With the excitement surrounding Spider-Man movies of the past. While the various versions all have qualities fans enjoy, Sam Raimi's trilogy holds a special place in the hearts of many fans and helped establish some beloved versions of these comic book characters.
Raimi's Spider-Man characters all had their own journeys and arcs within the trilogy. From the hero himself to his formidable villains to his loyal allies, these characters can be highlighted with some defining quotes from the Raimi movies.
Uncle Ben
"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility."
Despite not lasting long in the first Spider-Man movie, Uncle Ben is one of the most important characters in of Peter Parker's journey as Spider-Man. His impact is felt long after he is gone thanks to the wise words that Peter carries with him.
In his final conversation with Peter, Uncle Ben delivers the iconic advice that "with great power comes great responsibility." While it shapes Peter as a hero, these words also speak to who Ben was as a man and someone who lived by a code of doing the best he can.
Aunt May
"I Believe There's A Hero In All Of Us."
Aunt May is another constant positive figure in Peter's life throughout these movies. While she is occasionally the one in need of being rescued, she shows that she has her own kind of strength and bravery that inspires Peter just as Uncle Ben did.
When Peter is struggling with whether to be Spider-Man anymore, it is Aunt May who gives him the pep talk he needed. She also highlights that everyone has the ability to be a hero which speaks to her own unassuming way of being a good person without being a superhero.
J. Jonah Jameson
"He Doesn't Want To Be Famous? Then I'll Make Him Infamous."
J.K. Simmons gives one of the most entertaining performances in the trilogy as the loudmouth and morally questionable editor of the Daily Bugle. Jameson also serves as a bit of an antagonist for Spider-Man with his constant attempts to paint him as a villain in the public eye.
Jameson's distrust of Spider-Man and his single-minded mission to sell more newspapers are what make him such a fun character. He combines these elements by declaring he will make the new masked hero a public figure whether he likes it or not.
Flint Marko / Sandman
"I'm Not A Bad Guy. Just Had Bad Luck."
Spider-Man 3 brought in the classic villain Sandman though more sympathetically than his comic book persona. Flint Marko is shown to be a loving father whose attempts to get money for his sick daughter led him to a life of crime.
However, while his intentions might be good, Marko does cause a lot of destruction and tries to kill Spider-Man while still claiming he is not a bad guy. His insistence that it is bad luck that led him to this is somewhat true but also shows how he doesn't take responsibility for his own actions.
Eddie Brock / Venom
"I Like Being Bad. It Makes Me Happy."
One of the most popular Marvel comics characters of all time is Venom and fans were eagerly anticipating his big-screen debut in Spider-Man 3. However, many of those fans were disappointed with the rushed and miscast version of Eddie Brock and Venom.
While Peter was able to see the evil the symbiote unleashed within him, Brock was already something of a corrupt soul which is why he is more than happy to embrace being bad. However, that thin character motivation is another reason this version doesn't work here.
Otto Octavius / Doc Ock
"The Power Of The Sun In The Palm Of My Hand."
Doc Ock is another beloved comic villain whose portrayal in the Spider-Man 2 is far less evil. Otto Octavius is a man of science who sees his fusion reactor as a ground-breaking achievement that must be completed at all costs.
As he creates the fusion reactor, his line "The power of the sun in the palm of my hand" shows the reverence he has for his energy. But after Octavius is corrupted, the line also shows his more sinister side as he sees himself as someone worthy of wielding such dangerous power.
Norman Osborn
"Can Spider-Man Come Out And Play?"
Norman Osborn aka Green Goblin is another iconic villain role from Willem Dafoe which he plays to perfection. Dafoe leans into Raimi's somewhat campy approach to the character, making Osborn a hugely entertaining villain while also being effectively terrifying.
This balance is seen perfectly in his challenge to Spider-Man before the climax of the movie. It is a spine-chilling threat but also has an unhinged playfulness that makes him one of Spider-Man's best foes.
Harry Osborn
"That Creep Is My Father, All Right! If I'm Lucky, I'll Become Half Of What He Is."
Harry Osborn has one of the most interesting arcs in the entire trilogy and a lot of it comes from his complicated relationship with his father. Norman Osborn was never close with his son, but Harry was constantly trying to impress him and live up to his stature.
When Mary Jane calls out Norman's terrible behavior, Harry shows how much he is defined by his father. He fails to acknowledge Norman's faults, shows his own insecurities towards him, and shows his angry side which comes out the darker his journey becomes.
Mary Jane Watson
"Go Get 'Em, Tiger."
The relationship between Peter and Mary Jane is very much at the center of Raimi's movies. While there are a few too many times in which Mary Jane is turned into the damsel in distress, she is also able to grow into her own complex character.
Much of her journey is defined by how she balances being in love with Peter Parker and Spider-Man. At the end of Spider-Man 2, she chooses to be a part of Peter's life and accepts his job as Spider-Man. But her line, "Go get 'em, tiger" is a mix of encouragement and apprehension.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man
"This Is My Gift. My Curse. Who Am I? I'm Spider-Man."
Part of the thing that makes Spider-Man such a unique superhero is how much Peter Parker must sacrifice in order to be the hero. This is a big theme in this trilogy and one that Peter discovers for himself at the end of the first movie.
Realizing that he cannot be Spider-Man and be with Mary Jane, Peter chooses his path as a hero, referring to it as both his "gift" and his "curse" while also embracing the fact that he truly is Spider-Man now.
