Spider-Man 3 star Tobey Maguire reveals the challenges of taking his character to the dark side

Tobey Maguire’s athletic and charismatic Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) and, thanks Spider-Man soars over Manhattan’s to hero-worshipping fans, gets caught skyscrapers, inducing gasps from even up in his own hype – a common media hardened action fans. So it’s a little phenomenon, as any avid Big Brother disconcerting to be confronted by the actor viewer will tell you. himself: quiet, unassuming and dressed There are some jaw-droppingly cocky in sensible clothes – a most unlikely moments with Parker sauntering down superhero. Maguire is quick to defend the street, wearing smoky black eyeliner himself, claiming that while Spidey is a and happily referring to himself as an ‘icon’. magnetic and enigmatic figure, his nerdy And for a moment you think he may have alter ego Peter Parker’s just your Average Joe. ‘I think that’s why I got the part in the PETER THINKS HE’S SUPER first place – I’m just an ordinary guy too.’ It’s a modest claim from a man who COOL AND SUAVE, BUT earned a reported $30 million for his role in this blockbuster, but Maguire insists REALLY HE’S A CORNBALL that his status as one of Tinsel Town’s leading men is just a happy accident. He blown it. Thankfully, this ego trip is was planning to become a chef until a $100 handled deftly by Maguire with tongue- bribe from his mum to try drama instead of in-cheek style and, instead of loathing cooking at school changed his life forever. his new found self-importance, we laugh along with it. ‘Peter thinks he’s super Sinister side cool and suave, but really he’s a cornball,’ The latest instalment takes the idea of says Maguire. ‘And the audience still has Peter Parker’s split personality and runs to care for him when he’s going wrong.’ with it. Veering between vulnerability and Maguire himself is becoming something arrogance, he breaks up with his beloved of an icon, so has he ever been in danger >

16 | OCTOBER 2007 BLOCKBUSTER.CO.UK MOVIES SPIDER-MAN 3

Main: Tobey debuts his slinky black number From left to right: The alien symbiont latches onto Spider-Man; Tobey with co-star Kirsten Dunst; Spidey in action

www.blockbuster.co.uk OCTOBER 2007 | 17 18 | OCTOBER 2007 www.blockbuster.co.uk THIS IS A CRAZY SPIDER-MAN 3 12 WAY TO Spidey’s back, in black MAKE A Rent/Buy 15 October Also available on Blu-ray LIVING Stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace Director Sam Raimi Perfect for Eight-legged thrill seekers

Hoorah – Peter’s got the balance between home life and superhero work sorted. Boo – dark clouds are gathering. Former pal Harry blames Spidey for his dad’s death and wants revenge, so becomes the new Green Goblin. Flint Marko is unmasked as the real killer of Peter’s uncle – and is now the scary Sandman. Rival Eddie Brock is after Peter’s job, and now some alien goo has attached itself to him, changing his personality, and not in a good way. This latest instalment hasn’t got the of letting success go to his head? ‘I think with actors you can react to, rather than impact of the first two, and with three Peter and I react very differently to fame hanging upside down in uncomfortable villains it can get confusing – you might – he’s really loving it and bathing in it, positions,’ he explains. ‘Thankfully, a lot be the one climbing the walls. But while I just enjoyed playing at it.’ of what you see on screen is computer- it’s chock-full of effects and fabulous Of course, Spidey’s not the only lure, generated. But even when I’m flailing acrobatics, has a city-spanning there’s a fantastic supporting cast of around in front of the bluescreen, I think: climactic battle scene and some deft villains. With the terrifying Venom, the “This is a crazy way to make a living”. ’ touches of comedy, all of which make shape-shifting Sandman and a new Green Crazy or not, the Spider-man films have it a captivating chapter in the ongoing Goblin to contend with, our hero’s really up made Maguire one of the most famous tale of our web-slinging hero. against it. But his biggest challenge is his faces in movies and allowed him to pursue own transformation from hero to bad guy. ambitions behind the camera with his own ONLY ON DVD AND BLU-RAY Yes, Spidey goes over to the dark side in production company. ‘A teacher once told • Over eight hours of special features, this one – literally. ‘Making him a baddie me: “You’re driving the car, the car isn’t including location was tricky – we had to make sure we found driving you.” Too many people are victims reports, director’s the right balance,’ Maguire says. ‘But I had of their own lives, and that’s one thing commentary, a lot of fun portraying anger and revenge.’ that I never want to be – a victim.’ As if. out-takes and a look at how ★ Most Rented Tobey Maguire High flyer Sandman The other reason we go to Spider-Man 2004 Spider-Man 2 and Venom movies is for the high-speed action and 2003 Seabiscuit were special effects – and there are plenty of created them here. So did this vegetarian yoga 2003 Wonder Boys fanatic find any of the sequences too 1999 The Cider House Rules demanding? ‘I actually prefer playing 1998 Pleasantville Peter more than Spider-Man, in scenes

