- Title: JAPAN: Hollywood blockbuster "Spider-Man 3" receives its world premiere in Tokyo
- Date: 19th April 2007
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOBY MAGUIRE SAYING: "Yes, I really like Spider-Man 3 and it's very different than Spider-Man 2. It's a whole different movie. I think we did a good job in continuing the stories that we set up in 1 and 2, but moving further beyond that, and using our experience to try to make a better film." FANS KIRSTEN DUNST SPEAKING TO REPORTERS FAN HOLDING UP POSTER READING "KIKI" JAMES FRANCO (LEFT) AND THOMAS HADEN CHURCH TALKING TO REPORTER
- Embargoed: 4th May 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Reuters ID: LVALDHWPL8EHIXIITAEHGYQQ902
- Story Text: Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, stars of Hollywood's latest blockbuster "Spider-Man 3" were in Tokyo on Monday (April 16) to kick off the movie's world premiere.
Despite the drizzling rain, fans and reporters waited for hours for the cast of the film to show up on the red carpet at a premiere venue in central Tokyo.
Launching the sequel in Japan, home to a huge community of superhero comic fans, rather than the United States is seen as a shrewd push into the faster-growing international market that could help box-office revenues.
"Spider-Man" posters were plastered all over Tokyo's futuristic Roppongi Hills complex, where the Spider-Man 3 cast, including James Franco and Thomas Haden Church, walked on the red carpet.
"I really like Spider-Man 3 and it's very different than Spider-Man 2. It's a whole different movie," Maguire told Reuters on the red carpet. "I think we did a good job in continuing the stories that we set up in 1 and 2, but moving further beyond that, and using our experience to try to make a better film," he added.
Critics say that "Spider-Man 3" is packed with stunning special effects such as the crumbling, morphing Sandman and an evil black suit that brings out a person's dark side, but the characters also show a psychological complexity rarely seen in action movies.
"Japan has been such a great supporter of the Spider-Man franchise. We are so proud to be here and you're all such beautiful fans," Dunst told fans in Tokyo. "This is such a great celebration for us. So thank you all for your support."
In the sequel, Peter Parker, played by Maguire, is finally enjoying life with the beautiful Mary Jane Watson, played by Dunst, when he discovers a mysterious black suit that gives him special powers, but also stirs hidden feelings of bitterness and revenge.
The ensuing battle between good and evil, revenge and forgiveness, is played out in airborne superhero fights as well as more mundane rows with friends and colleagues.
The impressive special effects were also a reminder of the production cost of slightly more than 250 million U.S. dollars (USD), making the movie a huge financial gamble for Sony Corp.'s Columbia Pictures.
The gamble paid off for "Spider-Man" and "Spider-Man 2", which grossed 822 million and 783 million (USD), respectively.
After the premiere in Tokyo, the movie's makers are set to travel to London on April 23 and then Rome, Berlin, Madrid, Moscow, Stockholm and New York. The movie debuts globally on May 4. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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