Such delightful tosh, but wonderful? No!

Rating: 6/10 (3 July 2002)

What is the hype all about? Because millions of $$ have been spent to make the film? Where did all those millions go? Honestly, this is neither original nor exciting, as fantasy or sf. We have been there before and in worthier company: Superman I and II, Batman, and even Flash Gordon (1980). But the commercial success of the film, not only in the States but also in Europe, testifies to the publicity mechanism of Hollywood; it is not available to poorer companies or countries.
The film has acted as an uncouth catalyst in Britain where the trend is towards a neo Victorianism in morals. Some local authorities refused a license to screen it! Unbelievable in 2002. There is more realistic violence in half an hour in any of the dozens of serials on tv screens than in the whole two hours of Spiderman. In France, I watched one afternoon in this holiday season, in a provincial cinema packed with children(with their parents, I ought to add) who never stopped giggling throughout.
That's what it is! Just a good giggle. No more, no less.