Letters

—Michael NorasingNiagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

One of the best, fun, slicker-than-whale-sh*t-on-an-ice-floe flicks I have ever seen! Is Manohla Dargis’ head completely up the behind, or what? Needless to say, I will look no more to your publication for your opinions on film. Thanks!

—Rory D. WoodsLos Angeles

Please fire the reviewer who gave the stupid bad review of Spider-Man, or at least next time send someone under the age of 50 to give an honest review.

—Anthony BrownMemphis, Tennessee

Either about 90 percent (maybe more) of America, and most of the entire free world, are idiots for loving everything about Spider-Man, or Manohla Dargis was dropped as a baby and never recovered.

—James MattinglyAntioch, Tennessee

I am writing in "response" to the Spider-Man movie review recently posted on your Web site. I hate to say, but where does the writer get off smashing this wonderful movie down so horribly that you don’t get a good movie review but a harsh slander on Sam Raimi and the special effects? This review seemed more like a writer wanting to show off his [sic] enormous vocabulary instead of actually watching the movie and writing an honest movie review. Example: "ejaculating long, white streams of webbing from his wrists." Whoa! Hold on, man! Big vocabulary gone wrong!

—Thomas RippyBowling Green, Kentucky

How on earth could you have assigned Manohla Dargis to review Spider-Man? Her analysis was sophomoric, to say the least, and clearly indicated a complete lack of understanding of the concept and character of Spider-Man. Her pretentiousness and utter inability to relate to this kind of film on its own terms rendered her review irrelevant. Who cares whether his butt jiggled or his "package" was less than her fantasy? The review reveals more about her own insecurities and sexual preoccupations than it does about her understanding of the cultural context of the film. Of course his face is covered! It’s the essence of the costume, and a pre-existing condition of making the film! Yes, he wears a unitard. Duh. What else would he wear? A two-piece? And who cares?

Next time, please have someone review this kind of movie who at least gets the concept. Everyone I know who’s seen the film loved it, as did my entire family.

—Josh Freeman and assorted outraged friendsSanta Monica

It’s the opinion of this reader Manohla Dargis intended to jump on the bandwagon of tanking overhyped movies and is probably at this moment choking on the overwhelming number of rave reviews, to say nothing of the enormous box-office numbers. Later this month, she’ll probably tell us that Star Wars should have been left in the early ’80s.

—Pete GriffinNashville, Tennessee

Whoever wrote the Spider-Man review is a complete moron caught up in another world.

—JesusJerusalem

I just wanted to tell you this: Talk your shit when you make your own great movie, since you know so much about them.

—J.C.Lake Worth, Florida

Your reviewer doesn’t really know what he or she was looking at. I would be embarrassed. Perhaps another career is in order.

—Frank ChecaMiami, Florida

Manohla Dargis is a very bitter person who knows a few catchy phrases.

—Ken LambEnfield, Connecticut

Where did you get your critic degree, clown college? Like, seriously, this movie was truly amazing all by itself. People gave it standing ovations at both screenings I went to, and I can honestly say this is in my Top 5 for all-time greats, and I have seen a lot of movies.

—Vishal SinghWaterloo, Ontario, Canada

When I noticed Manohla Dargis was reviewing the Spider-Man movie, I knew instantly that the Weekly would be giving their Film Pick of the Week to some artsy-fartsy indie film instead of to the wall-crawler. Sure enough, I was right. Next time, please send someone who likes superhero movies to review them.

—Howard HallisLos Angeles

I think you need to watch the Spider-Man movie again ’cause apparently you didn’t pay attention to it ’cause if the movie made over $114 million, it must be very good. I saw it three times plus everybody else that saw it said the same thing, so I think you need to see it again ’cause you are out of your mind.

—Adam RobertsPortsmouth, New Hampshire

I watched Spider-Man expecting to dislike it as much as other recent Hollywood fare. This movie is as good as or better than Richard Donner’s first Superman, and it puts the Batman series to shame. I realize it is an opinion, but I walked away with a smile on my face and feeling good. (The last time that happened was when I saw The Matrix.) By the way, his costume is not square at all. Superman is the one that needed the update, as evidenced by the new TV series Smallville.

—Jeff McCluskeySanta Barbara

You could make a better movie about me, right?

—Spider-ManNew York City