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Sam Raimi Meeting With Sony Execs About Spider-Man 4
I haven’t minced words about Spider-Man 3 before… and I won’t now. Spider-Man 3 was a giant pile of shit from start to finish with little to no redeeming value whatsoever. Some people dismiss my opinion saying that “Your expectations were just too high”. That’s nonsense since my “expectations” for Spider-Man 2 were just as high… and THAT movie ROCKED. Still, film is subjective and to each their own. Anyway….
There have generally been 2 facts understood for some time now:
1) There will be a Spider-Man 4. The studio has stated this in no uncertain terms.
2) Not everyone will be back. Thank god.
One of the bigger questions has been “will Sam Raimi return to direct Spider-Man 4″? Personally, I don’t think he will. He’s used up basically 7 years on this franchise, and I’ve got to think he’s itching to move on to something else… like say… oh I don’t know…. THE HOBBIT!!!!. Not to mention, I think Spider-Man 3 has shown us that creatively he’s run out of gas for this franchise.
However, The Hollywood Reporter is now saying that within the next couple of weeks, sam Raimi will have his very first meeting with the execs at Sony since Spider-Man 3 to discuss the future of the franchise. It’s a good bet that we’ll probably know in the next month or so for certain if he plans on returning to the franchise… or if he will indeed move on to new projects and pass Spider-Man off to fresh blood
What do you think will happen?
As a fan of Spiderman since I was a child I hope Sam returns to do SM4 as I love what he’s done with the series (even spiderman 3 :p) but I think you’re right John in saying that he won’t come back he is too good a director to spend any more time than he has on comic book films (despite it being the best genre!) maybe some more Evil Deadish type stuff? lower budget might be nice :)
I would like to see him focus on Ghosthouse not making shit movies.
Perhaps they are meeting to discuss a successor to his throne? “Hey Sam, who do you think would do a good job?”
Speaking as a huge Sam Raimi fan (I’ve seen each and every one of his films in the theater since Evil Dead 2), I hope that he DOESN’T direct SM4. I’d much rather see him tackle new projects. I completely agree with John’s assessment of SM2 and 3. SP3 to me was evidence that Raimi and the cast were bored and or rushed.
Spiderman 4 should be a completely new cast and director IMO. Ok, keep the J.K. Simmons. Everyone else can go. Screw Tobey “I can’t be bothered to get in shape for a $300 million dollar action movie” Maquire especially.
I hope Raimi takes over The Transformer. He could bring a sense of fun that was sorely missing from that film. Also, he knows that directing action is more than just making things explode.
I doubt Raimi will do another Spiderman movie.
He took alot of shit for Spiderman 3 (although Avi Arad is probably more to blame for this) and he probably is looking for something different now.
He did these films for the last 8 years, so he’s probably a bit tired of the webcrawler now.
Come on Sam, make that EVIL DEAD 4 everyone is waiting for!
Please!!
This franchise is starting to follow the Batman downhill tumble. It needs a new director and cast to change the overall taste of suck ass left in my mouth from Spiderman 3.
SM3 wasn’t that bad at all. A good first half with some bad writing, a lazy second half with a confused assortment of characters and ne really OVER the top bit of madness. But a piece of shit? Hardly. SM3 should have been the setup for Venom in SM4. But the studio got greedy and wanted Venom money NOW. Not really Raimi’s fault. I want him to stay on this franchise. And unfortunatley, the dance number gave everyone the excuse they were looking for. It’s sad that people just couldn’t wait to dump on it. Once the negative train starts rolling, some people just can’t get off.
i think spider- man 4 is jsut what we need sipder-man 3 sucked and im relly sucked that was so bad spider-man 4 is a good i dea i think
Spider-Man 3 could be compared to calling something that comes out of our posteriors…art. More or less they could be called the same thing.
If Sam Raimi does Spider-Man 4 I will say my goodbyes to this truely cruel world. If Carnage was in Spider-Man 4 I would be so angry I might kill the director, Carnage is my favorite comics villain and I would not stand to see him ruined like Venom.
I would much rather see the ever so talented Sam Raimi direct the Hobbit, Campea I totally agree with you on this one. If The Hobbit can’t get Peter Jackson than it’s time for the next best thing, Sam Raimi is just what the Hobbit needs!
After Spidey 3, I have ZERO desire to see that webslinging emo motherfucker ever again.
yes i cant wait !! i hope to god this will be a good fresh ,start for the spider man franchise
John:
Sometimes I just don’t get you.
You liked Superman Returns, a movie that made Batman and Robin look good, but Spiderman 3 was a “pile of shit”.
I don’t think Spiderman 3 was the best movie ever. The Incredibles, Batman Begins, Superman (1979), Batman, and Spiderman 1 and 2 were a lot beter story wise.
And a lot of the interpersonal stuff between Peter, Mary Jane and Aunt May was ALMOST Superman Returns/soap opera bad, but the overall story was good.
