....does whatever a spider can....

Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2002)

After enduring such painful flops the likes of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace and Batman & Robin, then seeing the trail towards redemption with X-Men and Unbreakable, it is my pleasure to say this: Hollywood has finally gotten it right. Spider-Man excels in all ways possible. Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) pulled a Tim Burton on us by treating the characters and story with respect and realism. From the smile brought to my face from seeing Peter realize his power; to his shattered realization of who the burglar is; to the final confrontation with the Green Goblin, Spider-Man is the best film of it's kind to come out of Hollywood in a long time. Let's talk Tobey: Much like Michael Keaton, Tobey is an odd choice at first, but decidedly the only choice in the end. He IS Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He pulls off sweet and awkward as Peter and cool and confident as Spider-Man. The emotional rollercoaster he goes through in this film is quite demanding. I cannot imagine seeing Leo or Prinze, Jr. in this part at all. Tobey Maguire's performance is the biggest and most pleasing surprise in Spider-Man. Dafoe, the foe: Joker, who? Luthor, who? Willem Dafoe throws away the comic coda stating a villain must be played over the top and settles into a much more quiet, menacing performance as the ambitious Norman Osborn and murderous Green Goblin. His Jekyll & Hyde performance brings a much more complex air to this character which could have easily been diminished in the hands of a much less talented actor. Dunst: Again, another pleasant surprise. The role of Mary-Jane is not an easy one to fill. Kirsten Dunst brings a general sweetness and sincereness to a character that was somewhat underwritten. Her scenes with Tobey make the audience fall in love with her as well. Bravo, Kirsten. The rest of the actors did splendidly as well. James Franco brought angst and vulnerability to Harry Osborn; Rosemary Harris is the grandmother everyone loved as Aunt May; J.K. Simmons is hilarious as the arachnid hating J. Jonah Jameson; and Cliff Robertson is excellent as Peter's hero, Uncle Ben. The special effects were excellent and Danny Elfman gives us an excellent, if familiar, score. Spider-Man is a film that will last decades and reassures us that Hollywood can dish out a summer movie while keeping in touch with it's human side as well.