Sam Raimi last talked about Spider-Man 4 early last month, where he gave us details about such things as whether he was planning both the fourth and fifth Spider-Man films at the same time (he’s not), as well as how difficult it is to go back to a franchise after time has passed.
Today, in an interview with our friends over at Cinematical, Raimi talked some more about Spider-Man 4, and went a bit more specifically into his plans and goals for the fourth movie, including how it will differ from the disaster that was Spider-Man 3. Here’s what he had to say:
“I learn lessons on every single picture I make… I learned a lot on [Drag Me To Hell], about timing, and that you don’t have to give up any character at the expense of horror. It’s just an excuse that maybe I’ve used in the past. As far as Spider-Man, I’ve learned a lot of lessons about what people didn’t like and missteps that I’d made. But I learned those lessons on the previous two, I was just a little quieter about them. I made a lot of mistakes, and it’s part of the reason I so want to make this next story of Peter Parker.”
“I really think I know in my heart who the character is… I would like one more chance at it [that character]. [With] the Spider-Man films, I’ve made mistakes, but I really do look at them as things that I’ve learned, and hope that when I apply what I’ve learned to this next one, I really make a film that people enjoy and is really true to the character in a fresh, original way. That’s my goal.”
Even with the horrible way Raimi handled Spider-Man 3 (folks – he was the director, it was his movie, and it is his fault it sucked. There’s no excuse…), these latest thoughts from him just further solidify the fact that he really does love the character and is willing to put his all into bringing us another Spider-Man movie that’s on par with the first two.
It’s good to hear that Raimi has taken a look at what he did wrong with Spider-Man 3, admitted his mistakes, and is planning on doing what he can to make sure the same mistakes aren’t repeated in Spider-Man 4. He needs to carefully plan this one and not, for example, rush into such things as having a villain in there just because the fans love them so much (*cough* Venom! *cough*).
Whatever you do, Mr. Raimi, no more Mary Jane talking about her bloody career problems!
What do you make of Sam Raimi’s plans so far for Spider-Man 4? Are you glad he’s apparently learned from his past mistakes?
Spider-Man 4 is planned to be released on May 6th 2011.
Source: Cinematical
‘Anchorman 2′ Trailers Tease the Return of Ron Burgundy’s News Team [Updated] 
Hugh Jackman Reveals Summer Start Date for ‘Wolverine 2′ 
Chris Hemsworth Talks ‘Thor 2′; Mads Mikkelsen Circling Villain Role [Updated] 
‘Walking Dead’ Season 3 Preview Reveals The Prison & Michonne [Updated] 
Loading ...
I love the first 2 Spidey movies. I thought they were well created, fun and left me wanting more Spidey. I was never a fan of Dunst as MJ, but I am ok with her in a 4th film IF her role is extremely limited. 5-10 minute screen time tops.
As for Spidey 3, I didn’t think it was HORRIBLE (with emo Peter and Topher Grace as Venom being the obvious exceptions), but I thought that too much was trying to be crammed into one movie. Peter’s relationship with Harry AND Sandman would have been more than enough to have made a great movie. They could have made Venom a phenomenal 4th film, with the opening scene to S3 being at the end of S3-meteor falls to earth and the symbiote hitches a ride on Peter’s bike. A whole movie to delve into Venom and the symbiote would have made a great movie that fans would have been CLAMORING to see. I think both Sony and Raimi lost a lot of good will from the Spidey fans with forcing Venom into the movie.
Will I see Spider-Man 4? You bet I will because Spidey is one of my all-time favorite comic book characters and the first 2 films were fantastic. I’m willing to give Raimi another shot to make a great Spidey flick.
I’ve said it before Spider Man three could of been two good movies, but instead was one awful one.
“Sam Raimi Promises Spider-Man 4 Will Be Better”
“Admits it couldn’t be worse”
Actually im just being jocular as i haven’t seen it, but this article reminds me and i will now rent the dvd.
Taking out all the Venom stuff would’ve certainly made for a better movie. I have a feeling you would’ve still had Mary Jane’s career problems subplot with Harry & Gwen causing some romantic tension.
