Spiderman in Eden
Too bad Spiderman wasn’t around when we messed up in Eden

Maynard’s cinematic philosophizing

I finally got around to seeing Spiderman 3. The reviews were mildly positive, but the only opinion that matters is mine, right? And I mostly agree; the movie is good but not great.

An underlying theme is a vaguely metaphorical battle between the masculine and feminine faces of humanity. Aunt May speaks up for the one extreme, as she constantly urges Peter to turn the other cheek and abandon his anger. (The deceased Uncle Ben seemed of a similar mindset; I am beginning to develop a theory about why this couple was childless.)

On the flip side, there’s that cool black suit, which releases all those nasty testosterone-driven urges. Hoo Hah!

It’s not surprising that this movie, emerging from the liberal bias that infests Hollywood, tilts strongly femme. But take heart; there’s enough arse-kicking to make this castrated ideology forgivable if not forgettable. The words may reinforce the pussycats, but the deeds back the tomcats. I guess in that sense, it’s a philosophical smorgasbord. Or maybe this is just Hollywood manipulation, or pandering, or confusion, or even genuine ambivalence. Or all of the above.

I’m flashing back to the Team America movie, with its infamous “There are three kinds of people” soliloquy. Now there was a solid worldview! It was wrapped, of course, in the characteristic South Park cocoon of vulgarity. This was a dramatic plea for collaboration between the masculine and the feminine, that they may muster their resources in the essential battle against evil. I think this is how God would have us behave. (This is not to opine that God would wholeheartedly endorse South Park, you understand. But the world is a complex tapestry.)

Yes, Team America is what you might call “fair and balanced”, whereas Spiderman has something of an agenda. Well, that’s okay. I appreciate that Spiderman is a conflicted guy. This makes him more human and accessible to us.

Or am I taking this all too seriously?

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8 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. David Jerome says:

    A slow news day at the Maynard house,I take it?hehe

  2. Airdale says:

    Yes, way too seriously.(just kidding) I gave up “message” movies in my 20’s. Now, they just annoy me. I try to ignore Hollyweird’s posturing and/or ignore films that openly display their bias.

  3. So…uh…where does the gay part come in?

    And are you insinuating that South Park is not a message from the Lord Almighty? 😉

    Nice review, actually; I haven’t seen Spidey II yet and lots are saying III doesn’t stand up to it.

    Kelly

  4. Considering what’s passing for news these days, I’ll play along, and I think your analysis is spot on.

  5. Mwalimu Daudi says:

    I didn’t know Eve was a blonde with green eyes. Is she the Babe of the Week?

  6. kcnut says:

    He not gay he a dhimmicrat most gay people i know are great american and care about this country. Also most democrats like marvel and glad captain america dead.

  7. Dave J says:

    Mwalimu Daudi, that would be Gwen Stacy as Eve unless I’m wrong…and I am NEVER wrong about being a total comic book dork. 😉

  8. F-Islam says:

    Hollywood made him gay. They also made the Hobbits gay. Not in a cheap way, but in a sensitive, gay marriage kind of way.

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