I wrote last week that I wanted to see the Batman Live Arena Tour more than Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark. One of my big complaints was rumors that the character concepts for the Spidey Musical were said to gravitate too far away from the originals, a big concern for myself and comic book fans around the world. Now we have pics from the musical taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz for Vogue Magazine and if they are in fact real photoshop touched up pictures….ouch.
First up is that horrendous looking Green Goblin (pictured above). That simply is not the Green Goblin, perhaps it is in director Julie Taymor’s mind, but no one elses. Check out the various comments left around the web in respect to this photo and people are using such kind words to describe the outfit as “vomit” and “crap.”
Here’s the second, just as awfully designed villian, Swiss Miss (pictured below) which looks like something out of a futuristic fashion show more so than a Spider-Man nemesis.
If your eyes aren’t burning in pain at this point, take a look at yet a third villain, Carnage. While he may be the best concept of the bunch (more closely matching the original, but still off) he still doesn’t fit the bill.
I keep hearing how technically challenging Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark is to create and how “songs sound better when Bono sings them.” Which may be valid points, but the truth of the matter is, I can see a Cirque Du Soleil show, which I guarantee you will wow me more with their high flying acts and it isn’t Bono who will be singing as Spider-Man on the stage.
I will give my props in one respect, the Spidey Musical is ambitious, just like Julie Taymor’s effort with The Lion King, but fans of the Lion King unlike Spider-Man fans probably weren’t so concerned with her “conceptual designs” of characters. If I’ve learned anything in my comic book reading years, it’s that you don’t mess drastically with character designs, fans just don’t like it.
One positive note, at least Spider-Man wasn’t turned into some weird version of himself.
Here’s what I know–
1. to Robin–those aren’t MJ’s real clothes–those are the clothes Vogue put her in
2. Goblin in the films was VERY different conceptually and visually than he was in the comics–did Sam Raimi get a pass? (can’t remember)
3. from an insider–Swiss Miss has to be understood in the context of the story–she was designed specifically as a joke to get fanboys upset. And it looks like it’s working.
4. the aerial guy behind Cirque du Soleil is working on this show, teaming up with the aerial guy behind the spider-man movies. so probably rivals cirque. And cirque never has a plot to speak of, which is why I find their shows ultimately kinda boring.
to answer your question in point 2, no rami did not get a pass. his green goblin costume is still the but of many jokes and is often used as an example of what not to do with a superhero movie costume design. to be fair to the creators of this show though, i don’t know how you’d be able to pull off a goblin glider with these stunts.
Holy human/dragon lovechild, Green Goblin!
I pity the Swiss Miss actress the most. I can’t imagine how she’s able to even work in that ridiculous outfit, not to mention sitting down for a break or a potty visit. And the MJ outfit in that same photo is SO over-the-top… It looks like something Katy Perry would wear. Based on these pictures, it doesn’t look like MJ is going to get to do anything interesting, stuck in perpetual “damsel in distress” mode. Blech.