Take Me With You, Spider Man

Rating: 9/10 (4 May 2002)

Entering a skeptic, a Spidy lover like billions of others from long time past, asking "How will they do it?" First, they will make sure it has a clear MARVEL imprimatur. Then, they will segue from past comix films with an enrapturing not-unfamiliar-type film score that takes you from the printed page into the wild universes of your imagination. Then, they will create web-swinging on the big screen--but you get into that gently, and i have to say the red and blue spider is a totally cool arachnid, its bite didn't look THAT bad--hey reality is just a sticky hair's breadth from the world of major fantasy mayhem. Can't say it all at once, it's too overpowering. But will note that Willem Dafoe lit up like i didn't think he could. And Toby McG. shot off bolts of personal energy like i didn't think he could. All the actors were their comix people, and it's a magical ensemble that deserves mega-credit for their work. Editors get credit, too. The film kind. (Jonah Jameson is hot, by the way. A real beast.) So . . . while i'm not going back to the theatre on a daily basis, i will go back soon for another look-see.