A Spectacular Start to the "Spider-Man" Trilogy

Rating: 9/10 (8 November 2016)

The first Spider-Man film is a great one. Marvel arrived on the scene in 2000 with the solid if unspectacular "X-Men," but it was kicked into higher gear in 2002 with the release of "Spider-Man."
Tobey Maguire is phenomenal as Peter Parker, bringing just the right amount of nerdiness, vulnerability, and most importantly, heart. As Spider-Man, he really seemed to be having fun. He is comparable to Keaton's Batman and Reeve's Superman.
The supporting cast is very good. Kirsten Dunst is good as Mary Jane, and James Franco is also good as Harry. Other standouts are J.K. Simmons as Jonah Jamison and Willem Dafoe as Norman Osbourne/Green Goblin.
Spider-Man's origin story is told quite well, and it moved along at a good pace. The film is very action-packed, and it is filled with the sense of fun that "X-Men" kind of lacked. Just the right amount of emotion is added to the film, and it also has a great soundtrack.
There are a few cheesy scenes, but it is still overall a very entertaining and well-made superhero film. It was the kick in the pants that Marvel studios needed. Although this film would be surpassed by it's sequel, "Spider-Man 2," it is still not to be missed.
RATING: A-