Spider-man Film Retrospective Part IA: TASM (1977)

Table of Contents: Spider-man Film retospective

Part 1A: TASM [1977] steamland.deviantart.com/journ…

Part 1B: Canon & Cameron Years/ James Camron's Spider-Man steamland.deviantart.com/journ…

Part 1.5: Goblin's Last Stand [GLS] steamland.deviantart.com/journ…


Part 2: Spider-man [2002] a.k.a the Beginning of the Rami Era steamland.deviantart.com/art/S…


I Said I was working on a film retrospective of The Spider-man series and for the next few weeks i'll upload journal entries of my reviews and reserch.

Hello and welcome I'm the Nostalgia Critic and this is the wrong script I'm writing for.

Today before anything I'd like to go over a few things for how this article is going to work.  I will start with background, write the review, and break the review into the GOOD, the BAD [both are self explanatory] and the NITPICKY, where I just list the traditional complains any fan boy has like "his shirts too small." Or "that's not a quip!" that entire nit picking things that everyone does.  Keep in mind these three things,  I will not use any commentary form directors, actors etc, I will  keep each series as standalone  and will not talk about deleted scenes, etc. I try to do my best to write these articles with as much of a non-bias as possible then get into my Opinions and reasons why. so without further ado, here comes The Amazing spider-man!


Back in 1977, we took a trip to what is dub by Marvel.wika.com as Earth-730911 or in this case, the Amazing Spider-man.  Which I think Marc Webb must have a real affection for, because some of the effects are very, and I do mean VERY familiar.  Written by Alvin Broetz and directed by E.W. Swackhamer (which to me sounds like a porn star of the 70's.)  Became the first writer and director with producers Charles Fries and Dan Goodman to create the first ever live action spider-man film; Marvel was trying to break into other forms of media since the early 70's and handed the film rights to Fries and Goodman who released the film in cinemas & on CBS on September 14th 1977.  The 90 min film was successful enough to spawn a short lived (two seasons) live action show also called the Amazing Spider-man that ran form 1978-79.

The Film [and series] featured Nickolas Hammond as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man and The Late Jeff Downell as Aunt May.  The Late David White also played J. Jonah Jameson, well get into all of these and more later.  The whole film was film in and around Los Angeles, California.  
Stan Lee was quoted saying he didn't like the film or show, disowning it, why?  Is it that bad, is this like spider-man 3? Or as awful as One More Day; well what's the film about? Funny since Stan Lee was consulting on the script.

THE PLOT: in a nutshell University student Peter Parker (Nicolas Hammond) is trying to get a job at the daily Bugle when he is bitten by a radioactive spider, gains powers and is off to stop an evil Guru Name Baron Monahan (Bob Hastings) with the powers of mind control who will kill ten New Yorkers and have them commit suicide if he doesn't get 50 million dollars.  Also random new love interest appears with the "latest and greatest practical effects."  These effects include really nice POV Shots, practical web swinging, and using a green screen to climb up buildings [and also a real guy dress as spider-man WAS climbing buildings].

You can watch the full film here:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uRLge…

The film is, Boring, that's it really. There is No Uncle Ben; no great power Comes responsibility, not any of that. We just have some really good practical effects, some really kickass POV Shots,  few good side characters, and Spider-man is at least on the big screen/ CBS in the 70's.  We also have a nice production value that was film in L.A. (many Locations you can spot in the newest reboot/remake TASM 2012) and how Nicholas Hammond was picked, is a little bit like how Andrew Garfield was picked.  There are some strange coincidences with both versions of The Amazing Spider-Man. Both filmed in L.A. and have some of the same effects and shots, the main difference is well, we'll get to that by the end of the year.  Peter Parker is totally inactive. He just does what the plot tries to force him to do, is he likable?  Kind of, he's not as charming as McGurie or Garfield, but he isn't completely deadpan, he actually tries to do something. A Few upsides? We see Spider-Man Fight Ninja's.

The Fact Stan Lee worked on the film and consulted on how what Peter would sound like, and the script story itself. To paraphrase Linkara from A Top the Fourth Wall. "I Really Like Stan Lee and Spider-Man."  D:

So let's cut right to the chase and talk about the good, the bad, and the nitpick-y.


THE GOOD:

The Stunt work is AMAZING. It really is with how they have Spidey do spider-like poses, hmm….and No CGI. It's pretty cool. Dated but cool. Koato's to the Stunt Team, and Practical effects team, they really did an outstanding job!

POV Shots: okay they strapped a Camera to a guy's head and have him Jump off buildings and such not only is that ballsy but gives a better effect then the other version has done thus far.
This is real practical web slinging and its pretty interesting to see how it works, along with Choreography with some of the fight scenes; it brings this world into a more believable real world.

Peter Parker: while he isn't the best version there is some light heartless, and Nicolas Hammond's take is a true marvel on how serious he took the character, there are moments of real genuine emotions form him.

Silly Fun: while boring the film did have a few nice fun moments, Like the argument that Peter has with his friend David (who wears this awesome Captain America Shirt).  You tell the cast was having fun, which is a great thing for everyone to have.

Ninjas:  Just, yeah Ninja battle was kinda funny. it still feels like it came out of nowhere,but yeah. NINJAS!

THE BAD:
The plot itself was, well Take it away Christopher Daniel Barnes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fog7kB…
Yeah, the villain seemed just as half ass, and ten people for 50 million dollars?  Okay I know  it was the freaking 1970's but there are better plots to do, Damn it!

Peter Parker:  Now I do like Nicholas Hammond for trying his best but Peter Parker isn't really proactive. He never calls himself spider-man, its J. Jonah Jameson who name's him. He really doesn't do anything and makes Toby's spider-man and Peter Parker look more proactive.

J. Jonah Jameson: IS CALM?!  WHAT?!  He's not like the guy in the comic's, he's just well Perry white. While both characters have some familiar quarks, they aren't the Same Person.  Somebody didn't gave David White the memo that Jameson Is cranky, Mean, can be funny in current 616 universe he's the freaking Mayor! So many things they could of done, but that's really it. He doesn't do that much.

Monahan: Okay the villain sucks, there's no way of saying it otherwise but a Gruru who uses mind control when he gets paid by the loads, I don't see Tony Roberts using Mind control on people.  I don't see this working at all.  He at least is an original Villain, so props for originality.


THE NITPICK-Y: * represents Fanboy and Fangirl's rage.
The villain is weak.
The Suit is probably the most ridiculous thing I've seen next to another suit.
No Stan Lee Cameo NYAAAAAAAAH!*
That's not how webs work NYAAAAAAAAAAAH!*
The music is stupid, and is just TOO CHEESEY. It's not spider-man its cheesy 70's music.