The most recent Spider-Man movie from Sony has officially hit theaters, and the reviews have shown that it is yet another major failure. However, what are the main complaints, and why is Madame Web such a nasty person?
The film debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with the lowest review score of any Sony Spider-Man Universe film to date—13%—and had a similarly dismal reception from fans—51%. The movie’s CinemaScore, which is based on reviews from those who saw it right out of the cinema, was a C+, which is the second-lowest of any Marvel film.
Six Problems with Sony’s Madame Web
Madame Web’s Horrible Speech
Madame Web’s script has been criticized heavily, not just for rewriting the language but also for slanting the tale. On social media, many have criticized the dialogue between the film’s female stars and the antagonist as being obscene, strange, and all-over terrible.
Some people have also criticized the leads’ performances and line delivery due to the contentious discourse. Others, however, have supported well-known actors, such as Sydney Sweeney and Dakota Johnson, asserting that they did the best acting they could given the material.
After becoming popular as a joke and meme, a piece of dialogue from the trailer was removed from Madame Web. Regarding Ezekiel Sims’s past with her mother in Peru, Cassandra Webb said, “He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died,”
A Boring and Bland Story
Beyond the terrible writing, many people have found it difficult to accept the idea of Madame Web, which has led to criticism of the tale.
At first glance, the idea of Madame Web shielding three aspiring superheroes from impending death would seem fascinating. That is, at least, until one learns that this results in a heroic story that mostly consists of Ezekiel crawling after the gang and very little actual action.
Then, just in time for the pivotal showdown, Madame Web stops her return journey to Peru for Cassandra to learn more about her powers and background, exactly as the girls and Ezekiel are intensifying their persistent pursuit.
In addition to all the problems and shortcomings in the primary plot, Peter Parker’s birth is treated as a side plot point in the film and isn’t necessary. According to certain theories, Ezekiel Sims attempted to stop the future Spider-Man from being born in Madame Web’s initial plot before the three girls came into focus.
I Detest Ezekiel Sims as a Villain
Fans have slammed Tahar Rahim’s portrayal of Madame Web’s major nemesis Ezekiel Sims as one of the worst antagonists in superhero movie history, in addition to the numerous other problems with the script and storyline. The fact that his villainous attire seems like something from a low-budget fan film doesn’t help either.
His goal in Madame Web is straightforward: he wants to avoid certain death after having visions of the three Spider-Women killing him. He was the bodyguard for Cassandra Webb’s mother Constance years before the events of the Sony movie, when he was in Peru for research and developed his Spider-Man-like abilities.
And that’s pretty much all fans know about Ezekiel Sims because Madame Web didn’t explain how he got so rich, how he got his costume that looks like it belongs on Spider-Man, or why the Spider-Women are after him in this other reality.
Not to add that, while appearing to have had his Spider-Man skills for a long time, Ezekiel is destroyed by three helpless adolescent girls and a freshly empowered Madame Web, making it difficult to regard him as a significant danger.
The Spider-Women: Where Are They?
Though it isn’t explicitly featured in the film, the plot of Madame Web may center on Mattie Franklin, Anya Corazon, and Julia Cornwall as three potential Spider-Women who would eventually defeat Ezekiel Sims.
The three superhero costumes and the females exercising their abilities only briefly appear in Madame Web, and only in future visions, despite being heavily highlighted in the trailers, posters, and other marketing.
Not only did this leave a lot of moviegoers feeling duped by the annoyingly deceptive marketing, but Madame Web also lacked a lot of the action and typical elements of the superhero genre.
The three females play more of damsels in distress than actual characters in Madame Web; their only actions are to shock Ezekiel with electricity via the ambulance and do CPR on Cassandra.
Discouraging Spider-Man Relatives
Though often it isn’t a good thing, Madame Web does have more bizarre connections than the rest of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. One of the film’s main subplots is with Ben Parker (Uncle Ben) and his sister Mary Parker’s impending birth of Peter Parker, the future Spider-Man.
Even with these important links, they can come out as too dramatic, pointless fan service. For instance, over the two hours of the film, there is a guessing game regarding the baby’s name, even though “Peter Parker” is never spoken.
Not to add, the movie’s climactic statement, “and when you take on the responsibility, great power will come” is one of numerous ambiguous allusions to Uncle Ben’s well-known lecture on how great power comes with great responsibility.
Regarding Aunt May-to-be, Ben makes a hint that he has “met someone, “hinting that the connection may be serious.
Although fans have been clamoring for the wall-crawler to eventually appear in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, the cryptic allusions and the notable absence of the Spider-Women come off more as a subtle jab at the viewer than anything substantive or pertinent to the plot.
Madame Web’s Additional Production Issues
Several negative reviews of Madame Web criticized the film’s editing, describing it as clumsy, abrupt, and poorly done at times. various critics have also brought up the CGI, critiquing the aesthetics of various sequences.
Numerous people have brought attention to how much of the conversation shown by the main antagonist, Ezekiel Sims, was inserted much later on with ADR. This is the term for conversation that is recorded in a studio instead of being filmed on location; this is a regular technique in TV and movies, though it’s usually much less obvious than in Madame Web.
Why Is Madame Web Such a Scam?
