Excellent adaptation to film

Rating: 9/10 (20 May 2002)

After watching Sar Wars: Attack of the Clones, the success of this movie's opening weekend in comparison becomes entirely understandable. The action sequences are satisfying, the entertainment value is pretty high. What distinguishes this film from others opening at the beginning of the summer season is the remarkably fine acting of Tobey MacGuire and Willem Dafoe. Lucas should pay attention here--it pays to use actors who know their way around a film script. The acting itself gives a sense of immediacy and the performances provide depth to already familiar characters. As far as story goes, it is very much in keeping with what you already know about the Spiderman story, and the romantic subplot remains appropriately in the background as motivation to propel the classic good-versus-evil plot. An excellent movie, perhaps even more appreciated after one views the mediocre Star Wars: Episode II. You can't help noticing what this movie does so right in contrast to the many wrong turns taken by Lucas's contemporary effort.