Good but far from perfect superhero picture

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2002)

Following in the wake of "X-Men", "Spider-Man" sees the live action interpretation of another Marvel Comic book superhero to the silver screen. The results are far from from perfect but nevertheless interesting, and the very character-focused plot makes way for some fascinating possibilities for the inevitable sequel.
The story is simple and gets down to action almost instantly: bookish, bullied schoolboy Peter Parker(Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a radioactive spider whilst on a school visit to a science laboratory. After a while he develops some unusual abilities such super-strength and the power to shoot web-strings from his wrists that can allow him to swing between tall buildings. Thus, Spider-Man is born.
Meanwhile, misguided scientist Norman Osborne (Willem Dafoe) is working on a serum that will give him super-strength. Working against the wishes of the military, for whom he created the serum in the first place, he tries the stuff out on himself. He becomes demented power mad villain the Green Goblin and provides a fittingly insane opponent for Spider-Man.
The script and story-line are actually very good and set up relationships that can be developed over the course of several films. A curious love triangle is created between Parker, his best friend Harry Osborne(James Franco), Norman Osborne's son, and the love of both their lives Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). It is this that will very likely be the basis for the follow-up.
This triangle is very well acted by the younger players in the film. Maguire makes for a tragic Spider-Man who, even as he accumulates and uses his superpowers, never quite loses his nebbish streak and is unable to tell Mary-Jane how much he really loves her. Dunst is as beautiful as ever and creates a complex, well-rounded Mary-Jane. Franco has little to do in this movie but gets a good last scene at the end of the film that smacks of promise for what is to follow.
The film gets a chilling villain in Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin. From the moment of his transformation, Dafoe captures the nuances and ticks of an increasingly desperate and imbalanced man. This is notable in scenes where Dafoe literally talks to himself in a mirror. This loses its edge only when he is in full super-villain get-up. His lively and scary features obscured by a goofy, unconvincing mask, it takes away some of the relish inherent in his performance.
With the exception of Dafoe, none of the older players are anywhere near as good as their younger counterparts and this detracts from some of the comic as well as dramatic moments in the plot. J.Jonah Jameson is simply not funny enough as fast-talking news editor J.K Simmons. After being attacked by the Green Goblin, Rosemary Harris descends into pitiably unconvincing screaming as May Parker while Cliff Robertson, as her husband, fudges the delivery of the film's most important line: "With great power comes great responsibility." The three of them are no doubt very experienced and accomplished actors but it is just a shame their performances were less than adequate here.
Action scenes are well choreographed, with enough punch-ups, explosions and people-in-peril to create plenty of thrills and tension. The CGi used occasionally looks a little bit too cartoony but this doesn't detract as its a comic-book film anyway.
As with the best films of its kind, this is accompanied by an excellent theme tune. Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott's eclectic rock song "Hero" perfectly complements the drama and cynicism in the film's plot.
Not too bad a first outing for Spider-Man but, a la Superman, one suspects the sequel will be a huge improvement.