The Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire is still beloved by fans of the superhero genre, even almost fifteen years after it came to an end. Its heartfelt stories and sincere takes on classic characters paved the way for many of the superhero films that have come in the years since.
With several classic villains from the trilogy confirmed to be making a return in December's Spider-Man: No Way Home, and rumors that Tobey Maguire will return as well, fans may want to this series by revisiting each main character's first and last lines.
Flint Marko
First: "I'm Just Here To See My Daughter."
Last: "The Only Thing Left Of Me Now Is My Daughter."
Flint Marko makes his first appearance in Spider-Man 3, where the molecules in his body are transformed and melded with those of sand, giving him the incredible powers that comic fans are familiar with.
Marko's arc in the film takes him from a reluctant criminal to a reformed man. Though he and Spider-Man spent the movie at odds, he eventually realizes, that to do what is best for his daughter, he must stop his life of crime and use his powers for good.
Eddie Brock
First: "Oh My God, That's Gwen."
Last: "Peter? What're You Doing? NO!"
Some have called Venom Spider-Man's greatest villain. Unfortunately, the version of him portrayed by Topher Grace in the final installment of Raimi's trilogy didn't quite live up to fan expectations. The villain barely resembled the original character and was often shoved to the side until the final battle.
Eddie Brock began the film in a strange way, as he barely reacts to seeing his girlfriend Gwen in peril. However, by the end of the movie, he has gone so deep down a rabbit hole of self-pity and hatred that he hurls himself into the symbiote just as a pumpkin bomb is about to blow it into oblivion.
Ben Parker
First: "And The Lord Said 'Let There Be Light.'"
Last: "Why Don't You Just Put Down The Gun And Go Home?"
Cliff Robertson portrays the classic character of Uncle Ben Parker perfectly, cementing the famous line "With great power comes great responsibility" in the history of cinema. Ben tries to make his nephew understand the gravity of this motto, but only does so upon his death.
Ben's first line comes after he has replaced the lightbulb in the kitchen, depicting him as a religious man of values--but not without humor. His morality comes into play with his final line too, which Marko relays to Peter long after, wherein the old man tried to convince his murderer to go home in peace.
Dr. Otto Octavius
First: "It's Not About The Prizes, Harry."
Last: "I Will Not Die A Monster!"
Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus is widely regarded as one of the best versions of the classic character. Played with brilliant gravity, Otto Octavius is a man of science who is consumed by his own hubris and ambition, to the point of nearly destroying the city.
Octavius begins his arc in Spider-Man 2 by proclaiming that he doesn't create his experiments for the prizes, only to later let his own pride blind him--he may not have been in it for prizes, but he was looking for glory. In the end, he comes to himself once more, declaring that he refuses to die as a monster.
J. Jonah Jameson
First: "Who Is Spider-Man? He's A Criminal, That's Who He Is!"
Last: "A Hundred Bucks? All Right, You Little--What The?!"
J.K. Simmons brought the character of J. Jonah Jameson to life in the original three Spider-Man films. His portrayal was so spot-on that he is one of the few Spider-Man characters to have never been recast in live-action. As such, Simmons has returned to the MCU and will appear in No Way Home.
JJJ's first line is just about the most Jameson thing ever said: a declaration of the criminality of Spider-Man. His shady tendencies follow him throughout the trilogy until he is finally bested by a little girl who plays the exact same game that he does.
Norman Osborn
First: "Why? The Entrance Is Right There."
Last: "First, We Attack His Heart!"
Perhaps the most memorable villain of the original Spider-Man trilogy, Willem Dafoe's Norman Osborn hovered over the franchise even long after his death, inspiring his son Harry to follow in his footsteps and become the second Green Goblin. Norman's rendition of the Green Goblin is expected to appear in next month's No Way Home.
Norman began the franchise by arguing with his son over his being embarrassed to be seen with him. However, by the end of the third movie, Harry had accepted his place as an Osborn, and the last thing the apparition of his father ever said to him was to attack his best friend at the heart.
May Parker
First: "Good Boy, God'll Be Thrilled, Just Don't Fall On Your A--"
Last: "You Start By Doing The Hardest Thing. You Forgive Yourself. I Believe In You, Peter. You're A Good Person. And I Know You Will Find A Way To Put It Right. In Time."
Rosemary Harris brought a grandmotherly quality to the character of Aunt May that made her in many ways the heart of the original trilogy. The films' deeper themes were often spoken through her and were always delivered with the poise and gravity that made them stick into viewers' minds.
May's first line is actually rather crass for her character, hinting at a bit of fire under her elderly charm. Her final line errs more toward her tender side, as she encourages her nephew to do the hard thing, even if it seems impossible.
Harry Osborn
First: "Charles, Can We Drive Around The Corner, Please?"
Last: "None Of That Matters, Peter. You're My Friend."
Though not the only version of Harry Osborn depicted in live-action, James Franco's portrayal is certainly the most memorable. His take on the character grows more sinister with each installment until, eventually, Harry becomes a villain just like his father.
Harry's arc in the franchise revolved around his embarrassment at being an Osborn, not even wanting to be seen with his father by his classmates. While he eventually followed in his father's footsteps, his final words instead embraced Peter as his true family, rather than the father that often berated him.
Mary Jane Watson
First: "Stop The Bus! He's Been Chasing Us Since Woodhaven Boulevard."
Last: "I Have Stocked My Heart With Acid Frigid Air, And I Need To Care For No One."
Mary Jane Watson, as portrayed by Kirsten Dunst, is Peter Parker's love interest throughout the trilogy. Their love is a troubled one and is the focal point of much of the movies' drama. Though the films didn't explore everything about Mary Jane that the comics did, she remains an integral part of the franchise.
MJ's first line is in defense of Peter, asking the bus driver to stop the bus so that he can get on. Her final line comes after much more complicated drama than missed buses causes her and Peter to separate. She sings a song called "I'm Through With Love," made famous by Marilyn Monroe, but never finishes the verse, implying that she and Peter will make it after all.
Peter Parker
First: "Who Am I? Are You Sure You Wanna Know? The Story Of My Life Is Not For The Faint Of Heart."
Last: "It's The Choices That Make Us Who We Are, And We Can Always Choose To Do What's Right."
Tobey Maguire's take on Peter Parker was endlessly contemplative and self-reflective. In his trilogy, he spent much time narrating to the audience his inner monologue, which included his musings on life, power, and responsibility.
Peter introduced himself to the audience for the first time with a warning that his story would not always be an easy one to watch. Even so, his final lines show that, despite the difficulties that viewers have watched him endure, he knows that his choice is what makes the difference--the choice to do what is right.
