Kraven The Hunter

 

      Poor Sony Pictures. Even with a collaboration with Marvel, they just can't pull off a successful comic adaptation (ok, they've had minor success with Venom). This new super "anti-hero" film has not one but three Spider-Man villains but without Spider-Man, it just doesn't work. Yes, there is a clever in-joke regarding spiders but even that doesn't help.

      Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Kraven and he is just not buff enough and too good looking to play this Spider-Man villain. It's almost sad to see him running around on all fours, using his "animal instincts" to hunt his prey. The film has a notable list of co-stars that will unfortunately have to be associated with this film. Russell Crowe plays Kraven's father, who meets his demise by a Grizzley bear and I'm not quite sure who was bigger, Mr. Crow or the bear. Ariana DeBose has a ridiculously written role and disappears completely in the last act. Fred Hechinger plays Kraven's brother (and in a strange universe, is in "Gladiator II" as one of the nasty emperors which is connected to the original "Gladiator" starring Russell Crowe, who now plays his father). His outcome in this film is important but not really explained well. Alessandro Nivola plays "The Rhino" another Spider-Man villain who shouldn't be fighting Kraven but rather working with him, and Christopher Abbott plays "The Foreigner", a rather strange villain.

      The CGI is sloppy but there are a few good action sequences, not quite enough to save the film though. The end sets up a potential sequel but I think Sony Pictures has had enough of these secondary characters.