truly the Amazing Spider-man

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2008)

I saw this movie back in 2002 when I was still a kid at our local cinema. The one we have may not be the best in the world, considering it's also not even that big and has only one screen. But that didn't matter. I saw it for the first time with three cousins of mine that summer right after school ended, and since it was a movie about a superhero I thought that I would've liked it, maybe even a lot, but nothing more. And so I entered the movie theater to enjoy the movie of a superhero I honestly never even took much into consideration. When I came out all of my nerves and senses had been burned. I walked out into the open again and I was actually convinced that I could spin spiderwebs from my wrists and that I could've climbed walls! I was so excited from what I had seen that I talked about nothing for the whole day (and probably the next too). Every single aspect of this movie is almost perfect in every way. Maybe today it could be considered less important or good since it was from 2002 and the special effects are less good and more flaws are evident, but apart from all the action, the real success of the movie lies inside it's heart. The story about a young high school student --who lives with his uncle and aunt who aren't doing all that well economically but who love him very much (great sense of family here), high I.Q., with just one friend and in love with a beautiful girl-- who suddenly gets superpowers from the tiniest of creatures ,a spider ,that will make him the enemy of his best friend's dad and, from a terrible mistake that will haunt him forever and that can happen very easily in everyday life, learns the importance of the responsibility that comes with any kind of power, and the importance of growing up in a society that is cruel, unfair, very tough and unpredictable. There is also a whole mix of betrayal and love between the characters (each different from the other) that makes it also look like if it was a Drama. Another interesting thing, from a superhero point of view, is that Spider-man isn't even a hero that is completely invincible. All in all he's just a bit stronger and faster than normal, walks on walls, spins webs from his wrists and has higher reflexes... not that much really, he's not an invincible Superman with just one (green) flaw. He has thousands of weaknesses. And yet, in spite of all that, he always manages to save the day in a unique fashion and every time with some sort of sacrifice and with always something or someone dear to him at steak. He always manages to save the day, study, work and occasionally take out the trash with a lot of effort but in the way every normal person does, with no real advantage or without even getting that much in return. I think Spider-man is a very realistic character that can be identified with anyone of us in any part of our daily routines. He also has a continuous sense of struggle in life that is very true (pretty much like Batman, but more on a common level). Also, from a cinematographic point of view it is also stunning and innovative. There's always a wonderful play with characters and their psychology in their own reflection in the mirror; great direction; more and more scenes that have now become classic ones, like Peter Parker's transformation in one night or the forever classic upside-down kiss; (for the time) great special effects and action sequences; great acting; wonderful screenplay by David Koepp; superb Music by Danny Elfman who manages to act emotions through his score; and much much more. Spider-man is, in my opinion, one of the masterpieces of movie history, one that absolutely anyone can enjoy, be amazed, loose into, cry, laugh and love. It has been Marvel's most famous superhero and, so far and for me, the best movie of all time.
... your friendly neighborhood David Cinnella