Bill Petro

SPIDER-MAN

There is something about being first in line for the midnight showing of the premier of a summer blockbuster, not to mention that I was probably the oldest person in the theater.

The Experience: A young friend of mine insured our place at the front of the line by camping out since Monday for the Friday 12:01 AM premier. You’ve heard of people who bring a tent and a sleeping bag — this young man built a Spider-Man Den, a veritable “Spidey Suite” in the portico in front of the theater, including posters, a couch, chairs, coffee table, rug, TV, game consoles, a projection screen, and a DVD player where they watched Spider-Man 1 and 2.

It helped that he’s been doing movie camp outs for 5 years and knows the General Manager and mall owner. He even had sponsors: Lowe’s supplied the lumber, Chipotle’s brought burritos daily, Sideshow Collectibles provided giveaway cards for everyone in the theater(s). This movie complex has gone digital, meaning they don’t need multiple expensive film prints, but the movie is played off a hard disk. Seven theaters showed the movie after midnight. Before the movie we were treated to previews of other upcoming summer blockbusters: Shrek-III, Pirates-3, Harry Potter-5, and Fantastic Four-2.

We had gotten in to the theater for first showing 2.5 hours before the film rolled. Trivia contests, feats of Spider Strength, and Sony Pictures giveaways ensued. Oh, how it took me back to my youth when I collected comic books for 22 years. I sold my entire collection to buy my then fiancée an engagement ring. I went cold turkey, but I can still remember.

History: I started reading and collecting comic books in 1961, both DC and Marvel comics. Spider-Man first appeared in August 1962 in Amazing Fantasy #15. The story line for the first two movies was taken from the comic book characters and timeline during the 1960’s and 70’s, but Spider-Man 3 uses a villain, Venom, who first appeared in 1988.

Spider-Man has become the flagship comic for Marvel, in the same way as Superman for the DC line. But Marvel had its finger on the pulse of 60’s teens – the major comic buying demographic – in a way that took DC longer to catch on to. Spider-Man was the story of shy though bright high school teen Peter Parker who was bitten by a radioactive spider and gained surprising spider-like powers. But unlike the more straight-arrow Superman or other DC comic heroes of the 60’s, Marvel in general and Spider-Man in particular dealt with teen angst, psychological conflict, and moral ambiguities. This character, initially developed by artist Steve Ditko and writer Stan Lee (who has had cameos in all the Spider-Man movies) connected with youth during a turbulent era and a difficult age. Peter had classmate and girlfriend problems, employment challenges, and unresolved guilt over his uncle’s death. Yet his free-style fighting style and wise-cracks during combat with villains helped him cope. Spider-Man became more than a cult hero – at one time he had four regular monthly comic books in publication.

Movie review: Without telling you the plot of the movie, I will say that I found this third movie quite enjoyable and satisfying, from the fabulous special effects — at $250-300M this is one of the more expensive, if not the most expensive movie in history — to some standout performances. I am a bit kinder with my review than the critics. I’d give this movie a “B” primarily for the performances rather than either the writing, dialog or pacing. Some of the standouts include Tony and Emmy award winning actress Rosemary Harris as Peter’s Aunt May, who I met in London a few years ago. She has a remarkable presence in person as well as on the screen.

Thomas Haden Church (Oscar nomination in Sideways) played Sandman, who while not as threatening as Doctor Octopus, portrayed a tortured misunderstood criminal. Even James Franco — who looks like James Dean and played him in a TV movie — as the tormented Harry Osborn, turned in a less one dimensional performance than he did in Spider-Man 2. Tobey Maguire got to stretch in several directions, both physically and emotionally, as he portrayed a more aggressive side of his personality. J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson chews up every screen he’s in. Topher Grace, who you know as the lead in “That ’70s Show” was a bit too unctuous for my taste, and Kirsten Dunst, who I have loved in other roles seems miscast as Mary Jane Watson. In the comic book MJ is a saucy, sexy persona and not a whiner — though her hair color looks better in this movie than in the previous ones.

Speaking of hair, a natural redhead appeared as the blond Gwen Stacey, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of Ron Howard and last seen in the movie Lady in the Water. She makes a striking appearance in this movie, though in the comics, she was Peter Parker’s second girlfriend and MJ Watson was his third.

Did you know: For the last 22 years I’ve been signing my articles “Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian.” I got it from the very earliest days of the comic book, when Peter Parker called himself “your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.”

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Fan
www.billpetro.com

CINCO DE MAYO

Cinco de Mayo is frequently regarded as the Mexican equivalent of the United States 4th of July. This is incorrect. In actuality, it is the equivalent of the “5th of May” in the Spanish language. Another misconception is that this has something to do with Mayonnaise. That too is a bum spread, as the condiment had its origin with the French, who will come into our story later. Nor does it have to do with County Mayo in Ireland, though we’ll make sure the Irish get into this story at some point. Rather, the “Battle of Cinco de Mayo” or specifically the Battle of Puebla, occurred on May 5, 1862.

Background: President Benito Juarez, who had been Zapotec Indian minister of Justice in Juan Alvarez’ cabinet in the 1850’s, entered Mexico City on January 11, 1861 and promptly expelled the Spanish minister, the papal legate, and members of the episcopate. Additionally, he took steps to enforce the decrees of 1859, dis-endowing and disestablishing the church. He could not have known at this time that almost a century later, “antidisestablishmentarianism” would become the longest word in the English dictionary. Although Juarez was recognized by the United States and had received both moral and military aid from the US, there were over $80,000,000 in debts at that time to Europe alone. The Mexican Congress in July 17, 1861 decreed the suspension for 2 years of interest payments on the external national debt, and 3 months later a convention occurred between Great Britain, France, and Spain calling for joint intervention in Mexico.

As European forces advanced, and particularly French troops, their advance was checked at Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexican forces under the command of Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragosa managed to defeat a larger and better equipped French force.

However, the next year Napoleon III of France sent almost five times as many troops to Mexico to take over and install a puppet ruler, his relative the Archduke Maximillian of Austria, though he was defeated four years later.

Many believe that Cinco de Mayo is universally celebrated in Mexico as a day of independence. This is wrong on two counts. First, the call for Mexican independence, the Grito de Dolores, was made by Miguel Hidalgo at the town of Dolores on September 16, 1810, though it was not recognized by the Spanish viceroy until 1821. Secondly, because it is not a federal holiday, Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated in Mexico, except in Puebla, the largest city in the state of Puebla, Mexico. Elsewhere in Mexico it is observed with eating, drinking, and dancing. In the United States, however, it is widely recognized along the border states that have significant Mexican-American populations, especially in California, to celebrate Hispanic pride and culture, not unlike Irish-Americans do on St. Patrick’s Day.

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
www.billpetro.com