Deserving but inferior blockbuster

Rating: 8/10 (28 October 2003)

I have to say for a mainstream blockbuster this was really quite good.
I usually try to avoid mainstream successes, but as a fan of Spiderman since early childhood, I simply had to go see this production. I figured that I would end up dogging it, but in fact, I found it to be a very effective adaptation of Stan Lee's work.
The main (and only real) problem with this movie was the treatment of the villain, the Green Goblin. The make up effects, costume, and CGI were not what I call good. (For a perfect example of CGI at its best, check out the water-horses Arwen calls to save Frodo in "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.") The action sequences of this work are really rather muddled and messy. The CGI is obvious and was not the effects work of art 2 Oscar nominations (one for best special effects) would indicate.
Other than the arch-villain's being this campy old piece of crap (about as bad, but not quite, as the Scorpion King in "Mummy Returns"), the rest of the movie was very good.
But does that element alone ruin the feature? In some unimportant way, yes, as by far, it did not live up to its potential.
But in the major way, no. The performances were realistic, believable, and solid; the story was faithful to the original comic book line first written by Stan Lee; and the sets and props were all meticulously detailed and crafted. All in all, still a very good production. The action elements were well placed (if somewhat sloppy), the comedic factors were delivered properly and timed perfectly, and the dramatic methodologies were carefully directed and enacted.
The plot of this story was creatively written, and executed with a fondness, inspired by a thorough character development indicative of a director who loves this comic book legend.
It rates an 8.0/10 from...
the Fiend :.