Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2 - io9 Comments

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

RAHfanboy — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:47:22 PDT

@braak:
"@Charlie Jane Anders: @B: Well, I'm convinced. I shall set to work building my own spine-extractor immediately."

Let me know if your device works in reverse. I personally think that a "spine implanter" would be of a lot more use.

RAHfanboy

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

braak — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:47:17 PDT

@AndrewMac: Don't spiders actually have really shitty senses?

braak

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Chaoticevl — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:29:14 PDT

I preferred the was it was done, but had they decided to give Doc Ock a love interest i would have preferred aunt May. While i never truly understood it, it was always interesting to see Doc Ock interact with aunt May. Either as a hostage to keep Peter quiet or he seemed to have genuine feelings for her.

Chaoticevl

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

cljohnston108 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:54:17 PDT

I absolutely agree with your assessment, Charlie.
I really wish they'd filmed Chabon's version.

cljohnston108

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

AndrewMac — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:11:16 PDT

Regarding the review of the now missing script above, I agree, it sounds like it would have made a lot more sense if we accept that which renders Parker into Spiderman is a purely scientific transformation. Instead, TPTB chose to follow a story Marvel was running in the comics at that time called "The Other". Peter was killed my a totemic vampire that preyed upon those using totemic animal based energy in their identity (batman would be a target, or catwoman, etc.) He somehow went into a cocoon enwrapped coma and was able to emerge only by confronting and agreeing to accept a larger part of the "spider" into himself. He emerged with biological movie-style webshooters and "enhanced spider senses". Cheesy in retrospect, but an interesting reinvention of the character now erased by the devil in "one more day". It sounds like Marvels bungling of the character was in action then too, and cost us all a better film. Besides, I would have loved to have seen Alfred Molina tear into a Hannibal Lecter style scene with Mary Jane - "I like to use my hands . . . I'm a little freaky." Spider man vs. a actual evil genius - this film could have elevated the bar for the superhero flick. Instead, this summer we can look forward to Hancock.

AndrewMac

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

jesustonight — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:02:36 PDT

wow they gave his script a hollywood rewrite and actually made it better ,all the stuff they dropped sounded stupid a chip to re write dna?doc ock dosent go insane from grief but rather a bad dining experience?the only thing that sounds good was the aunt may scene.I thought the movie was flawed but now i see we had a lucky escape

jesustonight

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

inconstant_reader — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:21:55 PDT

I found a copy of the PDF here.

inconstant_reader

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Acheman — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:54:10 PDT

Yeah, I'll probably try to find the PDF because: Michael Chabon; but as described the script sounds over-convoluted and unsubtle. In particular, Aunt May spelling out that everyone has to cope with the angst of responsibility would have just about killed the film for me. Taking that subtext, which is what makes me love Spiderman 2 to an unnatural degree, and making it into expository dialoguey text? No. No.

Acheman

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Gospel X — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:29:04 PDT

I enjoyed the released version of Spider-Man 2. Out of the three Spidey films, I think this one was the closest to feeling like a Spidey story. All it really needed was a cast change (Maguire needs to go!) and some one-liners for the boy in red and blue.

What I don't like hearing about this script is the fact that Otto was "courting" MJ. I mean, the character of Mary Jane is supposed to be one of the hottest Marvel Universe characters and all, but just because everyone wants to fuck her doesn't mean that she bothers giving them the time of day.

Gospel X

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

ceejeemcbeegee — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:12:56 PDT

@diverguy: I thought in the books Spidey's powers diminished when he got a cold or fever or when he was depressed?

ceejeemcbeegee

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

MonkeyT — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:32:48 PDT

I would've liked to see Harry pull a slow dive into insanity through all of 2 instead of the justifiable simmer and hard turn into nut-burger at the end, but as for the rest of it, I prefer the direction they went, especially with Ock. Letting the mechanical arms embody his ambitions and his dark, impulsive frustration at science being subordinate to the corporate money men, and having his wife personify his fragile connection with the rest of humanity worked really well for me. Spidey's power loss could have just as easily been handled by letting Spidey have a careless accident and failure as his personal life reared up distracted him. Letting doubt manifest as impotence? That's a more realistic answer for me than diablos ex machina.

