Sam Raimi Secures Full Creative Control on Spider-Man 4
Alright, now I know I’m one of the few people who actually really enjoyed Spider-Man 3, but I can certainly understand where a lot of the criticism comes from. Yeah, maybe Venom didn’t quite get the proper screen time he deserved, and maybe he wasn’t as bad ass as he could have been. And yes, there were some campy elements to Peter Parker’s turn to the “dark side”, so to speak. The weird thing is, some people seem to have written off Sam Raimi’s ability as a director based solely on that film, when it’s clear that he is not the only one to blame for how it turned out.
In a recent interview with Empire Magazine (via CHUD), Raimi seems assured that the same thing will not happen again on Spider-Man 4:
“There were different opinions on the third film and I didn’t really have creative control, so to speak… The best way for me to move forward on films, I realize — and this was a lesson I had to learn for myself — is that I’ve gotta be the singular voice that makes the creative choices on the film.”
Obviously creative control is tough to come by when you’re working on a massive blockbuster franchise, but it sounds like Raimi wouldn’t be doing another sequel if he didn’t have the final say. The question is, will this inspire confidence in fans? The addition of Venom to the film may not have been Raimi’s decision, but something tells me that the jazz club scene was not dreamed up by a Sony exec. Do you have high hopes for Spider-Man 4?
Comments (13)
I find it weird that Sam Raimi did such a good job on the first two Spideman movies and such a poor job on number three considering he had the same cast and crew. I can only assume the studio did take a way a lot of control from him but who really knows, maybe he just needs to move away from the franchise.
At least the hype of the fans will probably be less this time and that will probably work in his favor.
Posted by Niklas on April 6th, 2009Spider-Man 3 was at least as good as the first one. Perhaps not as good as the second but a satisfying conclusions to the triangle of Peter, MJ and Harry.
I don’t know what’s wrong with that Jazz scene. It’s fun and embarrassing and deliberately so. The symbiote doesn’t turn Peter evil because he’s not evil at all. The symbiote amplifies a person’s trait. It makes Peter thinks he’s cool and the shit but he’s just a twat. That’s the point.
The irrational hatred towards this movie by people like John Campea is fucking retarded.
Posted by TheAllKnowingGod on April 6th, 2009I also didn’t mind 3; so I see this as good news and hope that Spiderman 4 makes good with a complex drama about his professor becoming the Lizard. Though I have no idea what the plot of the movie will be at all.
Posted by Ian on April 6th, 2009I enjoyed the jazz club scene, they were just trying to show that peter was a complete moron now and i think they succeded.
Posted by Drew on April 6th, 2009Were is evidence he got full creative control, because he said it in an interview? That is what we are going with? I was hoping to read a interview with a Marvel head that sez, “Marvel has realized with the awesome response to Dark Knight that the powers that be should get F out of the way and have given Sam Raimi complete and ultimate control over the fourth Spiderman film because he deserves it and we know his little nerd brain will explore aspects of Spidrman that well be badass.”
Posted by rus in chicago on April 6th, 2009This man is so full of crap, it’s ridiculous!!!!
So I guess Mr. Raimi had no control over that HORRIBLE dialogue as well as story, right????
What about the cheesy actors that were cast, like the British news reporter (Yeah, very realistic for N.Y.) and that lame newscaster.
Making Harry into that psudo-Goblin wasn’t his idea either I guess, not to mention that he was killed and the Sandman can now fly??? (LMAO)
The film was overall bad, adding in Venom and Gwen just threw it overboard completely!!!
Posted by C-dubb on April 6th, 2009As far as I’m concerned the Jazz Club Scene is one of the few Raimi touches in the whole film and I loved it.
Who cares if it’s cheesy. Has anyone here ever seen EVIL DEAD 2 or DARKMAN? Those movies are cornier than corn.
I’m very happy to hear he’ll have complete control over the next film and he won’t be forced to include a fourth rate villain like Venom (by far the least interesting character in all three films)
Posted by Joe Campanella on April 6th, 2009I certainly didn’t see a decline in the quality of writing, acting or directing in SM3 compared to the other two.
Posted by TheAllKnowingGod on April 6th, 2009I also didn’t mind nr 3. But it did suffer from too many characters and far too little time.
Posted by swarez on April 6th, 2009The dance scene didn’t bother me at all….it was the too many characters breaking up a smooth narrative flow. Reportedly Raimi just wanted Sandman; and I’d rather have had just Venom; but it would have been better just one. Period.
I just hope they call it “The Amazing Spider-Man” because ‘Spider-man 4″ seems lame. Bring on The Lizard!!!!
Posted by Ryan M. on April 6th, 20093 was just a jumbled mishmash of too much stuff. Get bendis to help raimi, that would be a food move. Make the lizard the main foe, go a little more adult/dark. And let’s make spidey the funny quipster he is. Nered more funny, not always so super nerdish.
Posted by mike e on April 6th, 2009This is the idea I have for the fourth film. In order to make the fans/critics happy.
1. the film doesn’t need as much emotional drama. We don’t need to see Peter crying anymore.
2. Stop taking off the damn mask!! Spidey doesn’t fight the final battle or any other battle with no mask on. (sm3) It’s a comic book hero movie. It will be apealing to EVERYONE, as you can see from box office numbers. Lets make it true to the books and the fans
3. Mary Jane cannot be the damsel in distress in EVERY FILM!!! COME ON! every SM movie has Mary Jane held hostage by the final fight. Better writers??? Get some of the Marvel comic writers to help out, something.
4.Keep the villan number down. We want to get to know them a little better. Let us see how much of a threat they are.
5.Our heros are part of the MARVEL UNIVERSE! The Fantastic Four, Moon Knight, Dare Devil, and others all live in New York. You could at tleast have a little joke, “the Fantastic Four never have to take a cab.” It’s that easy. The fans would really appreciate it.
After the first SM film I admired Sam Raimi. I still do but I think He could make these next movies truer to the characters. What Do you say Sam? I know you’ve got it in you.
Posted by eric on April 7th, 2009That was a great article — thanks for writing it. I’ve loved the way Raimi has handled this franchise. I thought Spider Man 3 was the weakest (but still enjoyed it), so it makes sense that he didn’t have full creative control. Now that he’s managing ALL aspects of part 4, my confidence is completely renewed. I love that director, and I can’t wait for more Spidey.
Thanks.
Posted by Jory on April 8th, 2009Leave a Reply