I thought Harry/GG was done pretty well in the 3rd movie and I like him better than in the 1st and 2nd movies. At leaat Spidey e had some great action sequences, possibly some of the best in the series. You could actually follow what was going on unlike most action movies these days.
At least he admits there were problems with the movie. That’s a good sign. Most of the time directors don’t want to see anything wrong and just say if it bombs that people just don’t want to see them anymore(star trek) or as long as they’re making money, we’ll just throw anything on the screen(x-3).
Mr. Raimi, don’t make promises you can’t keep. Just focus on making a great comic-book movie, ok? You got that? I hope you did cuz your 3rd film SUCKED!!!
Come on guys. Give Raimi a break. “It’s ALL his fault the movie sucked?”
He was forced to use a character that he had NO love of – so of course it would suck.
But yes, it was Raimi’s fault that he tried to include too many other elements (Sandman, Harry) and over-complicated the plot in the end. He probably should have just saved Sandman for another movie. It was also his fault that he accepted a script that gave us far too many emotional Peter moments, which sucked almost all the enjoyment out of the movie for me personally.
Either way, looking forward to fourth and fifth installments where obviously Venom won’t be an issue anymore.
There were so many things wrong with SM3, but Peter crying a lot isn’t in the top 5. I’m not saying it was the best part of the film, but in all the glaring errors that’s what you point out?
To me, Daniel, EMO Peter was one of the top 5 problems with Spidey 3. I don’t remember Spidey EVER being that whiney in the comics.
I considered the emo look on him to be a prblem, but not him actually having emotions. Everything he cried at any normal human would cry about. Would you think it better if he remained stoic while he watched his best friend die? “Oh look at that Harry is dead… That sucks.. Want some Ice Cream MJ?”
Yeah it was normal for Parker to cry in those situations
Alright,this is actually what should`ve been done:
Spiderman-Doc Ock
Spiderman 2-Green Goblin
Spiderman 3-Lizard and Scorpion(Lizard should have gotten alot bigger at the final battle scene.)
Spiderman 4-Sandman and Venom(It should`ve concluded with the last 20/25 minutes with Spiderman fighting Venom and Venom trying to reveal Spiderman`s secret identity in front of the camera. Right before Spiderman and Venom are about to fight Sandman should have smacked Spiderman a few times and when he`s about to smack him again Venom comes and throws him in the water. And the final shot should`ve been when Harry comes out of the machine which makes him strong enough to become the New Green Goblin.)
Spiderman 5- The first fight should`ve been with Spiderman and Harry, the next fight should`ve been with Carnage, the 3rd fight should`ve been with Venom AND Carnage,(and they have some sort of story arc which stabilizes them during the whole movie)the 4th and 5th fight should`ve been with Harry(and in the 5th fight Peter gets Harry to realize he didn`t really kill his father)the 6th fight should`ve been with Venom and Carnage, and the final battle should`ve been with Spiderman and Harry vs. Venom and Carnage.
I think that would`ve been the movie-type way, although that would probably be too complicated for them, so they probably wouldn`t have done something like that. How would it ruin the movie if Carnage was introduced at the end of Spiderman 4 then him and Venom were in part 5? I`m confused, even if Sandman was dropped would he still be unable to get Venom right cuz he`s too hard for him or he doesn`t love and understand the character?
37 radius no SM4 shouldn’t have been Sandman and Venom. With Raimi hatred for Venom he shouldn’t of been in a film at all however if he was gonna do it Venom should of been in his own film. SM3 could of been two movies. First would could of involved SM and Sandman with the symbiote jumping on spidey and ended with an awesome scene in the clock tower of him ripping it off in a heroic moment then the next movie it’s him versus venom.
Venom should’ve been in a movie agaisnt Spiderman ALONE….venom should be more than enough of a menace to spiderman w/o having to team up w/ another villian.
I can’t believe nobody wants Electro, Scorpion, Rhino or the Shocker in these movies.
