The case has finally moved ahead. There is actual movement in the courtroom according to Variety. The judge has decided the case can move forward, and if a decision isn't reached in a "timely manner" he'll decide. C'mon judge-y do it, do it now. Say: "According to the god up in heaven, I was given a vision today. And truly the rights to SPIDER-MAN are the sole rights of James Cameron. He may do as he pleases with the property." Anyway in addition to the news that movement has begun... well Cameron's scriptment seems to have found it's way to San Diego Comic Con, and we have a report on it here. This is his actual Scriptment. What is a scriptment? It's a pre-script. A detailed sixty to ninety page story treatment with some of the dialogue all of the action, but not formatted like the typical script or treatments. The only 'scriptments' I have ever read were James Cameron ones. Why? Well it seems he's the only one that seems to write them. The SPIDER-MAN one is amazing. It's so real, so note perfect, that if there is a god, a higher force, a smart person in Marvel and Hollywood, then this movie will be made. Here's the report...
Yet another posting from the San Diego Comicon, center of the universe this past weekend. I know we're years away from the big screen promise of Spidey, but I thought fans would like a taste of what they're going to be in for. I picked up the "scriptment" for Cameron's SPIDERMAN at a shady booth in the con. It reads like a treatment with some actual scenes and scattered dialogue, totaling 60 fun-filled pages in all.
The scriptment covers the origin, placing Peter at 17 and still in high school, before the Daily Bugle days, although J.J. is a rival in the story, appearing on TV to hound Spidey's actions. The whole death of Uncle Ben thing is in there, but instead of taking place in the wrestling milieu, Spidey has a popular cable access TV show, which didn't work quite as well for me. The big technical difference in Spidey is that his web-spinning spinnerets are imbedded in his actual wrists, rather than being external shooters.
The big question for me going in was, "Who's going to be the villains?" Well, Cameron's got two. One, the muscle of the duo, is Sandman. His name is Boyd (different than in the comic book), but his origin, as detailed, stays fairly close to the original. I suspected that he might be one of the villains, because I figured Cameron would be attracted to the cgi potential of the character. And he makes full use of the possibilities too with a few great fight scenes. The other villain, the brains, seems to be an amalgamation of Kingpin and Electro, now named Carlton Strand. He's got the money, power and influence of Kingpin (but not the technical resources), and the physical abilities of Electro (but not the costume). The final battle on top of the World Trade Center will definitely raise the hairs on your arm.
Overall, the script stays true to the books and even includes bits of comical voice overs, which we are all familiar with by now. Mary Jane is the love interest and they do the "nasty" in the version I read. Peter also reveals his identity to her. Of course Aunt May is there too and, of course, she's sick and needs money for an operation (which lead Spidey to the cable access TV show), but May is a very minor character.
All in all, good stuff. And, judging by Cameron's track record, we'll be in for a treat. Now, if they could only untangle all that red tape.
'Nuff said? In the mean time, call me Willard Whyte, from the Whyte House.
