TheNorm's Top 5 Spider-Man "Things"

Spider-Man Stature in my room 🥰

    As I mentioned many times before, Spider-Man is my favorite superhero. As a character, he is one of the most relatable, identifiable, and lovable of a sea of so many others with similar qualities; he's the kind of hero we can all aspire to be in our own ways. Plus, he's always quick with a clever quip, which is always fun. 

    Over the years, I've enjoyed countless Spider-Man things in my life. Some great, some less so, and some were merely footnotes in my fandom, but were still important staples nonetheless. After watching and reviewing Spider-Man: Brand New Day, I decided to look over those same things, and offer up an official ranking. You may not have heard of some of the things I'm going to mention here, so I hope you find them interesting and charming in your own way. 

    This is TheNorm's Top 5 Spider-Man "Things"

#5

Spider-Man Battles Ignorance 

    In my early school days, my parents signed me up for the Sylvan Learning Systems: an after school tutoring program meant to help students with various learning differences. One of their processes was gamifying learning by providing tokens for excellent grades, which could then be exchanged for prizes. Amongst their catalog was this special issue Spider-Man comic, where Spidy, after taking a hit from the villain and gets a bad case of amnesia (how original), gets help from the kids at the Sylvan Learning Center to restore his memory and take on the bad guy again. 

    This was little more than a piece of promotional material for both Sylvan and Marvel Comics, but for an elementary school kid trying to grasp their unusual learning differences, it was pretty awesome at the time to see one of my heroes getting help from my peers (as it were). It was one of those lessons you don't realize until much later in life that it's okay to ask for help, and even the smartest and strongest of us can't handle everything on their own. It may be cheesy and a little silly, but then again, so is the idea of a guy getting bitten by a radio-active spider and becoming a superhero; it's okay to be a little silly. 

#4

The First Trailer for the First Sam Rami Spider-Man Movie

    Picture this: you're in high school, you're at the movies with your family, and you're watching the trailers for all the upcoming attractions. 

    One of them begins with an elaborate bank heist with a group of armed crooks stealing tons of cash and escaping to the roof for their getaway helicopter. They fly through the city congratulating themselves on a heist well done, when, suddenly, the helicopter stops dead in its track mid air, gets yanked backwards, and finds itself trapped in between two buildings...in a Spider web! 

    My high school self was beyond excited the moment I saw that giant web holding a group of criminals in place waiting for the authorities. I knew exactly what it meant, and I couldn't wait for what was to be, in my mind, the very first time I got to see one of my heroes on the big screen. 

    As you may have surmised, this particular trailer is less famous for being the introduction of Spider-Man's big screen debut, and more infamous for the buildings used to depict Spidy's presence. In the trailer, the bank robbers helicopter is depicted being webbed up in between the World Trade Center, and the trailer was released less than a few weeks (to my recollection) before the tragic events of 9/11. 

    I do apologize for this entry being a downer, and I assure you that is not my intention, but despite the unfortunate historical tragedies, this trailer is still a piece of fondly remembered media pertaining to Spider-Man. Sure, there would be many other promotional materials later on that were as important, but few if any of them were ever as memorable or impactful as that first trailer.

    If you would like to see it for yourself, you can find it right here. 

#3

The Live-Action Spider-Man Television Series from the 1970s

    While Spider-Man has enjoyed many media outings since his conception, the short lived TV series (running from 1977 to 1979) is one of my personal favorites. Although I didn't grow up watching it when it originally aired on TV, I enjoyed renting episodes of this show from my local video rental shop, Video Man. 

    Marvel Comics actually enjoyed a pretty successful time on television with their superhero properties in the 70s: in addition to our favorite web swinger, there was also the iconic Incredible Hulk series, the made-for-TV Captain America movie with Reb Brown, and a pilot for a Doctor Strange series that aired but never launched for various and equally hilarious reasons. 

    The Spider-Man TV show from the 70s is a charming piece of media that maintains a place in my heart, mostly for the costume. Something about those big round eyes makes this iteration of Spider-Man a little extra charming. In fact, this show contributed much of my appreciation and interest in the general 1970s aesthetics and styles, especially the coffee mugs (for some reason). 

    The show itself may be a bit goofy and has all of the expected trappings of a 70s TV show, but it has a charm and an enjoyable spirit that can't be matched. If you can find yourself an episode or two of this series, give it a shot. 

#2

Spider-Man: Brand New Day 

    Yes, the latest film from the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), and the movie I reviewed most recently, has the second highest place on my list of Spider-Man things! While I will always have a a deep appreciation for the Sam Raimi films, and the less said about The Amazing Spider-Man films (minus Andrew Garfield's excellent performance) the better, this fourth entry of the Tom Holland run as Spider-Man is so well made, so emotionally resonating, and so true to Spider-Man's appeal, that it deserves all the praise it's been getting from everywhere. 

