But the real let-down of this movie is Danny Elfman unbelievable mediocre score. I won't even talk about his usual funfa-funfa" + little singing "oooohh" choral + bizarre percussive sounds "trademark" (more like "the only thing the guy was able to invent in his poor career") which makes you wonder when Bart Simpson or Edward Scissorhands will show up on screen...
But what really bother is the lack of any recognizable theme at all! Nothing!

Even Stu Phillips was able to deliver a quite groovy theme for the tv show. Even that ludicrous song composed for that old Marvel animated cartoon would be acceptable here...

Generally, I liked the film. I liked the first two acts, even the concluding act, honestly. Most of my problems came from the film's CGI and rather forgettable sense of humor (though generally funny). Overall, though, a good time.

Thing is, that's why I dispose of it rather quickly. The whole flick is utterly forgettable. It's fun, sure, but it simply doesn't linger in my mind long aftewards.

I know some people don't think too highly of Burton's Batman, but man that film is just captivating for me to this day. It is as memorable as films (superhero or not) come. The atmosphere, the score, the JOKER

Oh yeah, the jumping-over-the-USA-flag was a bit obvious too.

The most annoying scene though had nothing to do with patriotism or CGI: it was when Spider Man picks up Mary Jane for a swing around the block.
That Spider Man life-size plastic doll she was holding on to was so ridiculously fake I almost laughed.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Al:
It's an American movie, after all.

---

Is it?
Why they didn't use the American Continent flag instead of the USA one then???

Anyway, hopefully they won't call Elfman for the sequence...

Smartass.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Al:
North American - USA.

---

Isn't Canada part of North America also??

(American - North American - USA)

quote:

---

Originally posted by sean: AI I was not looking for an excuse to call you a smartass, but I noticed you called André one so I decided to return the favour.

---

Not a big deal, really. I just figured Andre would be proud to be called a smartass, since sarcastic comments are his expertise.

---

I still don't see what the fuss is about. The U.S.A's flag was in a movie made in the U.S.A.

Let's not sh*t ourselves all at once.

(notice how I said U.S.A. flag instead of American flag to clear up any confusion that might have been caused)

I am stunned, stunned I tell you, to discover that Andre has found a Danny Elfman score he doesn’t like. The next thing you know, he’ll be telling us he doesn’t like Hans Zimmer!

quote:

---

Too bad other countries aren't as proud to be from their homeland as Americans (USA Americans of course).

---

No way.

But, lets face it, having someone like Rambo or Rocky or Supermen or Spidermen or Steven Seagal embracing, kissing, jumping or cleaning their noses on the USA flag shouldn't be consider an offense instead of something to be proud of??

However, I just want to point out that there ARE themes in Spiderman- present in every single action cue. (There's also a very prominent theme for the Green Goblin- it shows up every time he's onscreen) You just have to be a good listener. And even if you don't hear his Spiderman theme- the heroic tone that's "needed" for the character is quite obvious. A weak composer is one who constantly relies on his main theme- quoting it constantly (coughjohndebneycough) because they can't come up with any other original material to fill in the gaps. That horrid TIME MACHINE score that everyone seems to champion is a perfect example- the same 2-3 themes repeated ad nauseam. If that's the score you want for Spiderman, then I pity you.

I find it funny that everyone LOVES Williams' ATTACK OF THE CLONES- which only has 1 prominent new theme (which is pretty dang unoriginal) and a handful of motives that no one seems to be able to place with any specific thing or character. With the exception of the cameo appearance of a few old themes- this score is incredibly athematic- much moreso than Spiderman- yet few really seem bothered by it. (For the record, I like AOTC).

Ok, sorry for interrupting- back to the incredibly riveting debate on the use of the American (read: USA) flag in American-(read: USA) made movies that feature real cities in the USA as their setting. Oh man! I'll be following this thread closely over the next couple of days!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tim_P:
That horrid TIME MACHINE score that everyone seems to champion is a perfect example- the same 2-3 themes repeated ad nauseam. If that's the score you want for Spiderman, then I pity you.

---

Of course, Elfman is not so hideous as Hanzimmer and his clones, but his music is stil bad. Why people keep hiring these people is really beyond me. The funny thing about SIPER-MAN is that everyone (well, except the usual Elfman's obtuse worshiper) agree that the score is quite mediocre and boring. Not to mention themeless.

Here's what Andy Dursin said (and I don't think he is a Elf-hater at all):

"Musically, Danny Elfman's soundtrack is perfectly serviceable, though there's a formulaic, been-there-done-that element to his score that comes off as a little disappointing. The main title sounds like "Darkman" meets "Planet Of The Apes," and it might have been nice to have a melodic theme to grasp onto -- particularly considering the tuneful Spider-themes of yesteryear."

quote:

---

I find it funny that everyone LOVES Williams' ATTACK OF THE CLONES.

---

Maybe because Williams is good and Elfman simple isn't?

quote:

---

back to the incredibly riveting debate on the use of the American (read: USA) flag in American-(read: USA) made movies that feature real cities in the USA as their setting.
Tim

---

Please, decide: is the name of your country USA or America? It seems that officially is USA (as we can see labeled anywhere, including on those spaceships you guys send to space), but you love to call it America because it makes you feel more "patriotic", like if ALL the american continent bellongs to USA?

This is getting quite schizophrenic, you know...

