As a long-time comic book enthusiast and moviegoer, I must say that the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters has been a rollercoaster ride of excitement, anticipation, and occasionally, disappointment. However, when it comes to their Venom franchise, they’ve truly hit the bullseye!
As a fervent fan, I can’t help but express my thoughts on the conclusion of Sony’s Universe of Spider-Man Characters with the arrival of “Kraven The Hunter”. This unique and seemingly unpredictable franchise within the realm of superhero cinematic universes has certainly left an impression.
It was particularly puzzling when Spider-Man, who faced off against his villains and even one ally in recent blockbusters like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse,” didn’t appear in Sony’s universe of Spider-Man villains. With two successful movies that hinted at multiple Spider-Men, including Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their roles, it was unfortunate that this never transpired. As the franchise comes to an end, we present a list ranking Sony’s Spider-Man Villain Universe films from worst to best.
6. Madame Web (2024)
The penultimate installment in Sony’s Spider-Man Villain Universe, titled Madame Web, turned out to be the biggest joke of 2024, earning notoriety as one of the most confusing superhero disasters ever produced. Originally released in 2003, this film stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic who acquires psychic abilities after an accident and subsequently takes on the task of safeguarding a group of three women fated to become Spider-Women from the relentless assassin Ezekiel Sims (played by Tahar Rahim).
The movie titled “Madame Web” appears to be a product of studio indecision and multiple creative inputs, subtly connecting with the upcoming web-head character through young Ben Parker and Mary Parker, without firmly establishing which big-screen Spiderman this predicted child might grow into. The origin story of Madame Web is also stretched out excessively, compared to other superhero movies. Her transformation into Madame Web is delayed until the very end, and the three future Spider-Women are shown in brief glimpses of the future, with most of their appearances already previewed in the trailers for “Madame Web.
The main actors from Madame Web, notably Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney, appeared to handle the film’s box office flop with good humor, poking fun at themselves. However, the movie is likely to be known as a cautionary tale in Hollywood for quite some time due to its subpar action sequences, a disjointed, rambling script, signs of last-minute budget cuts, and an overall demonstration of numerous potential pitfalls in a superhero film.
5. Morbius (2022)
The worst sin a comic book movie can make is to be dull and forgettable, and Morbius sadly is as flat as they come. Jared Leto portrays renowned biologist Dr. Michael Morbius, who discovers a cure for his blood cancer that transforms him into a vampire, with Morbius soon battling both the pursuing FBI and a Nosferatu rival in his brother Milo (Matt Smith). Leto’s notorious method of acting is completely unnecessary for a movie as casual as Morbius; the film figures out a way to rework its title character as an antihero by having him consume a lab-brewed substitute for human blood, but the film’s unstructured story largely runs in place until the movie’s climactic vampire showdown, after which Morbius concludes on just about the most abrupt ending in superhero movie history.
The issue of Vulture’s appearance in the movie is addressed towards the end credits, which links back to “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” In this connection, Michael Keaton reappears as Vulture and joins forces with Morbius to form a villain group in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. This cameo in “Morbius” supports the idea that Sony is uncertain about their franchise, considering the trailer shows Keaton in different scenes, and even an image of Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man. The end-credits scene was essentially a forced attempt by Sony to initiate their long-desired Sinister Six movie project. Although “Morbius” lacks originality and inspiration overall, its flop status has surprisingly turned it into an online sensation, thanks to the #ItsMorbinTime movement.
4. Kraven The Hunter (2024)
In the movie “Kraven the Hunter”, we delve into the background of one of Spider-Man’s formidable adversaries, Sergei Kravinoff, portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. After acquiring the ability to command fierce jungle beasts, he transforms into a relentless hunter. Among Sony’s films outside the Venom universe, “Kraven the Hunter” demonstrated significant promise, with Johnson’s compelling portrayal of Kraven and thrilling action sequences. The film’s R-rating was utilized effectively to maximize its impact. Additionally, the movie features impressive parkour scenes that underscore Kraven’s agility and running style, which adds a visually appealing element to the action sequences.
Unfortunately, the story of ‘Kraven’ within the SSU (Sony’s Spider-Man Universe) franchise seems to lack clarity. Alessandro Nivola’s portrayal of Rhino transforms appropriately only in the third act, contributing to one of the film’s less impactful action sequences. Freddy Hechinger’s Chameleon spends most of the movie on the sidelines, appearing in a late, comics-accurate transformation that could have been more thrilling had Sony not already decided to end the Spider-Man villain franchise (as well as the final scene). In summary, ‘Kraven the Hunter’ has its entertaining moments and is worth watching for its intense action scenes. However, it ultimately fails to rise above a generic plot and the absence of Spider-Man in its narrative.
