The first of three nominations is the high-school sequence from catching Mary Jane and the lunch tray, reportedly done in 156 takes without CGI, through the fight with Flash. — Charles Holmes
The high-schoolers look far too old, which is excused as the norm of the Dawson's Creek and Beverly Hills, 90210 era.
The final choice is the training montage: designing the costume, testing web shooters and learning his strength, so that reaching the suit after about an hour feels earned. — Charles Holmes
The first montage of him in the suit and the power-learning sequence are also nominated.
The first Green Goblin fight at the gala is praised for enhanced hand-to-hand combat, surprising for a director not known for action.
The final fight in the abandoned house is nominated because its punches feel real compared with heavily CGI modern films.
The Thanksgiving dinner is nominated for the Goblin's leering at Mary Jane and Aunt May and as the pivotal moment he learns Peter's identity from the glider cut.
The other final choice is the kiss in the rain after he lowers himself down to Mary Jane, called the film's most iconic scene, very romantic, and reportedly an MTV best-kiss winner.

Practical effects; superhero-movie blueprint; Spider-Man as a character; lead performance; cast

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 00:47:04Read transcript

Practical effects: unlike Lucas using CGI like a kid with a highlighter, the director kept fights and deaths tactile, a prime reason it has aged better than later films such as The Amazing Spider-Man and remains rewatchable.
The film is called the definition of the modern superhero movie structure, while Blade is credited with opening Marvel up in 1998.
Spider-Man as a character has aged sublimely, with three film series, MCU appearances, Into the Spider-Verse, video games and birthday-party ubiquity since 2002.
The lead performance is called the best portrayal of Spider-Man, and this is called the best-acted cast of any Spider-Man film.

Organic web shooters; weak CGI; homophobic wrestling joke; Hero theme song

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 00:53:01Read transcript

The organic web fluid, traced to James Cameron's treatment, seemed wrong at age nine and looks even worse now. — Charles Holmes
Some CGI needed another pass, especially the festival balloons and the disintegrating skeletons. — Charles Holmes
Spider-Man's wrestling taunt asking whether the opponent's husband gave him the outfit is called homophobic and would not fly today.
The number one end-credits song Hero by the Nickelback and Saliva singers has aged poorly, although one host disputes that the song itself sucks.

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 00:59:00Read transcript

Michael Papajohn, the robber with 124 IMDb credits who usually plays goons, is the first nominee in what is called the greatest That Guy battle ever.
Joseph D'Onofrio, the cop who played young Tommy in Goodfellas, is a rival nominee with 114 credits.
Papajohn is chosen for having the bigger part, with Craig invoked as a possible tiebreaker.
Joe Manganiello as Flash is an extra, non-counting mention: beardless and unrecognizable, and reportedly his first screen role.
A crew member reportedly offered Manganiello $100 to really punch the lead during their fight, prompting speculation about his on-set reputation.

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:02:35Read transcript

J.K. Simmons's J. Jonah Jameson is one of two contenders, overacting but in the right movie after his brutal Oz role.
The Green Goblin performance is called a runaway choice for snarling and giving every cell, making Jack Nicholson's Joker look subtle.
Craig is reported to have messaged that the Goblin actor is going all out.
A counterpoint: that Goblin performance has aged well, and Simmons may not be overacting since he embodied the comics' Jameson; overacting is not acting poorly.
Favorite Jameson lines are quoted, including the slander-versus-libel joke.

Randy Savage

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:05:31Read transcript

Octavia Spencer heats it up in a dramatic, Oscar-type way.
Macho Man Randy Savage steals the show in about two minutes as the wrestler, and both agree it is one of the best scenes.

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:13:02Read transcript

Spider-Man movies are not at Apex here.
Kirsten Dunst is named at Apex; The Power of the Dog and Marie Antoinette are raised against it, but Apex is defined as when she had the most juice, with Bring It On mattering more.
The lead actor is a yes, with Spider-Man 2 considered combined with this film.
For Spider-Man films overall, No Way Home is judged the Apex because of its box office after Endgame.
This is called the director's Apex unless Multiverse of Madness surpasses it, although Army of Darkness is a personal favorite; a counterpoint says Spider-Man will always be his Apex.

Ten-episode Netflix show

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:23:03Read transcript

A ten-episode Netflix show could work and could fit Sandman and the link to Peter's parents, though it would not be as good as the film.

Green Goblin's Nikes; Green Goblin's glider

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:23:34Read transcript

The Green Goblin's Nike shoes are wanted, compared with Michael Keaton's Batman wearing Jordans.
The Green Goblin's glider is wanted, with a brief dispute over whether it counts as memorabilia.

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:42Read transcript

Sony wins by a mile, having kept Spider-Man and anticipated franchise moviegoing.
In the short term the star won, joining Hollywood's top tier via an $825 million hit that was number one domestically.
In the long term the MCU won: Marvel saw Sony profiting and financed Iron Man with a Merrill Lynch credit line.
Martin Scorsese is named the long-term loser.

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