Here's what Andy Dursin said (and I don't think he is a Elf-hater at all): <HR size=1></blockquote>

Oh ok, since the usual group of negative geeks think the score is boring and themeless, than it has to be... (Since when is Andy Dursin the voice of God? I don't even really hear POTA OR DARKMAN in those main titles... more like BATMAN and THE FAMILY MAN). Everyone who says that is flat-out wrong. Well, at least in terms of it being themeless- the themes are as clear as day- I have no idea how people aren't hearing them. True, it's not like BATMAN or SUPERMAN where the same unaltered theme is blasted in your face every 5 seconds- Elfman is much more clever with his material- he actually works with it and develops it throughout the course of the movie.

If you want to believe the score is boring- you're of course welcome to that opinion. But again- I find Elfman's SPIDERMAN to be MUCH more exciting than Williams' AOTC. (And again- I LOVE AOTC)

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Maybe because Williams is good and Elfman simple isn't? <HR size=1></blockquote>

Hihihi!! You is right, Andre! Williams are good! Donuts is poo-po head! Hihihihihihi!!

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Please, decide: is the name of your country USA or America? It seems that officially is USA (as we can see labeled anywhere, including on those spaceships you guys send to space), but you love to call it America because it makes you feel more "patriotic", like if ALL the american continent bellongs to USA?

This is getting quite schizophrenic, you know... <HR size=1></blockquote>

No no- I know that the USA isn't the only country on this continent! To the north there's Canada and to the south there's Mexico- and then south of that I believe there's another continent with a bunch of undeveloped countries with lots of feces-throwing monkeys and bananas...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tim_P:
No no- I know that the USA isn't the only country on this continent! To the north there's Canada and to the south there's Mexico- and then south of that I believe there's another continent with a bunch of undeveloped countries with lots of feces-throwing monkeys and bananas...

---

I understand you are trying to be funny, TimP.
Unfortunately you people really believe this to be true, which makes you only look dumb and pitiable.

No wonder why you get all fussy when some jerk embraces the USA flag...

quote:

---

Please, decide: is the name of your country USA or America?

---

Oh for Pete's sake, Andre, are you really as dense as you try to appear? Let me explain it to you in short words so you will understand once and for all:

The full name of our country is the "United States of America." A citizen of the United States of America is called an "American." The adjective used to describe something from the United States of America is "American," also. A citizen from Canada is called a "Canadian"; a citizen of Mexico is called a "Mexican."

It is not unlike the way subjects of the United Kingdom usually refer to themselves as "English" or "Scottish" or "Welsh".

Really, I'm astounded that you've had so much trouble understanding this. No one else in the world seems to have that problem.

I live in the United States of Brasil, but no one calls it U.S.B. If people called it that way, I would be embarrassed to see someone saying Brasil. Why? Is it U.S.B. or is it Brasil?

There's nothing wrong with your country's name - U.S.A - but the fact that you can't decided what to call it is annoying and preposterous. It's U.S.A. when you want to be formal. It's "America" when you want to be patriotic (like in the pathetic "God bless Amééééérica!!")...
Besides, America is the name of an entire continent, what makes your "patriotic" denomination even more lame and prejudicial.

Imagine if France decide to change its name to U.S.E (United States of Europe) and then every french start to say "I live in Europe! I am an European!!". Funny, isn't it??

Even spanish CNN call you people "Estadunidenses" (i.e., "Unitedstadians").

quote:

---

Originally posted by Andre Lux Unfortunately you people really believe this to be true, which makes you only look dumb and pitiable.

No wonder why you get all fussy when some jerk embraces the USA flag...

---

Your argument says this:

People get fussy when "some jerk embraces the USA flag," because they think anything south of Mexico is undeveloped.

quote:

---

No one says "America" officially.

---

"Officially"?? What in the world are you talking about? Did you even read what I wrote? The name of our country is the "United States of America". The name of your country is the "United States of Brasil". We sometimes say "America" for short; you sometimes say "Brasil". What is the mystery?

quote:

---

There's nothing wrong with your country's name - U.S.A -

---

Thanks, we agree. Nothing wrong with yours, either.

quote:

---

but the fact that you can't decided what to call it is annoying and preposterous

---

We have no problem deciding what to call it . . . do you? We call it the "United States of America" or "America" for short. Just like British subjects sometimes call their country the "United Kingdom of Great Britain, Scotland, and Wales (etc.)" and sometimes "Great Britain" and sometimes just the "U.K."

The fact that you can't accept that is what is "annoying and preposterous."

quote:

---

Besides, America is the name of an entire continent, what makes your "patriotic" denomination even more lame and prejudicial.

---

I'm not aware of any continent in the world called "America"; are you? I was taught there are seven continents: Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, North America, South America, and Antarctica. Did you learn something different? So, how is calling ourselves "American" lame and prejudicial? Who is prejudiced by it?

(Perhaps you are imagining a situation in which people called themselves "North American". . . ?)

quote:

---

Imagine if France decide to change its name to U.S.E (United States of Europe) and then every french start to say "I live in Europe! I am an European!!"

---

Ah, yes, I see now! You talk only of your own imaginination, rather than what actually exists. We Americans, on the other hand, live in the real world.

Let us know when you will join us.

[Message edited by Good King Harry on 05-24-2002]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Good King Harry:
<The name of our country is the "United States of America". The name of your country is the "United States of Brasil". We sometimes say "America" for short; you sometimes say "Brasil". What is the mystery?

---

America is the name of a continent, which is divided in North, Central and South America - all part of the planet Earth...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Al:
Your argument says this:

People get fussy when "some jerk embraces the USA flag," because they think anything south of Mexico is undeveloped.

---

No, you people get all fussy because someone made you believe that "patriotism", "honor", "pride" are things to be worshiped.

You people believing that anything south of U.S.A. (Mexico included) is undeveloped is just a consequence of that...