The movie kept my wife and I entertaines for 2 1/2 hours and most of the people coming out of the theater were smiling. That’s not the case with a lot of movies.
For the love of all that’s holy, KEEP RAIMI AWAY FROM THE HOBBIT! We’ll probably end up with Bilbo talking about his feelings to the dwarves for 2 and a half hours.
Kill off Kirsten Dunst, stat.
Please.
I don’t think Raimi did a horrible job on Spider-Man 3. The only thing he fucked up was Venom and Eddie Brock. Could Raimi have given these major characters anymore less screen time?
I love the Harry and Peter rival. That made the movie.
I wouldn’t like Raimi to return. I loved what he added to the Spider-Man movies but it always lacked something for me. Can’t describe what it is. I always felt it would be in better hands of someone else.
Rami needs to stick with other things. I love Raimi’s involvment in horror. And I want to see more horror from this guy in the future.
Wow.
I think Spidey 3 was a disappointment, but I don’t understand all the crap on Raimi’s shoulders from the comments. Jesus, it’s only one film…out of how many he’ done? And he still made Spider-Man 2 THE best movie based off a comic book character/book ever. But now it’s like…Spidey 3 was such a disappointment that he’s turned int a mindless hack overnight!
Raimi would be great for Hobbit- and come on, CW, Raimi didn’t have life lessons in freakin’ Darkman or A Simple Plan.
The “life lessons” were okay in Spider-man 1 & 2 because that was in part essense to the story at the time. Was it needed in Spidey 3? Only a little (marriage advice) but holy mother of God, Jesus, Mary and Joeseph and all the saints…! I never knew Raimi had a legion of people who wanted to smack him in the head. In all fairness, they were going with multiple baddies (and Vulture might have worked, who knows) but “THE FANS” had such an Viagra-esue erection for that fucking Venom…because Venom looks cooler on a cereal box more than Sandman, I don’t know. But YOU wanted him. YOU got him. NOW Sam Raimi and Avi Arad are talentless idiots. Okay, I feel you. I think….
So Sam is in talks with Spidey 4. He could serve as producer if he chooses not to direct. I’d be okay with that. But folks, chances are high that if Spidey 4 does happen soon, EXPECT at least two villians, one of which is The Lizard. Grant Curtis hopes for Kraven, Vulture was worked on a little bit, I’m also hoping maybe for Electro…(I know, Sandy is still at large, but I would explain his absence as ‘getting a pardon from the Government if he joins a UN security detail etc, because, knowing Marvel, they’ll want a Silver Sable & Wild Pack film down the road…)
…and the return of Kristen Dunst. She was alright by me. I’m sorry—I just seem to identify with all of her naysayers.
On a funny, related note, I’d laugh my ass off if Sam said “I’m done with Spidey”….and then said “now…about Doctoor Strange…”
Sam Raimi withought a question is staying with the Spiderman Franchise. He knows he is safe in this franchise. The next Spiderman movie can have actors only of the age 12 and under and only one action scene where Little Spidey has to get all of his piggy bank money to a villain named Chuckie before they rape Mary Jane, and it will still make no less than $100 million. BUT I HOPE HE MOVES ONTO THE HOBBIT, BECAUSE IF THE HOBBIT FINALLY GETS A DIRECTOR, IT IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING MADE!!!
I think all the spiderman films sucked..
too cheesy and unoriginal
I wont defend Spidey any more, i’ve done enough in a recent thread, however it still amazes me that it got raked over the coals over details whilst Transformers has been given a free pass for some of the most inane bullshit and lack of proper story elements and character development. It… offends me, the different standards that were set. ANd it wasnt just there. While I had no interest in Fantastic Four 2, the fact that Galactus was a Storm Cloud seems a lot more forgivable than brining Megatron into a movie an hour and 45 minutes in with little to no build and having his big showdown be so boring (and yet so short). Transformers makes Spiderman 3 look like Ben Hur.
Hey Goon,
Just got in like 2 minutes ago from seeing Transformers for the 5th time.
The big difference between SM3 and Transformers is ENTERTAINMENT.
Even at a Tuesday Mattinee, there had to have been like 5 spots in the film where the audience erupted into loud cheers… it was more like a rock concert than a movie theater.
As opposed to SM3… where the theater we all saw it in had most people walking out after the movie mumbling to themselves.
Awesome action, great humor, iconic characters and huge bang for your buck entertainment. Everything Spider-man didn’t have.
On the other hand, SM3 gave us some great exposition about Mary Jane’s career problems. :P
But that’s why movies are so great Goon… they’re subjective, and different people see different things in them. You saw TF and SM3 much differently than I did, and that part of the greatness of movies
Spidey VS Transformers,
Spidey = $300 million = boring relationship shit and 15min of action that kept me shaking my head in agony and discust
Transformers = $150 million = humor, action and brawling NEVER seen before EVER! And you actually cared about THEM…
This tells us a lot about the writers and directors as well. Sam Rami should leave and go on to something he is interested in, because he obviously wasn’t with SM3 – Bay made me believe in GIANT FUCKING ROBOTS! How unlikely as giant robots from outer space may sound – I believed it. And I couldn’t wait for more! After an hour in SM3 I wanted to leave.
