The best comic book adaptation...probably

Rating: 9/10 (25 July 2002)

Ah yes...the old superhero movies, we've seen the good, Superman, Batman and then have come the bad, the respective sequels to these movies with the exception of Batman Returns, but none hold any love from me like The Amazing Spider-man does. Maybe it's the fact he's your regular Joe till he gets bit, the fact that unlike the previous two hero's his origin doesn't seem unidentifiable (yes, ok he's bitten by at radioactive/GM spider which none of us will be, without dying). It was these points that made him the greatest superhero ever created (thank you Mr Lee) and none finally he has the film to do his greatest justice.
Before I saw this film I had heard many complaints about it, the effects don't look upto scratch, he should have mechanical webshooters etc,etc but my excitement and loyalty remained undeterred and I was dually repaid Raimi and co. did a fantastic job. Firstly, Tobey Maguire, who of which I can't imagine anyone else in his place, was absolutely fantastic in this role he brought the warmth, awkwardness and charm needed to carry the role of Parker/Spider-man off and clearly enjoyed himself. Whoever said he couldn't do it because he has no 'star appeal' were wrong and those who suggested the walking irritation that is Freddie Prinze Jr for the role need shooting. His love interest MJ the gorgeous Kirsten Dunst did very well in her role with what little material she was given to deal with outside her position of screaming victim, she is a great talent and should have been used more. But the two that really caught their roles inch perfectly were J.K. Simmons as the hilarious J.Jonah Jameson and Willem Dafoe as the very menacing (despite the awkward costume) Green Goblin who made his role increasingly creepy as the film went on and shining in the mirror scene. I also want to take a moment to thank David Koepp for providing a near flawless script, something ususally missing from the event movie and give the film something different.
The man though, who deserves all the credit must be the one, the only Mr Sam Raimi for providing us with this. He judged everything perfectly, the fight scenes where brutal over glamorous, the scenes with Spider-man swinging through the streets of New York, breathtaking, as he looked like a man that was barely in control yet knowing his every move to precision, as he fell only to fling himself back up again. Every cinematographic moment was typically Raimi as the camera couldn't contain itself twisting, turning, struggling to follow Spidey's every movement. With the odd shot aside the effects, for me, were upto scratch. The love affair between Peter Parker and Mary Jane was well comtained and the final scene between the two was a heartfelt, beautiful scene and a credit to all those involved. Raimi did the right thing fighting for Maguire (as I heard) and it paid off, this just didn't end up being a movie about a superhero it finished being a movie about a boy struggling to come to terms with his power, his destiny, his curse and in my eyes surpassed the other super hero films and becoming a franchise I actually might not end up hating. and another thing if they must bring The Lizard in for the sequel give it to Bruce Campbell the guy deserves it.