MonkeyT

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

rightback12 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:12:53 PDT

Aside from the hard pull we're all getting off of reading one blog post, does anyone have the PDF or know where I can get it. I like reading before judging.

rightback12

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Slatz_Grobnik — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:58:22 PDT

@braak: A spine-extractor was Invention of the Month for the Scientists of Questionable Morals/Sanity Club back in October of 02. There's a lot of 'em lying about.

Slatz_Grobnik

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Logan5 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:25:45 PDT

I don't think the Chabon script was preferable to the final version of SM 2. In fact, I'm a little surprised that many of the appealing aspects of this film have been diminished in this blog post. For instance, when Spidey loses his ability it did actually make sense and offered a deeper look into Peter's psyche and the psychological association with his abilities than the Chabon version which made the incident very two dimensional.

Similarly, I find it far less believable and, once again, two dimensional to have Doc Oct be not only Spidey's superhero rival but his romantic rival as well.

In any case, it wasn't just the script but its execution that made Spiderman 2 one of the best movies of this genre.

Logan5

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Seth L — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:15:19 PDT

@jermom:

I didn't mind him in one, but it was diminishing reterns for the next two.

Seth L

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

jbq — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:04:10 PDT

Well, it was certainly clear that every excellent thing about S-M2 (sounds like a different kind of flick when it's all acronym'd) came from the Chabon script. I read it over at slashfilm a few days ago, and most people there hated it. Me, I liked it. It would certainly have been a different film, but whereas most people there complained about the dialogue, I thought it was pretty good. Now, I only know Chabon from reputation before this, so I was certainly not biased as a fan, but I can definitely say I'll be checking out his work after reading this script.

jbq

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

jermom — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:57:04 PDT

@Seth L: a friend of mine says the same thing. He equates Spider-Man & Toby to having your favorite meal at a restaurant and then finding a big ol' turd in the middle of it. I don't exactly like Toby, and I can probably think of a few other dudes who would play PParker better, but I didn't particularly let it ruin the movies for me.

jermom

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

sir_eccles — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:55:34 PDT

Just read my first Michael Chabon "The Yiddish Policemans Union" and enjoyed it immensely so I can imagine the sort of characters and plots he might have put into this script.

Incidentally I recently read that "The Yiddish Policemans Union" is to be filmed by the Coen Brothers, woot!

sir_eccles

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Monsieur.Mind — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:54:21 PDT

All said, I neither hate 3 nor exalt 2 because they all just felt like well-executed and financed B-movies, rather than Epics.

Monsieur.Mind

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

hageesheart — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:53:06 PDT

@Macloserboy: yeah. I'm not sure who would watch Smallville--especially the early seasons--and think, "These guys really get what it takes to make a good superhero story!"

I'm a little ambivalent about Chabon; I think he's a good enough writer, a little too polite for my taste, but I guess I'd tend to trust him over those two..

That being said, I'm off to see if I can find the script somewhere.

hageesheart

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Monsieur.Mind — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:52:31 PDT

SM2 was a step up from 1 (which started off great, until the Goblin showed up and bored everyone to death with his dastardly attacks on parades and the suburbs), but still left me feeling like something was missing. It never fully hit the emotional notes I thought, except when MJ finds out PP is SM. And SM3? No worse than SM1 or 2. The birth of Sandman was sheer poetry.

Monsieur.Mind

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Garrison Dean, King Awesome — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:39:52 PDT

@Belabras: If you expect the ostracizing, it makes it less fun for me to say things, like...Dood, you're a frakkin idiot for liking 3 as much as 2. So... I won't say it. Hah.

