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Spawn (1997)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
10/25
10/25:
Spawn is one of those movies I kept seeing the trailer from time to time but never managed to get
around it until now.
There are a lot of problems, and the biggest of them all is the definition of Spawn. What is he? I
know what Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man are and their capabilities, but this one? The film doesn't explain
very well. As a matter of fact, Darkman is better given the similar theme.
How about the story? What a mess. It never makes sense for a minute except for the obvious: the bad guy wants
to rule the world and the superhero will stop him from doing so. There have been hundreds of movies like it, so
when is Hollywood going to come up with something original?
Are the special effects ugly or outstanding for 1997? I can't say, but one thing is for sure: everybody went
overboard in this department. I'm surprised that Martin Sheen agreed to be involved with this. He mentioned
not having done a comic book film hitherto which is a fair point.
Without doubt, John Leguizamo is supplied with the best lines of anyone. I thought at first he was stealing
the show but unfortunately became obnoxious over time. Made less clear is his relationship as The
Violator to Spawn or Jason Wynn, hence the film's failure of telling a coherent story.
I've tried to find positives in Michael Jai White but can't come up with any. He's a hopeless actor who
later admitted, "There is no footage of me ever saying that I liked Spawn. I have never said that I
thought that was a good movie." If Wesley Snipes was cast instead, I doubt it would've mattered.
All in all, there will probably be a remake of Spawn in the future only because of the potential in
much-improved CGI.