Great...Great...Great- Phooey to the Naysayers

Rating: 8/10 (6 May 2002)

I grew up with the Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Batman, and others
rolled up and jammed in my back pocket- pages worn after a
dozen readings. Seeing these super heroes of my youth come to
life on the screen is a true delight. Sam Raimi's "Spiderman" is just that- a pure delight. I think the casting was brilliant. In this film, Tobey McGuire IS Peter
Parker, and his journey of discovery - his newfound abilities as
Spiderman is wonderful. There are those who will say the story
spends too much time on this transformation, but the origins of a
superhero are the creamy stuff of the comics. DaFoe is as perfect for the Green Goblin as Nicholson was for the
Joker and Dunst is a steamy Mary Jane. Sam Raimi's darker vision brings a more serious tone that lends
credibility to the story. I loved this film, and it will go right next to Burton's original
"Batman," "Unbreakable," and the first "Superman" film in my
collection of superhero film classics.