Garrison Dean, King Awesome

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

obsolete313 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:35:40 PDT

does anyone know where you can find the pdf online now?

obsolete313

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

braak — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:33:26 PDT

@xv43: Recasting Kirsten Dunst out would have been a good start.

braak

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

lebaneseblond — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:28:31 PDT

Interesting, now if only something could be done to prevent #4 from being another train wreck like #3

lebaneseblond

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Belabras — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:27:54 PDT

I think I may be only geek in existence that actually liked Spider-man 3, but I don't care. I liked it, and I liked it AT LEAST AS MUCH as Spider-man 2. (but not as much as 1)

Oh, and I like Tobey in the role.

Let the ostracizing begin.

Belabras

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

The Blow Leprechaun — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:21:08 PDT

It certainly sounds like a better comic book, but I'm not sure it would have made for a better movie. It's tough to introduce that much complexity into a movie without making it 5 hours long.

And, really, the only way to vastly improve Spider-Man 2 would be to recast Tobey Maguire out of the role.

The Blow Leprechaun

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Dunny0 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:20:16 PDT

@braak: If an explanation would have removed the musical number, then no. No they did not need to do it in movie.

Dunny0

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Macloserboy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:19:39 PDT

@u_nick: Yeah, that's actually needlessly convoluted ("pacer chip") and the dead wife is head and shoulders above Mary Jane being attracted to Doc Ock. And I got that his powers were tied to his sub-conscious, just like in reality you tend to sick when you're stressed or depressed.

Who would have thought those hacks from Smallville (who stole the idea, though they continue to claim creation) could improve anything?

Macloserboy

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

DocGratis — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:17:06 PDT

@B: No no... What you want from your oppenent dictates what you eat...

Heart:Courage
Spine:Reflexes
Brain:Knowledge (warning comes with angst (so bad idea in Spiderman's case))
Spleen:Immune system
Kidneys:Sense of humor (who knew)
Eyes:Vision
Fat: DUH!

DocGratis

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

edosan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:09:46 PDT

@braak: All the supermodels have their spines removed nowadays. It makes them slimmer.

edosan

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

braak — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:06:23 PDT

@Dunny0: Yes, that is definitely an explanation.

It's a shame no one thought to mention it in the movie.

braak

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Spoony Bard — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:05:45 PDT

I didn't have too many problems with the movie as filmed. I do wish Chabon was involved with the 3rd movie though...

I remember e-mailing Mr. Chabon when he was announced as the writer (I was a Chabon fan already). He wrote me a nice note back thanking me and asking me to "cross my fingers" as he began his Hollywood journey.

Spiderman 2 wouldn't have been the movie it is if it weren't for his contributions. Gifted author and class act all the way.

Spoony Bard

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Garrison Dean, King Awesome — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:03:50 PDT

@Charlie Jane Anders: @u_nick: I gotta go with you guys. I didn't think there was anything wrong with that flick. And it looks even better after 3. This sounds a little overcomplicated. Of course I can't read it...

DAMN YOU NY LITERARY ELITE!!! Bring back the PDF!

Garrison Dean, King Awesome

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Dunny0 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:01:15 PDT

@braak: His mutation went into remission. Like cancer... Or the Hulk at a tea-party.

Dunny0

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Seth L — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:00:30 PDT

That sounds like much more of a Sam Rami movie then what we got.

Of course it still doesn't fix the biggest problem with Spider-Man: Toby Mcguire.

Seth L

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Dunny0 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:59:32 PDT

@loserface: Yeah, exactly my thoughts too. His loss of powers being caused by a form of functional depression makes a lot more sense to me than some sort of chip.

Dunny0

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Ed Grabianowski — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:59:02 PDT

I felt it was an ok movie as delivered, but I didn't necessarily think the script was responsible for any problems I perceived. Like just about any "blockbuster" released in the last six or seven years, the problem comes down to editing. Too many scenes are just dreadfully long, both the action scenes and the dialog scenes. SNIP! SNIP! Cut a half hour out of the movie and it would have been better. You could say this about King Kong, Return of the King, any of those Pirate movies, and so on. There seems to be this attitude of, "We paid $20 million in CGI effects for this scene, we're damn well going to use every last frame of it!"