The authors Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless should be taken into consideration first when discussing the plot and script concerns with Madame Web. The creative team hasn’t had a film listed as “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes yet; Power Rangers from 2017 has the highest rating of 51%.
Not to add that Morbius, the preceding installment in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, had a similar response before Madame Web, the final film written by Sazama and Sharpless. It’s difficult to see the two being invited back for another heroic adventure anytime soon after suffering two serious setbacks in quick succession.
Although S.J. Clarkson, the director, has directed several TV shows, such as the Marvel series Jessica Jones and The Defenders, this was her debut feature film. At least in part, the movie’s problems may have been caused by this lack of expertise in managing big-screen and theatrical finances.
Given that Madame Web is based on a lesser-known Spider-Man character whose abilities and design (blindness, paralysis, and old age) don’t quite fit the mold of a conventional superhero plot, many have questioned why the film was even given the green light.
Due to the unfavorable reviews, widespread disinterest, and the performance of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, Madame Web is sure to have serious problems at the box office. This has already been seen after it brought in just $6.1 million on its opening day domestically, far lower than Morbius’ $17.3 million.
One can only speculate about the implications of this failure for Sony’s decision-making over its Marvel productions. Will the studio reevaluate ambitious forthcoming projects like El Muerto, starring Bad Bunny, and Donald Glover’s Hypno-Hustler? Will it continue as is and hope that Kraven the Hunter and Venom 3 will provide better results later this year to alleviate the terrible situation.
Madame Web: a character from Marvel Comics
Madame Web is a character from Marvel Comics known for her clairvoyant abilities, often guiding superheroes. However, in the context of negative reviews, now let’s consider arguments against critiques targeting her character or storyline. Here are six main counterpoints:
Unique Character Concept:
Madame Web brings a unique and mystical element to the Marvel Universe. Critics may argue that her abilities are too abstract or esoteric, but supporters appreciate the diversity she adds to the roster of characters.
Complexity and Depth:
While some may find Madame Web’s storylines convoluted, her character offers layers of complexity that enrich the narrative. Exploring themes of destiny, fate, and the interconnectedness of events, she adds depth to story arcs and challenges readers to contemplate larger existential questions.
Guidance and Mentorship:
Madame Web often serves as a mentor or guide to other characters, offering wisdom and insight born from her clairvoyant abilities. This role is essential in the development of various superheroes, providing them with direction and assistance in navigating their challenges.
Symbolism and Allegory:
Beyond her literal abilities, Madame Web serves as a symbol of foresight and intuition. Her presence in stories can represent the struggle to understand the future or the consequences of one’s actions, adding symbolic weight to the narrative.
Contributions to Storylines:
Madame Web has played significant roles in various storylines across Marvel Comics. From her involvement in Spider-Man’s adventures to her connections with other mystical characters like Doctor Strange, her presence often catalyzes important plot developments and character growth.
Fan Appreciation:
Despite criticisms from some quarters, Madame Web has garnered a dedicated fan base who appreciate her enigmatic nature and her contributions to Marvel lore. For many readers, she remains an iconic figure whose presence enriches the comic book landscape.
In summary, while Madame Web may not be universally beloved, there are compelling arguments against negative reviews of her character. Whether through her unique concept, complexity, mentorship role, symbolic significance, contributions to storylines, or fan appreciation, Madame Web continues to hold a significant place in the Marvel Comics pantheon.
Madame Web is now showing in cinemas all around the world.
Madame Web: did it fail?
The movie “Madam Web” fails to make a profit. The Washington Post from yesterday
The most recent endeavor from Sony and Marvel’s joint Spider-Verse movies, “Madame Web,” bombed at the box office during the Thanksgiving weekend following unfavorable reviews before its release.
Does Madame Web merit a viewing?
The film completely disappoints those who were hoping for a powerful, female-led superhero team-up, as it promises a new superhero team with weak characters and no action.
What is Madame Web’s budget?
According to a recent report, the budget for Sony’s Madame Web—which starred Sydney Sweeney and Dakota Johnson—was more than anticipated. Madame Web from Sony Pictures is said to have cost much more than $80 million to produce.
Which three girls appear in Madame Web?
Cassie’s latent ability to see the future is awakened by an accident, and she sets out on a mission to protect three girls who may possess superpowers from a murderer. These three young ladies—Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, and Sydney Sweeney—turn out to be destined to be future Spider-Women.
Who is Madame Web’s antagonist?
The mother of the heroine, Constance (Kerry Bishé), is seen in Madame Web’s flashback prologue where we would expect her to be: studying spiders in the Amazon before she passed away. In reality, we see her death as a result of being shot by the antagonist, Tahar Rahim’s Ezekiel Sims, who seeks to take the incredibly rare spider she has just found.
What is Madame Web trying to say?
The superhero film Madame Web centers on a character who possesses precognitive abilities. To the degree that you can grasp her capabilities, they are the ability to look into the future and, in certain situations, take action to prevent bad things from happening. The fact that this movie exists indicates that it is fiction.
To what extent is Madame Web powerful?
Madame Web’s main skills are precognition and clairvoyance, which enable her to see future events before they happen. She also has some degree of mind-reading, astral projection, psychic surgery, telepathy, and mind-altering abilities according to Marvel Comics.