All great villains, and a thousand times better than Venom, Carnage or even the Lizard.
Heck, give me Kraven. What a fantastic movie villain he’d be.
you guys know whats gonna happen, with the 4th and 5th film slated- at least thats whats been rumored- and to be released so close together – i think i heard within a year maybe just over.. CLIFFHANGER TIMEZ.. WHICH MEANS.. probably having mary jane die(but not really) storyline.. BUT whatever he does- 1 villian – very brutal real villian who isnt all talk (1st two actually killed people, the last two just got uncle ben– LOL) Anyways i wanna feel some anger while spidey pummels somebody, love them fights.
of course though that was just a rumor, and one i heard some time back. PLEASE DONT READ into that too much.
also.. Venom fan and what they did to him was unacceptable, all of you who want to see carnage in a sam raimi film should think twice…
AND thats sad becasue Carnage is about as HORROR as SM gets, you think raimis mouth be watering at the idea of combining the two
It is so sad to hear you guys talk about Spidey in that way, ‘Shame on you’.
You know there is a BETTER version of Spiderman 3 out there if you want the bad taste washed out..
http://www.howitshouldhaveended.com/Divx%20links/Spiderman3.html
Serious question here. How can a director i.e Raimi dislike/hate a character from a film he is directing?
After Spiderman 3 I wasn’t sure if I wanted Raimi to come back for another Spiderman film. I thought that maybe it’s time that a new pair of eyes with a fresh take take over the series. However, after reading this article he convinced me to give him another chance. He sounds very passionate about the character and doing the film justice. I think he can do it. So he has my support.
A new pair of eyes? I tell you now, if that happens the Spiderman franchise is all in vain my brother. And as you are probably aware that Spiderman is the best comic book movie ever made.
Well Darren, Spiderman 3 I think is universally thought of as a let down. It seemed that Raimi had lost his touch. Apparently even he thinks that he did for that one. So I think it was only logical to think that a new creative talent might have been needed at that point. Like I said though, he has convinced me in this article to stick by him again. I believe that he can bring us back the quality of the first Spiderman again. Spiderman was certainly great but I think that you’ll get a lot of arguments from people with thinking that it was the best ever made. I think most people would side with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight for that title. Each to their own I guess.
filmguy,
My choice(s) for best comic book film would have to be a tie between “The Dark Knight” and “Iron Man”.
Hey filmguy, that comment was a very fair and discreet one(one without the…. you know). I must say- you are a filmguy.
Ross Miller,
“*Cough* Venom!*Cough*”
Uuughh, who`s coughing?
I think that Sam raimi did a great job with the first two spiderman films. I think the reason why the third one was bad is because they were making the movie while still writing it. What killed the third one was the story. It’s as simple as that. I think another problem was also the blacksuit. It seemed like thay had trouble trying to fit it in or somthing. Because it didn’t show up until about an hour in the movie and then Venom didn’t show up until 20 minutes left. Which kinda confuses me. I mean these people are supposesd to be intelligent film makers. Did they think the fans would be happy to see venom for only a few minutes then kill him off. Anyway these are my villain choices for the next 3 movies.
spidey 4: Lizard and Kraven- If you think about it a story will work really well with these two as the villains.
Spidey 5: Electro and vulture– Now I don’t really know how a story would work with these two but they are great villains–
Spidey 6: Scorpion and Carnage– The reason why I picked carnage is because well him and scorpion kinda fit together. And also Scorpion isn’t really that powerful so carnage will even that out. Scorpion has a great story aswell and carnage doesnt really have one he’s kinda like the joker in the dark knight- Also there should be another character introduced like blackcat.
I know the movies probly wont go like this but i think most of these villains or maybe all of them will be introduced in the films.
They suffer from the same mistakes as all film makers do in these situations. Ever since Batman Returns, they thought the formula to a successful superhero movie had to include multiple villains. In my opinion, they need to go back to one villain per movie and leave it at that. Iron Man and Incredible Hulk prove it.
So… I’m the only one pushing for a Cardiac appearance? *sigh*