Ed Grabianowski

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

lonewolf333 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:58:18 PDT

Sounds like it was a good idea for me to skip the whole spiderman movie thing.

lonewolf333

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

braak — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:58:09 PDT

@diverguy: Except for the fact that his "gift" was a genetic mutation, not an independent entity that was capable of feeling resentment.

"How, precisely, does not embracing being bitten by a mutant super-spider result in you being unbitten by a mutant super-spider?" Is the question.

braak

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

diverguy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:54:16 PDT

"Remember that whole sequence in the movie where Peter decides he's sick of being Spider-Man, and then loses his powers for no particular reason?"

That made perfect sense to me. He didn't embrace his gift so it abandoned him. Didn't strike me as being all that mysterious a reason.

diverguy

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Plague — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:51:38 PDT

This does sound more coherent as a whole, but S2 was so full of win that I'm not going to complain about the finished product.
Unlike S3.

Plague

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

braak — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:48:29 PDT

@Charlie Jane Anders: @B: Well, I'm convinced. I shall set to work building my own spine-extractor immediately.

braak

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

jp182 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:47:30 PDT

@Belabras: I agree, it sounds like it would have been a deeper movie than what we got but it would have also been longer and I don't think it would have appealed to as many people as it did. I personally thought that 2 wasn't as good as 1 but better than 3. I don't know if Chabon's script would have made me like it anymore than I did though.

jp182

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Miranda Kali — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:45:25 PDT

@B: As long as you drink orange Crush with it, I suppose that works.

Miranda Kali

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Charlie Jane Anders — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:40:09 PDT

@braak: Well, the story reason is that he wants to remove Spidey's spider-spine so he can fix his own problems integrating with his octo-arms. But yeah, it is *interesting* that he just happens to have a de-spining machine ready. Many chefs actually prefer to serve the main course with the spine still inside, because it's a delicacy.

Charlie Jane Anders

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Loserface — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:37:17 PDT

@Charlie Jane Anders: The losing the powers part was my favorite part -- it was his depression at the choices he made manifesting itself though his powers. Superhero impotence.

Loserface

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Belabras — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:32:32 PDT

You know, I really liked the movie we got, but I did wonder about some of the 'weaker' moments in there like the loss of powers bit. I also really thought we'd seen the end of the "gotta save MJ" plot hook after the first movie, so it's nice to see that the script writer had originally intended that not to be the climactic battle.

However, Chabon's script sounds like an even longer movie than what we saw. I'm not sure the silver screen could have supported it.

Belabras

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Falconfire — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:32:31 PDT

@u_nick: agreed, I saw this on aintitcool too and Im glad his script was changed, because other than the losing powers bit, everything else was 1000 times better than Chabon fanwankish script... if you could call it that.

Falconfire

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:28:57 PDT

@braak: To extract delicious spines, obviously. Some people believe it's the heart that allows you to eat your opponent's courage, but it's really the spine.

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

braak — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:25:31 PDT

It sounds a little more interesting and cohesive.

But why does anyone have a "spine -extracting machine"?

braak

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

Charlie Jane Anders — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:19:16 PDT

@u_nick: I sorta liked Spider-Man 2, but wasn't as crazy about it as a lot of people... in particular, the "losing his powers" section made no sense to me in the film.

Charlie Jane Anders

Read Michael Chabon's Script for Spider-Man 2

u_nick — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:16:07 PDT

Wow. I'm a little startled you think that all sounds better. Maybe I'm biased because I'm a fan of what we got, and I wasnt happy with certain parts overall, but some of the stuff you point out sound ridiculous to me. Maybe I should just get the pdf to read myself though. Maybe I'm just hearing you wrong.

u_nick