-Man:
Begins as a story about identity and love, which ultimately becomes a story
about choice and responsibility. We hear right in the opening of the film: “Do you want to know who I am? … Like any
story worth telling, this is really about a girl.” As we begin to see, the girl can give him purpose… and can be
his downfall. As it progresses, the hero learns the lesson that is central to the story of
Spider-Man: With great power comes great responsibility.
Spider-Man 2:
As the hero struggles to live the
lesson he learned in the first part, he is brought into conflict with a good
man, who becomes a villain, and rather than simply defeating him, he chooses to
reclaim him, or rather to help him to reclaim himself, by helping him learn the
lesson he learned in the first part (interesting aside: we see the same movement from the first Captain America movie to the second).
Spider-Man 3:
Finally, things are concluded with a movie that seemed designed to bring the
series full-circle in just about every way possible. Some argue that there was just too much going
on in this movie, causing it to feel a bit scattered and rushed. While I can sympathize with the latter sentiment, I
argue that every piece is in there for a reason to contribute to a whole that
gets its message across in a way that it is far more rich and meaningful. I could write an entire post on the Church
scene alone (and perhaps one day I will).
Admittedly, with all of these diverse elements at work, it perhaps could
have been better executed, but it probably would have been about an hour longer
(which I would have had no problem with, and I have often wondered whether
Raimi would have preferred it, as well).
Before this third chapter in the series, there had been hints that “with
great power comes great responsibility” includes not only the responsibility to
do good, but also to resist evil. In the
earlier movies, this had meant essentially protecting those he loves from the
evils threatening them all from the outside.
In this movie, the need to resist the evil inclinations within oneself becomes crucial.
And it is significant that much of the wicked behavior for which Peter
has to be sorry by the end of the movie was not done under the influence of
the evil symbiote. This fact challenges
us to more seriously consider the element of choice and responsibility. But, now, we are prompted to consider these
themes in light of the new theme that is central to this final chapter: forgiveness. (Harry has to finally forgive Peter, as does
Mary Jane. Peter has to forgive Sandman,
as well as Harry and even Mary Jane.
Meanwhile, this process enables him to show compassion on Brock, as one
captive by an evil outside himself). It
becomes apparent that the choice to forgive is necessary for attending to the
responsibility to resist the evil within oneself. Furthermore, this choice involves a bit of
understanding of the intention of the offender, as well as a great deal of
compassion. Yet, the chapter closes with what I consider to be a subtle hint that the choice of
forgiveness goes hand in hand with the process
of healing, as we see Peter and Mary Jane beginning to rebuild a deeply broken relationship
that will take time to heal.
The Cheese Factor: It may be that the most understandable complaint
against the original trilogy is also the point where most understanding is
needed. That complaint is that, at
times, it just seems so… cheesy. Yet, one thing that is difficult to
understand for generations that did not grow up with the 90’s Spiderman: The Animated Series (which I
affectionately refer to as “Greg Brady Spiderman” as the voice of
Peter/Spider-Man was Christopher Daniel Barnes, who also played Greg Brady in
the Brady Brunch remake movies) is that this very tone is precisely what made
those movies capable of bringing to life the Spider-Man we knew and loved and
elevating him to a new level. Furthermore,
this series began as the immediate follow-up to the first X-Men movie. These two movies and their sequels were
together proving that superhero movies can be attractive and impressive
to modern audiences, paving the way for movies like the Dark Knight Trilogy and
the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However,
the biggest disappointment of the first X-Men movie for many fans was the degree
to which it did not resemble the X-Men we grew up with. The Spider-Man movies had to more closely
resemble the hero as we knew him. Part
of that meant that it had to be a little
cheesy.
The Amazing Spider-Man Series: And so,
this paved the way for a new series that was (probably intentionally) a bit
more serious and dramatic in tone. In
this way, it had a few advantages, such as more well written and acted
supporting characters. Furthermore,
there was a strong tone of hope running throughout both movies. However, despite these positive qualities,
the attempt to capture the central theme of Spider-Man’s entire story arc missed
the mark in a way that is quite telling.
I suspect that there was a sense of a need to differentiate from the
original trilogy, especially given that it was still quite recent. However, the result was that the classic
moral given by Uncle Ben was simply reworded, in a manner that was both less
eloquent and also insufficient in its implications. Rather than “with great power comes great
responsibility” we hear Uncle Ben say something like, “he who has the power to
do good ought to do that good thing that he has the power to do.” Besides that one sounds good and the other
sounds like a stuttering teenager who forgot his lines in the big school play,
what is the difference between the two?
The classic formulation of Uncle Ben’s sage advice implies, not only the
responsibility to choose good, but also the responsibility to resist evil. The new formulation avoids the topic of evil
altogether. And isn’t this the way that
much of our culture attempts to approach morality? Just be a good person. But, what about resisting evil? That’s not for us to judge. The result is that few or no commitments are
made as to what is right or wrong. Thus,
good remains undefined, and therefore impossible to choose, yet all things are
justifiable, however evil they may be in fact.
Contrast that simplistic “not for me to judge” morality, with the
complex study of human choice, intentionality and forgiveness portrayed in the
original series, climaxing with the third movie. Which one seems the more human? Which one seems more compassionate? To quote Agent Phil Coulson in The Avengers, “People might just need a
little old-fashioned.”
The Sony/MCU Spider-Man: Admittedly, we don't yet know what to expect from the new Sony and Marvel Studios collaboration, debuting with Captain America: Civil War. However, for some of us, the mere fact of him being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is cause enough for optimism. Furthermore, however, there is something fitting about introducing this
newest incarnation of Spider-Man by having him torn between Captain America and
Iron Man. In some ways, he seems to be a
cross between the two. In his
immaturity, he identifies with Iron Man in his playfulness and penchant for showmanship
(and perhaps even a bit of narcissism, what with all the selfies and all).
Yet, in his sense of responsibility to a set of higher ideals, he
identifies also with Captain America. As many know, the comic version of the story found him torn between these two, even switching his allegiance. The brief glimpse from the trailer seems to place him on Iron Man's side. We shall see if Captain America is able to appeal to his better nature, or perhaps even if it will be the other way around. I wonder about this possibility, not because I necessary think it is likely to take place in the story, but because I think that Peter Parker is capable of appealing to our better nature. Life experience shows us that even the strongest, most admirable, virtuous men and women can have moments when we lose ourselves a little bit. Often, we are brought back on track when God sends someone along our path who is simultaneously able to relate to us and call us to a higher standard. In Peter Parker, we find an ordinary young man searching for love and identity, who gradually discovers the importance of choice and responsibility.
With great power comes great responsibility. We may not have the powers of one "bitten by a radioactive spider." But, we have been entrusted with so much. We have been given an intellect and a free will, to discern what is True, Good, and Beautiful and to freely choose it. Corresponding to this power is the responsibility to seek Truth, to choose Good and to avoid Evil, and to discipline our passions in order that we may continue to long for eternal Beauty, in Heaven. Christian faith teaches us that this is because God (who is the Source of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty) made us for Himself, in His image and likeness. Furthermore, as Christians, we have been given the Holy Spirit, the power of His grace working within us, especially in the Sacraments. We have the guidance of His teaching, both in Scripture and in the Church. And we have the example and intercession of the saints and the support of our brothers and sisters, who challenge us to be all that we can be. With this arsenal of gifts at our disposal, our actions can impact, not only our own future, but that of those around us. We have the power to be heroes, villains, or simply bystanders. The question that remains before us daily is, with all that has been entrusted to us, what will we do with it?
