Awesome doesn't begin to describe it!

Rating: 10/10 (6 May 2002)

The first installment of a hopefully prosperous franchise of Spider-Man movies did not disappoint anyone who saw it. Some high budget action movies are just made but this one was created and loved by all involved with it. The key I believe was having Stan Lee as the Executive Producer. He had the final say in what would and would not go into the movie allowing him to have the creative control which made the Spider-Man so successful in the first place. As I was not a fan of the comic book myself I am now after seeing this movie. To start with, the casting agent for this movie should be given much praise. The casting job of Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, and James Franco was amazing. Maguire is the excellent Peter Parker. A person who is recognizable as a part of all of us, while at the same time strong enough to stop those who must be stopped. Dunst as the beautiful Mary Jane who is not just a damsel in distress. She is strong willed and has some punch of her own. Dafoe is magnificent as the evil Dr. Osborn who you come to despise and empathize with at the same time. Finally, Franco was a surprising delight in this movie. An awesome young actor Franco gives a great performance as the son of Dafoe who is caught between trying to make his father proud and living down his life of a rich kid. With an awesome cast and a great idea brought to life Stan Lee and Sam Raimi have created a "Marvel"ous masterpiece that will live on for generations to come. If you have not seen this movie, don't tell anyone, go to the movie theater and I guarantee you that it is worth the price of admission and popcorn. Spider-Man tells the story of young Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire). A high school senior who gets bitten by a genetically altered spider while on a field trip that gives him super human abilities. Then after a horrible disaster in his life he vows to live his life fighting crime. Staying true to the comic book through and through, we follow young Peter graduate high school, move to the city and struggle in juggling the aspects of what his life has now become. Like all other boys his age Peter is interested in girls. One in particular, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), whom he has loved since grade school. But, as if his world wasn't messed up enough, it gets flipped upside down when the evil Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) gets into terrorizing the city and only Spider-Man can stop him. With great power comes great responsibility.