Great in some ways, not so in others

Rating: 8/10 (7 July 2004)

In summary, I really enjoyed this movie. Others have said it before, but I'll say it again. It is probably the best comic book superhero movie to come around in a long time. The movie does a great job of relating the unlikely hero to the normal everyday person. I mean really, how DO superheroes pay their bills, right?
This movie could have been a 10 except for a couple of things. One, some of the slow scenes were not necessary. Not that I have a problem with slow scenes in an action movie, but (for example) the entire scene with the next door neighbor and the cake was a waste of time and didn't add anything to the movie. Second, I agree with another poster that Kirsten Dunst does not elicit a tremendous amount of emotion. I could relate to Maguire's character, but not hers -- the feelings seemed disingenuous. And she played a critical role -- Peter was about to give up super-hero-hood for her, and I was never made to understand why she was supposed to be worth it.
And OK, here's two other minor points that I'll just mention to be heard. 1) An elevated subway in New York City?!? I think the last el in NYC was taken down more than 50 years ago -- but I guess that scene wouldn't have meant much taking place underground. And 2nd, Aunt May's house being foreclosed?!?! What is an eighty year old woman doing with an outstanding mortgage? Didn't they save, didn't her hubby (RIP) provide for her, or at least have a life insurance policy? Did her crack habit force her to take a home equity loan? Yes, I can believe that a man can make spider webs come out of his hands and climb up walls, but I can't believe that this woman had a mortgage on her house at her age!
I'll close by saying that this was a great movie, that I would recommend to anyone. It just wasn't 'perfect'.