Stan Lee is competent but biased. While it addresses Lee's disputes with Kirby and Ditko, it presents a one-sided perspective. This allows viewers to believe that Lee was the sole creator of these iconic characters when it was really a collaboration. The documentary acknowledges that many artists were active in the creation of individual stories, but it doesn't credit them with fundamentally molding these mega-franchises. The film touches on ideas of artistic process, social awareness, and family responsibility. The interviews are all archive, so Lee's charismatic voiceovers are nothing new or revealing. Ultimately, Stan Lee is constructed well, but it's also misleading branding.
Technically, Stan Lee is proficiently standard. Its editing puts together abundant archive footage into montages, match cuts, and chapters. The production design offers plenty of classic comic book imagery and dioramas as reenactments. Its sound design adds constant narration and ambiance. The cinematography uses focus and movement. Its soundtrack signifies mood and subject introductions. The effects utilize those miniature figurines for a fun aesthetic. Finally, the casting really only provides archive interviews and while there are soundbites from the likes of Kirby, they are few and far between. Overall, Stan Lee performs its job properly but that job is mostly a puff piece.
Writing: 4/10
Direction: 5/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Acting: 5/10
Editing: 8/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 5/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 5.9/10
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