Good...except for Maguire

Rating: 8/10 (13 May 2002)

You probably know the story, so I'll skip a synopsis.
The movie was fun--it moved quickly and had great special effects. I was almost always interested...but there are two big problems with this film:
1) Tobey Maguire--a horrible choice for Spider-Man. He's a good actor but he's so quiet and laid-back. Peter Parker/Spider-Man should be played by somebody with a lot of energy and more of a screen presence. I didn't believe him for one second.
2) The final battle between Spidey and the Green Goblin--WAY too violent for a PG-13 movie. I was disturbed by it--there was no need to get so graphic.
However, I liked everything else. Kristen Dunst was pretty good as Mary Jane Watson and Willem Dafoe (as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin) and drop-dead handsome James Franco (as Harry Osborn) are excellent in their roles. There's a LOUD pounding score too and some excellent special effects (which work better on a big screen than on TV).
Basically a good summer movie--if only they had cut down the violence and replaced Maguire.