The money used for the movies tells us who gets more out of each dollar as well. Producing something 10x better at half the cost should tell everyone that no energy or love was really put into SM3.
Sam Rami SHOULD move on to Evil Dead 4 – were he prospered before.
John, I gotta ask you a question. Yes, TF is great fun to watch with an audience. Independence Day was as well, but then when I watched it by myself at home, it wasn’t nearly as entertaining. Do you think TF is gonna be one of those movies that is a fun experience in the theater, but a bit of a bummer when you watch it on DVD at home(with Doug crying over Lazerbeak)?
fuck the hobbit, raimi should do spiderman 4 without anyone telling him what characters to put in. cough- avi arad -cough
comparing SM3 to TF is ridiculous. if you kids are gonna compare Transformers to any Spiderfilm,make it a comparison to the original.
it was easy for Bay to get TF right as there was no previous live-action giant robot film to compare it to.
let’s see how well a franchise TF is by the time it reaches installment number 3.
SM3 sucked a lot of ass to a lot of people due to the fact that it followed on from the bar-raising SM2. Batman Begins came close to touching that bar but not quite. we’ll see how Nolan does with the Dark Knight as his follow on before we make comparisons to Raimi’s first two SM outings.
personally i would rather Raimi move on from SM if he continues to get interference from the suits like he did on 3. there was to be no Gwen or Eddie had Raimi had HIS way. he did what he could under the circumstances. it’s no secret Raimi is a spiderfoe classicist.
i heard nobody complaining about Doc Ock or the Green Goblin. or even about the awesome Sandman FX. if Sam’s way wasnt broken,there was no reason for Arad & co to try & fix it.
Honestly at this point, i don’t care. Really. I lost faith in the movies after the during and after the second film. Raimi will raise my eyebrow when he does something other than Spiderman.
Raimi said that he would do another one if they had the right story. (BBC Radio 5 Live a month or three ago while promoting SM3)
I’m sorry I have little to no love for this guy, how can someone go from great b movies to the steaming pile of crap that is the spiderman series – hes overrated and way way out of his league, he needs to take a step back and realise, he aint all that, and in my opinion has done spiderman no justice whatsoever.
Peter jackson from brain dead to lotr worked
raimi from ED to spiderman is a failure
I think Sam Raimi is much like Paul Verhoeven. They both have a cheese factor quality to their directing that they add to all their movies. However this cheese factor does work in every film.
If I was Sony, I wouldn’t let Sam Raimi anywhere near Spiderman 4 after how fucking terrible Spiderman 3 was. I think that 3 shows us that Raimi should just leave the franchise and Sony will have to pray that someone else can save the Spiderman name before its too late.
“The big difference between SM3 and Transformers is ENTERTAINMENT.”
Spiderman 3 has better action scenes, entertaining effects, is well shot and well acted. Transformers is the most boring movie I’ve seen in years. Michael Bay cant edit his effects scenes into an entertaning sequence, and when the robots are not on screen we have unentertaing unfunny scenes that go nowhere. if you think that Peter Parker being a hep cat isnt funny, but the comic relief in Transformers is, then we are just nowhere near the same page.
“Awesome action, great humor, iconic characters and huge bang for your buck entertainment.”
The only way to consider any of the characters ‘iconic’ is because they were iconic going in already. There is no personality to any characte rin that film whatsoever, save maybe Sam, who was an asshole, and his parents, who were just goofy and annoying.
Transformers is bar none the worst film of 2007, and there is no good long defense of it besides “i can ignore 2 hours of shit for 30 minutes of mediocre action” – Transformers has been given a free pass for so many flaws whilst SPiderman 3 was raked over the coals over the most minor details.
If you want to call the theater response as evidence of greatness consider I saw Scary Movie in the theaters and the crowd went crazy for it. that doesnt mean they’re right. it just means theres a shitload of wrong thinkers in one place. I mean, if we want to call on authories, all my friends are Transformers fans, and gearheads. in fact one of them DRAWS for the Transformers comics, and they certainly didnt walk away with the same reaction you did. But I wouldnt use them as my best case against the film. The best case against the film is onscreen with Michael Bays shitty direction, casting, and editing.
Okay…S3 was not the best movie in that francise, but it was by no means a horrible or waste of time movie. The movie still had a decent plot and great action sequences. I will go on to say that Transformers was a much better movie and one that I had little expectations for too — was pleasantly surprised by the humor throughout it to go along with the great visuals of the robots and action…..along with including possibly the super hot Megan Fox who looked fantastic all sweaty!
I think you’re being a little too harsh John by referring to S3 as “a giant pile of shit”. I have now tried watching Superman Returns several times on cable as of late and that may possibly be one of the worst superhero movies ever made.