What's all the fuss about?

Rating: 7/10 (14 July 2002)

I really do not understand the hype that surrounded this movie prior to its release. Sure, the comics were good and the cartoon was always good when I was a kid. But was this movie really that good? Did it deserve to make $400 million in North America alone? God no!
The acting was ok and I think McGuire was a good choice for Parker. But the real shiner in this movie is Willem Dafoe. He excells in these types of roles, and he pretty much made the movie for me. Without him, Spiderman would be lucky to get a 5/10 from me. The action sequences, now let's be honest, were few and far between and the special effects were absolutely horrible. John Dykstra (of Star Wars fame back in the day) really should have stayed with Lucas' ILM. I haven't seen very obvious fake-looking effects since the dragons in that horrible film Dungeons and Dragons. Spiderman and the G. Goblin looked like cartoons.
Anyway, the two movies being touted as blockbusters this summer were Spiderman and of course, Star Wars Episode 2 Attack of the Clones. The latter was a far superior movie, with a better story and MUCH better SFX.
I realy don't understand how Americans can see Spiderman more than once, because that is what is necessary for a film to make over 400 million dollars in two months. Repeat viewings for Spiderman? It surely did not warrant it. An okay summer film, which I'll probably never watch again. I just did not understand the hype at all!
6/10