Superior superhero flicks have been made in recent years, but this is still a good one

Rating: 8/10 (29 July 2007)

A good bunch of live action adaptations of superhero comic books have made it into theatres so far in the 2000s. There has been the "X-Men" trilogy, several "Spider-Man" movies, "Hulk", "Catwoman" (a Batman spin-off), the first "Batman" movie in a while, etc. Some of them have turned out to be excellent, while some have failed. This first installment in the "Spider-Man" movie franchise, which turned out to be an absolute success upon its release in 2002, isn't the best superhero movie of the decade, but it certainly isn't the worst.
In the beginning, Peter Parker is a very unpopular high school student who is often picked on. However, while in a laboratory, he is bitten by a genetically mutated spider, and after that, he is no longer the same! He suddenly becomes very strong, and soon discovers that he can climb walls, shoot webs from his wrists, and swing around the city! He uses his new powers to swing around in a new costume to hide his identity, and fight crime in the city, going by the name Spider-Man! Meanwhile, Norman Osborn, a local scientist and the father of Peter's best friend, Harry, has created himself an alter ego as well, but an evil one, as a result of taking the performance enhancer he has developed! As Green Goblin, he begins to wreak havoc in the city, and makes Spider-Man's job as the local hero more difficult!
I have seen "Spider-Man" several times since seeing it in the theatre, and have basically been impressed every time. Mind you, certain moments in this adaptation of the popular comics are a bit cheesy. The part where Peter Parker enters a wrestling match looking like a kid in a Halloween costume is a tad awkward, and some of the lines in the movie are ridiculous, including some things Peter says to Mary Jane Watson. So, this 2002 blockbuster may have a few slightly embarrassing moments, which is why it's inferior to certain other superhero flicks that have come out this decade. However, this movie also has a good amount of action, as well as some gripping moments, and maybe some occasional humour.
While this first installment in the "Spider-Man" franchise may be just a tad overrated, it sure beats "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" (even though there may be some slight but unfortunate resemblances), and overall, it's a good action/superhero movie. It's really not surprising that it was such a big hit. For those who are generally into movie adaptations of popular comic books, whether you're into those comic books at the moment or not, "Spider-Man" should be fun. As long as you can get over the shortcomings, and don't expect perfection, it shouldn't be a major disappointment, if a disappointment at all.