    I've already gone on about how much I love this film in my review, so I won't repeat myself here. And, in case you're wondering my ranking of the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, they are as follows, in order from most favorite to least: 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Spider-Man: No Way Home 

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Far From Home

    Apparently, the movie has already made well over a billion dollars at the box office, and it deserves every cent! If you haven't seen it yet, I encourage you to do so ASAP. I'm absolutely getting a copy of it when it comes out on 4K. 

#1

The Spider-Man Video Game (2018)

    I discussed this game here on this blog sometime ago. One of the most endearing qualities about the game was the writing. The story presents an older and more experienced Spider-Man, along with a few reinterpretations of his lore and supporting cast (my favorite being Mary-Jane, Spidy's long time girlfriend, is a bad-ass journalist in this story), all of which creates a compelling and emotionally resonating narrative. Every turn in the story feels worthy of your investment, and it all builds up to probably the most satisfying and powerful endings I've seen in any Spider-Man story. 

    The gameplay, design, and re-playability are all fantastic in their own right, but it's the storytelling that ultimately gives this piece of Spider-Man media its edge. It is, to date, my absolute favorite Spider-Man thing out there, and I look forward to what will come next in the video game world for Spidy. In case you're wondering, I'm only about half way through the second game, so no spoilers please. 😂

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day - A Near Perfect Swing

 

    It should come as no surprise to any of my beautiful readers that I am, and always shall be, a huge fan of Spider-Man. Of all the superheroes who have stood the test of time, Spidy is probably the one who has stood the strongest, even through the worst of times, because he has always stood strong for us. Much like Superman over at DC Comics, Spider-Man is the embodiment of human strength and perseverance; a hero with human struggles and a desire to do and be better in this crazy sad world, and never gives up on anyone. He is, quite literally, willing to put his life on the line to help people, not only because he can, but because he wants to. Spider-Man is all of us, in his own way. 

    The latest cinematic offering of our friendly neighbor, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, may not be the absolute best Spider-Man movie ever made, but it is certainly earned its place in my top 5 best Spider-Man media (which I will determine and release in the future). This film succeeds in understanding what makes Spider-Man so relatable, exploring why he matters to the world, and delivering a story that solidifies it all in an entertaining and heartfelt presentation. Not to mention, a visual style with actual texture and personality; something that Marvel has been sadly lacking as of late, but we'll get to that in due time. 

    Taking place some time after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spidy has been living his life as best he can on his own: helping people, surviving solo life in the big city, and fighting his frustrations with his responsibilities, including avoiding his old friends and loved ones for their own protection. Things take a turn for the unusually dangerous when Spidy encounters a villain who can "possess" people at will, attempting to break into the headquarters of a private research and defense group called Damage Control, in search of something called V-Max. This couldn't have come at a worse time for Spidy, as he happens to be dealing with some serious personal issues, along with a sudden change in his biology, causing him headaches and occasional bursts of overpowered rage. Can Spider-Man work out these personal struggles before things get worse for everyone? 

    What makes me so drawn to this particular film is how masterfully it tackles an issue I have always been passionate about: the importance of mental and emotional health. While this isn't the first Spider-Man film to tackle this particular subject (that distinction remains with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2), and without going into too many details as to avoid spoilers (intentional or not), the film is a well crafted allegory for the dangerous effects that things like unresolved personal problems, and isolation can have on a persons personality and well being. It is an issue that, sadly, isn't taken as seriously as it desperately should be, and I will always call out and applaud works of art that put in the effort to raise awareness of it, and advocate for better mental health. 

    Relatable thematic elements aside, the film is also incredibly amazing in its own right! The writing is masterfully crafted and witty, the performances are spot-on, the action scenes are visceral and engaging without being needlessly flashy, and Destin Daniel Cretton's direction perfectly balances character development and narrative progression with the action. Not to mention the special effects, especially with the webbing, are probably the best-looking yet for a Spider-Man film. 

    Speaking of looks, the film also boasts a beautiful visual style that actually "looks" like a movie. Some of my beautiful readers may recall my occasional mentioning of digital cameras using what is called a LOG profile: a camera setting that allows the image to retain as much possible detail in the brightest and darkest parts of the image, allowing the user to present images where everything is visible at all times. The problem with this setting, as of late, is that not enough filmmakers are adjusting the color and exposure in such a way, that provides any sense of texture or personality; resulting in images that look bland, flat, and lacking any kind of depth. It's essentially the polar opposite of the Ganzfeld effect; because you're shown everything, you really see nothing! 

    But with cinematographer Brett Pawlak behind the lens, the images for Spider-Man: Brand New Day have actual personality that both harken back to the classic Spider-Man comics, and provide a sense of depth and texture, resulting in images that are fascinating to behold. What is it about these images that are so engaging? One word: shadows! Unlike most Marvel films, or any other digitally captured high-budget Hollywood product these days, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is less concerned with ensuring that every single detail is completely visible, and more interested in having a voice. I genuinely hope we see more Marvel movies in the future with this kind of commitment to its images. 