www.blockbuster.co.uk Mr Sandman, is that a dream in your bag? SPIDEY’s web

★ Spider-Man 3 game Slip on either the wholesome red or sinister black Spidey suit in this offering, out now. Take a rooftop tour of NYC, re-create the movie or explore original missions. And there’s up to ON SET WITH 10 villains to battle – phew! Available on Xbox 360, PS3, Kirsten Dunst Nintendo DS and Wii Spide y’s c o-s t ar t alks about f ame , ★Spider-Man: dating, diet s, and ho w a nic e Friend or Foe game Out 12 October, glas s of wine helps her r elax this game offers you the chance to take on Spider- Man’s most S o w h a t h a p p e n s t o i n a t r a i l e r a l l d a y n o t d o i n g a n d a s y o u c a n s e e I a m n o w infamous enemies M a r y J a n e i n t h i s fi l m? a n y t h i n g . E a c h m o m e n t t a k e s e a t i n g c h o c o l a t e c h i p c o o k i e s . – and turn them She’s going thr ough a har d a d a y a n d i t’s v e r y t e c h n i c a l . into sidekicks. And there’s a two-player option if time – at the beginning she’s W h a t k i n d o f m e n d o y o u you want to control the bad guys. v ery happ y but then y ou see D o y o u e n j o y f a m e? l i ke d a t i n g? Available on Nintendo DS, her det erior at e . I r e ally had O n e o f t h e g o o d t h i n g s a b o u t I l o v e m e n w h o c h a l l e n g e m e . Wii and Xbox 360 t o mak e an eff ort not t o be a b e i n g fa m o u s i s t h a t I c a n But I will not dat e an ac t or depr e s sed lump , which w ould m e e t a n y o n e I w a n t t o – j u s t again, I c an t ell y ou that – it ha v e been e as y bec ause she’s b e c a u s e I ’m fa m o u s . brings t oo much att ention ★ Spider-Man be at en do wn the whole time . t o y our r elationship . In the Trilogy on H o w d o y o u r e l a x pr e s s, if y ou shak e a bo y’s Blu-ray w h e n y o u ’r e n o t o n s e t? hand, y ou’v e slept with him. Co u l d y o u i d e n t i f y w i t h Long touted, I l o v e e v e n i n g s a t h o m e w i t h w h a t s h e g o e s t h r o u g h? Spider-Man I’v e had ups and do wns in f r i e n d s . I g e t f o o d f r o m m y Wo u l d yo u m a ke a n o t h e r finally swings m y c ar eer. I w as so depr e s sed fa v o u r i t e r e s t a u ra n t , S u s h i S p i d e r - M a n m o v i e? onto Blu-ray on aft er Marie Ant oinett e c ame Ro k u , b r o u g h t t o t h e h o u s e . As long as S am R aimi is the 15 October with the Spider-Man out I c ould har dly get out Ca n y o u b e l i e v e i t? I t ’s t h e dir ec t or, Tobe y is the s t ar and High Definition Trilogy – complete of bed. The negativ e w a y it b e s t t h i n g o n e a r t h . A n d I l o v e ther e’s a good s t ory t o t ell, I’ll with all three instalments. w as r ec eiv ed f elt lik e e v ery one g o o d w i n e – I h a v e a E u r o p e a n be ther e with bells on. w as s t omping on m y he art. s e n s i b i l i t y t o a l c o h o l : a n i c e CHE CK THE TR AILER I f eel much bett er no w – I g l a s s o f M e r l o t o r P i n o t G r i g i o , ★ Mo s t r ent ed Kir s t en Duns t had t o go thr ough the dark w e l l , m a y b e t w o o r t h re e . 2 006 Marie Ant oinett e t o find the light. 2 001 Cr azy /Be autiful S o , n o d i e t s? We r e t h e a c t i o n s c e n e s f u n? I d o n ’t d i e t ! I l o v e p a s t a a n d 2 000 Bring It On N o ! T h o s e b l u e s c r e e n s c e n e s s u s h i a n d c h e e s e s a n d w i c h e s . 1999 The V ir gin Suicide s S e e t h e S p i d e r - M a n 3 tr ailer a r e t h e b a n e o f m y e x i s t e n c e . I ’v e j u s t e a t e n a n E n g l i s h on our ne w online magazine . T h e y m o s t l y m e a n s i t t i n g m u f fi n w i t h c h e d d a r c h e e s e 1994 Int ervie w with the Vampir e xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

20 | OCT OBER 200 7 www .blockbus t er . c o .uk SPIDEY’s web

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