SPANNING THE WORLD WIDE WEB

Rating: Null/10 (6 May 2002)

SPIDER-MAN (2002) ***1/2 Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe , Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, Bill Nunn, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Randy `Macho Man' Savage. Amazing adaptation of the cult classic Marvel Comic book superhero focusing on `Spidey's origins as geeky photojournalist-to-be Peter Parker (slyly cast Maguire is better than expected; my casting would have been for Wes Bentley but why carp) overrides the action-packed sequences with arch nemesis The Green Goblin aka Norman Osborn (Dafoe perfectly matched replete with Vincent Price's maniacal cackle) the tortured magnate cum scientist father of his best bud Harry (Franco who excels well too) while pining for literally girl-next-door babe redhead Mary Jane Watson (delicious Dunst). True to the original storyline and purists be damned the film works on every level with fantastic special effects and visuals popping off the screen thanks to the Herculean effort by mad filmmaker and die-hard comic book fan Sam Raimi pulls out all the stops to create a spanking new franchise. Look sharp for Marvel's Stan `The Man' Lee and Lucy Lawless in blink-and-you'd-miss-them-cameos. Stunning with a deft sense of humor and heart will have you clamoring for the web-spinner's sequel pronto!