    Now that I have finished gushing about this wonderful film, it's time for me to mention a few nitpicks: some of the cameos featured in the early minutes of the film feel wasted; some of the best moments were given away in the trailers and thus weren't as impactful as they might have been; and parts of the editing may trigger uncomfortable reactions to some viewers (though, to be fair, those moments are very few and far in between, and are completely understandable). 

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the closest thing to a cinematic masterpiece with our friendly neighbor that we have had in a long time. While I wouldn't consider it my absolute favorite piece of Spider-Man media (again, the list is coming), it is officially ranked high on my personal list. It is a film with so much heart, so much creative goodness, and so much of what makes Spider-Man such a relatable character, that it almost feels overwhelming in the best possible way. Fans and non-fans alike will find something in this film that speaks to them, and it will feel as amazing as it is spectacular. 

    Swing your way to the nearest theater and catch this movie in your web! 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Disclosure Day - Almost Doesn't Crash the Ship

Rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime

    Steven Spielberg is to alien stories what peanut butter is to chocolate: you don't question how or why they go so well together; they just do. Granted, in this case, it likely has more to do with Spielberg's natural talent as a storyteller, but it's telling how it seems to feel extraordinary when aliens are involved. But, not even the greatest among us are immune to the occasional misstep in an otherwise perfect formula. Because when you've been making the mixture for long enough, it can be very noticeable when something is missing. 

    Spielberg's latest offering, Disclosure Day, is a film that has all of the pleasantly expected elements of what makes his movies so fascinating, and might have become a well-earned new feather in his cap, were it not for a few overused creative choices, along with an ending (which I will not spoil) that might have worked had they shaved off the last thirty seconds, at least. While the film retains the majority of its charm thanks to Spielberg's magic, it's becoming unfortunately obvious that the magic is fading. 

    The story follows a man named Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor), who has stolen some sensitive material from a secret organization he used to work for. Daniel is attempting to deliver the material to his friend, Hugo (Colman Domingo), who is putting into motion a plan to reveal secrets that have been kept hidden away for far too long. At the same time, a weather forecaster named Margret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), suddenly begins demonstrating unusual abilities, and finds herself drawn into the situation with Daniel and Hugo. All the while being relentlessly chased down by the secret organization, led by a cold and calculating man named Noah (Colin Firth), who is hellbent on stopping these strangers from doing something that, according to him, could upend the entire world as we know it. What knowledge to these people have that could be so dangerous if the rest of the world knew about it? I mean, yes, we all know it's aliens, but still! 😂

    As a whole, the film is as polished and well-crafted as you would expect from a Spielberg presentation: it has a charm that can't be easily matched or replicated, it features beautifully choreographed single-shot scenes with energetic performances to boot, and it plays with emotional concepts without feeling preachy or cheesy (well, to an extent, at least). 

    The MVP award goes straight to Emily Blunt, who delivers what may very well be her best performance yet! She delivers so much energy, so much commitment, and so many what-the-heck-just-happened moments throughout the film, that she practically carries the whole movie on her shoulders! If someone in the theater world wrote a one-woman play just for her, not only would I not be surprised; I would be first in line to go see it! 

    Unfortunately, all of these beautifully crafted elements are somewhat bogged down by a few creative choices, specifically with the cinematography, that continues to rub me the wrong way, and feel counterintuitive to the story presented. 

    The film was photographed by Janusz Kaminski, who has been Spielberg's cinematographer since 1993. While the man boasts an incredibly impressive resumé in both filmography and photographic style, it's becoming apparent just how one-note he really is. Nearly every single film photographed by Kaminski, even those not directed by Spielberg, all feature the same kind of lighting effects and camera tricks; giving the impression that he's less concerned with what style best suits the story, and more interested in flashing as many lights directly into the lens as possible. All of this, along with an overly-used undersaturated color palette, feels more distracting and doesn't serve the story as well as it should. Yes, it all looks pretty cool, but it doesn't feel like it belongs in this particular narrative. It's the same issue I had with the movie The Post, another Spielberg & Kaminski collaboration; a film about journalists in the 1970's uncovering secrets about the Vietnam war should not look like a glossy WW2 drama! 

    And then there's the ending, or at least the last thirty seconds! While I will keep my promise to not spoil anything, I will say that it feels like Spielberg baked a perfect chocolate cake, then successfully carried it to the top of a treacherous mountain, only for him to raise the cake over his head in victory, lose his grip, and drop the cake onto the dirty ground, completely killing the moment and robbing everyone of its deliciousness! It's not quite anti-climactic, but it certainly feels that way. 

    Disclosure Day is a film that does enough things right to warrant a curious watch, but fails at everything else to justify ever watching it again. While Emily Blunt deserves all the praise for her performance, and Spielberg's charm is still mostly intact, this experience was a greater disappointment than I could have possibly predicted. I am still glad I watched it, and I do appreciate many of its good qualities (especially its use of animal symbolism), but sadly, despite all the prestige behind it, the old magic is fading. Hopefully, it will be revived and passed on to another worthy creative, but until then, the old guards need to stop while they're ahead. 

    Watch only for Emily Blunt's powerful performance, and not much else. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.