Why are people ragging on “Amazing Spider-Man 2?”

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Seriously. I’m wondering what the hëll people want from films anymore.

Remember Nicholas Hammond? That was my first live action Spider-Man, and the TV was ghastly from the top down. Bad stories, bad acting, bad effects, just bad.

And now we have the current sequel to “The Amazing Spider-Man” that is, to my mind, 110% better than the previous entry. I found it to be a compelling combination of genuine drama, beautifully played by Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone (not to mention Oscar Winner Sally Fields) and thrilling action sequences that seemed, in the way they were portrayed and Spidey quipped his way through them, to be lifted directly from the pages of the comic.

Jamie Foxx was a marvelous Max Dillon. So he was a classic geek: so what? It provided a nice contrast to what he eventually became. And Dane Dehaan was marvelously creepy as Harry Osborn. And sure, the Rhino was only in for a few minutes, but so what? Gives the third film somewhere to start from.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I just don’t understand why I’m seeing reviewers bìŧçhìņg about it.

PAD

Spider-Man in Comics and Film

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published September 8, 2000, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1399

Spider-Man Fans Up In Arms Over What’s Up with Spider-Man’s arms! Film at 2001!

I have learned to take, with a massive helping of salt, fan angst over news related to upcoming superhero films. My baptism of fire, so to speak, in that arena came at a convention when I was on a general Q&A panel with several other pros. We were asked, as a group, what we thought of the (then) news that director Tim Burton had cast Michael Keaton as Batman.

Others on the panel made it clear that, as far as they were concerned, any thoughts that Burton would produce a “serious” treatment of Batman had now fallen by the wayside. Not only was it bad enough that the film was in the hands of the director of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, but it was going to star Mr. Mom. We were going to see another camp treatment. It was inevitable, a sure thing, take it to the bank. Throughout the room, fan heads bobbed in agreement.

And I said, “Uhm… I have no intrinsic problem with either Burton or Keaton. Just because Burton’s known primarily for comedy doesn’t mean he can’t do a serious take on Batman. And Keaton’s an actor. A comic actor can play something straight. The film might actually be pretty good because they’re both talented guys…”

It was the nearest I’ve ever come to being booed off a panel. I’ve never been barraged with that much hostility. Even some of the pros were looking at me as if I’d advocated using a dead baby seal to bludgeon the Pope.

Continue Reading “Spider-Man in Comics and Film” →

Guest column: Harlan Ellison on Twist vs. McFarlane

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published September 1, 2000, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1398

The following is a guest column by Mr. Harlan Ellison. In my recent coverage of the Tony Twist decision (where Todd McFarlane got hammered by a St. Louis jury for transforming hockey player “Tony Twist” into corpulent thug “Tony Twist), Harlan was struck by Todd’s (and Todd’s supporters) clear lack of comprehending what (if anything, in his eyes) he’d done to deserve this. Harlan has elected to draw from personal experience and spell it out for him. Here is Mr. Ellison:

So Todd McFarlane and Erik Larsen walk into a building.

You’d think one of them would have seen it.

Continue Reading “Guest column: Harlan Ellison on Twist vs. McFarlane” →

Are you an Avengers collector?

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Are you someone who’s been collecting Avengers-related material all your life? Or any of the main founding Avengers, such as Iron Man, Thor, Cap, and the Hulk? Either Marvel-manufactured licensed objects or, even better, early sketches, production documents, story copy, and so on.

Then I can use your help. I am putting together an “Avengers Vault” with the folks who did the Spider-Man Vault book a few years ago, and we’re looking for stuff that we can photograph and put into the book. No money involved, but you’d get credited. If you’re interested in participating, please write to me at padguy@aol.com.

Thanks!

PAD

Hugos: Let me see if I understand this

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

So I’ve been a full time writer for nearly three decades and never so much as been nominated for a Hugo. Yet a racist, homophobic áššhølë is up for a Hugo this year because apparently he understands how to game the social network system. Because the Hugos will accept people who despise gays but draw the line at “Star Trek” novels.

Fine. Screw it.

I have a new novel coming out in July called “Artful.” It’s the previously untold story of the Artful Dodger, hunter of vampyres and other creatures. I want it to be up for a Hugo. Hëll, even a Nebula. And apparently sitting quiet for thirty years allowing fans to find my work on their own isn’t getting it done. So I’m starting a year early. “Artful” for the Hugo.

PAD