3. Venom: The Last Dance (2024)
Sony concludes the Venom Trilogy in 2024 with “Venom: The Last Waltz,” as Tom Hardy’s character Eddie Brock and his symbiote partner, Venom, strive to thwart the symbiote overlord Knull (Andy Serkis) from dominating Earth. Venom possesses an artifact known as “the Codex” which grants Knull the ability to summon a horde of symbiotes onto Earth. Incidentally or not, “Venom: The Last Waltz” generates some unexpected laughter with a narrative that mirrors Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel,” but the true enjoyment comes from Hardy’s witty exchanges with his extraterrestrial companion. A side trip to Las Vegas injects a touch of whimsy into the storyline, while the Venom franchise regular, Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), is present for a heartfelt ‘last dance’ scene with Venom.
In conclusion, Venom 3 offers an unexpectedly heartfelt confrontation that underscores the genuine friendship between Eddie and Venom, two outcasts from different worlds who discovered their potential for greatness together. Meanwhile, the end credits scene of The Last Dance hints at more Venom adventures to come, mirroring the enigmatic persona of Tom Hardy himself. However, as a final chapter, Venom: The Last Dance delivers a thrilling dose of symbiote mayhem and extraterrestrial humor, making it a fitting conclusion.
2. Venom (2018)
In 2018, Sony kick-started its Spider-Man villain series with the appropriate villain and the right dose of quirky excitement in the film Venom. Starring Tom Hardy as investigative journalist Eddie Brock, who is jobless following a misinformation-induced scandal about Carlton Drake’s (played by Riz Ahmed) sinister lab experiments, Venom revolves around Eddie forming an unlikely bond with the extraterrestrial symbiote Venom (also voiced by Hardy). This union forces them to collaborate to thwart an impending invasion from Venom’s homeworld’s symbiotes. Despite sharing a common flaw that frequently affects the Marvel Cinematic Universe – a generic antagonist in Carlton Drake after his transformation into Riot, the true charm of Venom resides in the unique friendship between Eddie and Venom, who are polar opposites from different worlds joined by chance.
Hardy’s portrayal of Eddie and Venom’s relationship was similar to Ren and Stimpy, with Eddie trying to control the unruly Venom while everyone else was bewildered by his conversations with Venom, as he tried to suppress Venom’s hunger for human flesh. Additionally, Venom featured Stan Lee’s last on-screen appearance before his passing, which added an emotional layer to the film. Overall, Venom was a chaotic and humorous ride, and the end credits hinted at Woody Harrelson’s character, Cletus Kasady, being perfectly set up for his debut as the villain in a future sequel.
1. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
2021’s movie “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” surpasses its initial version in nearly every aspect. The dynamic between Eddie and Venom becomes more complex, as they experience growing tension in their relationship. Meanwhile, Woody Harrelson’s character, Cletus Kasady, forms a connection with a piece of Venom, transforming into the terrifying Carnage. Unlike its predecessor, which had a more sprawling narrative (spanning 97 minutes), “Let There Be Carnage” delves immediately into the action. Now residing in San Francisco, Eddie and Venom function as the city’s Lethal Protector. However, Venom’s cravings for human brains are unquenchable compared to his alternative, chicken diet that Eddie proposes.
Without a doubt, Venom: Let There Be Carnage showcases a level of assurance and confidence that has been missing in Sony’s Spider-Man Villain Universe up until now. It introduces a substantial number of Spider-Man characters onto the screen, among them Naomi Campbell as Shriek, who serves as Carnage’s malevolent fiancée. While the main event, Venom vs. Carnage, is held back until the very climax, it does not disappoint, delivering a spectacular superhuman clash that stands out as the best in Sony’s villain-centric franchise. Lastly, Woody Harrelson excels in his role as the eccentric and menacing Carnage.
Furthermore, Venom: Let There Be Carnage clearly understands the character Venom is primarily linked with. Though brief, Venom’s entrance into the MCU and eagerness to encounter Tom Holland’s Spider-Man marks the first time the series has genuinely seemed dedicated to exploiting the crossover possibilities of a shared universe, or in this case, a multiverse. Admittedly, Venom’s introduction into the MCU essentially returns Eddie and Venom to their original home, but it still signifies a dedication to universe-building and a promising collaboration between Marvel and Sony. Here’s hoping Tom Hardy gets his wish to interact with a live-action Spider-Man someday, but when it comes to Sony’s Spider-Man Villain Universe, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is undeniably the most entertaining adventure.
You can see Kraven the Hunter in theaters.
Read More
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- ENJ PREDICTION. ENJ cryptocurrency
- JASMY PREDICTION. JASMY cryptocurrency
- RIF PREDICTION. RIF cryptocurrency
- UNI PREDICTION. UNI cryptocurrency
- YFI PREDICTION. YFI cryptocurrency
- CTXC PREDICTION. CTXC cryptocurrency
- OKB PREDICTION. OKB cryptocurrency
- GFI PREDICTION. GFI cryptocurrency
- TRU PREDICTION. TRU cryptocurrency
2024-12-18 00:41