This spider is not so itsy-bitsy

Rating: 8/10 (28 May 2007)

This review is the opinion of a film fan who is not very familiar of the original Spider-Man comic books. I judge this movie not on its faithfulness or differences to the series of illustrations and books that got it all started. I judge this just as an action movie. To start off, I'll just say that it's a great way to start a film trilogy. Somewhat flawed, weak at a few small points, but overall, a fun summer blockbuster. It's a good way to kill time on a rainy day.
Not everything in "Spider-Man" is entirely original for a film. The main character of Peter Parker sort of develops in a way that has been seen on the screen numerous times before in other films, super-hero movies or not. Going from a somewhat less-than-average person to a figure of great importance. There is a love interest, a best friend, tragedies in his family life, and ultimately, the greatest secret of all. Tobey Maguire is first rate as Peter Parker, he can portray him as being a total college loser and the great Spider-Man at the same time. I am also fond of the performances done by Kirsten Dunst and James Franco. And don't forget Willem Dafoe as the nemesis of the film: the Green Goblin, who I am sure started out in the comic book series, although I can't say for sure.
In this era of nearly flawless CGI and special effects, "Spider-Man" stands out as an average achievement. Everything shown in it is believable on screen. There are no spots where a viewer will say "Gee, how fake" or "oh, yeah sure, that's convincing...not". Our two main "super" characters Spider-Man and the Green Goblin were portrayed in great battles through both real performances by the actors and stuntmen, and through the process of bringing them to life using CGI. Overall, a good blend to entertain the audience.
I did feel however, that the film's beginning rushed a little fast to be clear on its points. The same thing goes for the ending. It wasn't until "Spider-Man 2" where I found out the real purpose of the ending of this film.