Every generation has its heroes. And its superheroes too. We can only begin with these words our mini special that tries to retrace the journey that we are about to re-undertake also at the cinema thanks to Spider-Mondays. That is, the Marvel/Sony initiative which brings the live action films so far dedicated to Spider-Man, one of the most beloved superheroes of all time and one of the first to arrive on the market, to theaters worldwide (including Italy) throughout the summer big screen, essentially living three cinematic lives, one for each generation. The perfect opportunity for a refresher before continuing in the now increasingly sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe, of which the character has effectively become part of. For this occasion, let’s go (re)trace the history of wall climbing on the big screen, with an appointment at the cinema, every Monday in summer.
Tobey Maguire, the one-piece Spider-Man
For many Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi they are still the only ones to have done justice to Peter Parker. The actor, strongly supported by Raimi at the time, who managed to convince the initially skeptical production after having seen and appreciated him in The Cider House Rules. His Spidey crosses theorigin story of the comic for the character in Spider-Man (July 1st): the loss of Uncle Ben, the closeness of Aunt May, being stung by a radioactive spider which makes him much less insecure and loser than it actually is. Again, the love for Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) with a lot of iconic kiss hanging upside down in the sequel Spider-Man 2 (which arrives in theaters on July 8th), even replicated in The O.C.. And there’s also his best friend (James Franco) who becomes the villain. Maguire embodies the kindness of heart and being willing to sacrifice secrecy at any cost, even if it means pushing away the woman he loves or his family. A very strong sense of duty and honor, also in the third chapter in which the character splits into two personalities and one of them becomes an extra-corporeal being (Spider-Man 3, July 15). Leaving aside the TV episodes that became feature films at the end of the 70s, and James Cameron’s project, the Maguire/Raimi duo is the first real Spider-Man in the flesh. And it is equally certain that the second chapter is one of the best sequels in the history of cinema.
Spider-Mondays: from July 1st all Spider-Man films return to cinemas every Monday
Andrew Garfield, the sarcastic Spider-Man
Only apparently looser but actually more self-confident. This is the portrait that Marc Webb and Andrew Garfield choose for their own “Friendly Neighborhood Spidey”. Again a pairing, a strange tradition for Spider-Man la cinema, when usually in these cases the hand behind the camera passes from person to person. This gives, despite everything, a certain coherence and cohesion to the internal saga and to the character, his allies and his villains. Webb chooses the path of rom-comsetting up a dance between the two protagonists, who court each other while events happen around him and them “superhero stuff”. This Wall Climber’s weapons besides the webs are the sarcasm and cynicismwith which he defends himself from the bullies in his life.
Despite the origin story similar to the previous one, in the two films dedicated to him, The Amazing Spider-Man (July 22) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2: The Power of Electro (July 29) this time alongside him as well as his uncle Ben and Aunt May, we find her best friend Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) which will then become something more thanks to their mutual attraction. Another characteristic, in fact, of Spider-Man’s filmography is precisely having made that chemistry explode on the screen even outside in reality. For various production reasons, including theadvent and success of the Marvel Cinematic Universethis second saga (within the saga) did not get a third film to close an ideal trilogy, and had a decidedly tragic ending.
Tom Holland, lo Spider-Man adolescente
The most recent wall climber is the teen movie par excellence. This time Jon Watts and Tom Holland choose the purest Bildungsroman to tell their Spider-Man, who returns to adolescent origins of the comic characterremaining more faithful to it in terms of rhythm, irony and clumsiness. Holland, who thanks to his competitive past as a dancer has won over the director and producers. Starting with Kevin Feige, who had also worked on the first trilogy, precisely because of his elasticity, Holland has confirmed himself as the Winning choice for Generation Z. Next to him another perfect representative of him, Zendaya* who plays MJ**, an intelligent girl who treats life and Peter himself with sarcasm and irony, and then falls in love with him.
There is always the word “home” in the title because it is key to the character and his journey: Spider-Man: Homecoming (August 5) as the promil prom which characterizes American high schools; Spider-Man: Far From Home (August 12) for trip to Europe, another typical element, collecting the important legacy of Iron Man and trying to understand what to do with it; until Spider-Man: No Way Home (August 19, last appointment with the Spider-Mondays review) and having to return home lost in the Multiverse. This time in Tom Holland’s Spidey there is no Uncle Ben and his death: in his place there is the mentor figure of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). But there is Aunt May, even if much younger to balance the protagonist’s chronological age. But a death that will change his life forever will come anyway, perfectly reconnecting to the previous Wall-Crawlers and closing a circle that now is just waiting to be reopened. In the meantime, let’s enjoy one of the most beloved comic book movies of all time in the magic of the big screen, and fight the sultry heat with the coolness of the movie theater!
