Disappointing start to a promising franchise 6/10

Rating: 6/10 (3 May 2002)

The summer movie season officially starts.....with a THUD.
It seemed like a brilliant choice in picking director Sam Raimi to helm the long awaited Spider-Man, but after viewing the film it seems that he may have not been the right man for the job. It's not that Spider-Man is a terrible film, it just seems like there was so much potential that was wasted. The film is missing that frantic energy that should be required of this type of film. Raimi knows how to deliver this energy, see some of his previous films (The Evil Deads, Darkman).
Spider-Man is the only film I can think of in recent memory that cost 100+ million dollars yet it looks like it was made for considerably less. The CGI in this film is absolutely atrocious. These effects look like they came right out of the early 90's. For a summer popcorn flick Spider-Man commits cardinal sin #1: it looks cheap.
Other major problems: 1 - Laughable costume design for the Goblin. 2 - Dialogue that makes the "yippy" from Episode 1 sound ingenious. 3 - Plot holes: how did Parker go from his Human Spider costume, into his official Spiderman costume? We should have seen him make it. 4 - The same old thing. Do we really need to watch Spider-Man saving children from fires? How many times do we need to see him stop the same bland street muggers? Couldn't the writers think of more unique ways to showcase Spidey's powers? 5 - Takes way too long to develop the dual between the Green Goblin and Spider-Man. 6 - Speaking of the Green Goblin, everything about this character needed to be expanded on. Why is it he wants to destroy the innocents. The most interesting relationship in the entire film, The Goblin and his son, is barely even focussed on.
There were things I liked as well. I thought all the casting choices were superb. Thought the final battle could have used some work, but overall it had the goods. I just wanted more from this film, much more. Here's hoping the sequel can correct on some of the areas this film failed.
One thing is for certain, there has only been one true Marvel superhero this year, and that's Blade! Give this franchise to Guillermo Del Toro and let him show Raimi how to do a comic book film.