astrapol2
07-25-2004, 08:25 AM
I have just seen Spiderman II, which I found an fairly good movie. I wanted to share with those who have seen it (spoilers !) a few reflexions. I did not post this in "movies" but in "world news", you're going to understand why.
As a non american but well informed about the USA and te american society, I was struck by the fact that Spiderman II is obviously a post 9-11 movie.
It is about heroism in New-York city, and avoiding a tragedy that could cost thousands of lives - obviously Sam Raimi had to think at least sometimes about 9-11 when he made the movie.
First, the context. We see a town filled with amrican flags (I don't remember having seen them in the first movie), where ordinary people from all communities stick together against terrible threats (the subway scene : when they confront Dr Octopus, it reminded me of the passengers of the flight who took actions against the terrorists).
Then, the hero. Spiderman, here, is not a "super cop". Unlike Batman whose main purpose is to stop criminals, Spiderman first motivation is to save lives. He is forced to act when a car is going to fall on people, or when Dr Octopus threatens innocents. He is in fact a "super fireman", who saves people from fires (in the building with the litttle girl then at the end from what can be seen as the mother of all fires). The firemen were the real heroes of 9-11 and Spiderman is on their side rather the police side. They appear in two key sequences of the movie : the building in fire and at the very end, when Spiderman flies over the streets - he makes his way above several fire trucks.
At last, the message. Mostly delivered by Peter Parker's aunt and uncle : in this time, America needs heroes who stick to their values to help and inspire others, and who are ready to sacrifice their daily comfort for a bigger issue. A message delivered by ordinary people, who seem to be the only honest compared to a corrupted upper class (the banker who tries to grab a golden coin and is prevented from doing so by the aunt, or the media mogul who makes fake accusations to make more money). Peter Parker, being also one of these ordinary people, unlike the alien Clark Kent or billionnaire Bruce Wayne, is the real post-9-11 american hero.
As a non american but well informed about the USA and te american society, I was struck by the fact that Spiderman II is obviously a post 9-11 movie.
It is about heroism in New-York city, and avoiding a tragedy that could cost thousands of lives - obviously Sam Raimi had to think at least sometimes about 9-11 when he made the movie.
First, the context. We see a town filled with amrican flags (I don't remember having seen them in the first movie), where ordinary people from all communities stick together against terrible threats (the subway scene : when they confront Dr Octopus, it reminded me of the passengers of the flight who took actions against the terrorists).
Then, the hero. Spiderman, here, is not a "super cop". Unlike Batman whose main purpose is to stop criminals, Spiderman first motivation is to save lives. He is forced to act when a car is going to fall on people, or when Dr Octopus threatens innocents. He is in fact a "super fireman", who saves people from fires (in the building with the litttle girl then at the end from what can be seen as the mother of all fires). The firemen were the real heroes of 9-11 and Spiderman is on their side rather the police side. They appear in two key sequences of the movie : the building in fire and at the very end, when Spiderman flies over the streets - he makes his way above several fire trucks.
At last, the message. Mostly delivered by Peter Parker's aunt and uncle : in this time, America needs heroes who stick to their values to help and inspire others, and who are ready to sacrifice their daily comfort for a bigger issue. A message delivered by ordinary people, who seem to be the only honest compared to a corrupted upper class (the banker who tries to grab a golden coin and is prevented from doing so by the aunt, or the media mogul who makes fake accusations to make more money). Peter Parker, being also one of these ordinary people, unlike the alien Clark Kent or billionnaire Bruce Wayne, is the real post-9-11 american hero.