Incredible doesn't begin to describe this action/comic movie

Rating: 10/10 (4 May 2002)

I was a bit skeptical about this movie at first. I've seen quite a few attempts to bring comic book heros to the big screen only to become sub par attempts at what might have been a great movie. Technology might have had a part in that. Computers weren't very widely used until 1994, a year after Jurassic Park showed the true capabilities of 3D Animation. But it wasn't the effects that made movies like Mystery Men and Batman & Robin come up short. It was terrible writing. A lack-luster storyline. Without that, the movie goes nowhere. Granted, Batman and Batman Returns were good movies, but they still lacked and weren't very true to the comic. Spider-man, thankfully, was made by a man that had actually read the comic when he was younger. That could be why it's such a great movie.
The effects where incredible and really did "wow" me every so often. There were a few shots where you could tell it was a CG Spider-man, but they filmed it in such a way that it went by very quickly and very smooth. I was highly impressed with the swinging. The life-like animations were flawless and definitely exciting.
As for the story, I'll be the first to admit, I got a bit misty eyed when Uncle Ben died. The acting surpassed every expectation I had. Tobey showed that he was MADE to be Peter Parker and William Dafoe played his part EXTREMELY well. The story stayed true to the comic book and really had me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Even the ending was very good. Some say it was a bit lacking, but I really enjoyed it. It made me proud to be a New Yorker, and when you see it, you'll know why I say that.
I highly recommend running out and seeing this movie. It really is the best action movie so far this year.