SpiderMan Review

by Christian Pyle (Tlcclp AT aol DOT com)
May 22nd, 2002

Spider-Man
Reviewed by Christian Pyle
Directed by Sam Raimi
Written by David Koepp (based on the comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko) Starring Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, and Kirsten Dunst
Grade: A

Fans of Marvel Comics have had to suffer through lots of awful live-action versions of their favorite characters (up to and including David Hasselhoff as grizzled secret agent Nick Fury) over the last thirty years. Even when comic-book features were all the rage after 1989's "Batman," all Marvel could muster was a dull, low budget "Captain America" and a Roger Corman-produced "Fantastic Four" that was so awful that direct-to-video was too good for it.
However, the time for Marvel Comics on the big screen seems to have finally arrived. "Spider-man" captures the spirit of the comics perfectly, even miraculously.
The basic story is familiar even to those who've never read a comic book: nerdy Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) gets bit by a radioactive spider and gets super powers. In the movie, the spider is not radioactive; it's the result of genetic engineering, a new species of super spider, but the result's the same. Peter sprouts muscles that give him super strength and agility, finds he can climb walls, and learns how to shoot webs from his wrists. (That's another revision from the comics; there Spider-man's web comes from mechanical devices he invented. Frankly, the movie's version makes more sense.)
Peter's first impulse is to use his powers for profit so that he can buy a sportscar to impress the prettiest girl in school, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). However, a tragedy soon shows him that "with great power comes great responsibility."

Meanwhile, industrialist Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) has decided to test his process to create super-humans on himself. He emerges with a maniacal alter-ego, the Green Goblin.

"Spider-man" is the most faithful rendering of a superhero comic to film ever. The filmmakers obviously respect the work of Spider-man co-creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The "origin" portion of the movie adapts their first Spider-man story almost panel by panel. Moreover, the tone of the film is true to the spirit of Marvel. Although they vanquish their villains, Marvel heroes silently suffer inner pain that keeps them from achieving real happiness. They agonize over sacrifices they have to make, and they are feared and hated by the public they protect. David Koepp's script captures all of that.

Maguire is perfect as the timid Peter, although his Spider-man voice could use more verve. Dunst's sweet Mary Jane is different than the flashy fashion-plate in the comics but is quite effective. (The movie M. J. seems more like Gwen Stacy, Peter's college sweetheart in the comics.) Dafoe was born creepy. J.K. Simmons (of "Oz" and "Law & Order") could have stepped right off the comics page as Spider-man-hating newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson

Director Sam Raimi seemed to change personality when he directed 1998's "A Simple Plan." Prior to that, the secret to appreciating his films was to realize that they were deadpan parodies. But "Simple Plan" doesn't have a trace of a smirk in it. He followed it with two more "serious" movies: "For Love of the Game" (1999) and "The Gift" (2000). "Spider-man" seems to integrate the two Sam Raimis and, as a result, strikes the perfect note. It has the sense of fun that makes "Evil Dead II" such a hoot but treats the melodrama of Peter's life with a straight face. Only one scene didn't seem to fit: the moment where the Goblin is vanquished seemed more appropriate for "Army of Darkness" than for "Spider-man."

Raimi fans should look for his pals Lucy Lawless, Ted Raimi, and Bruce Campbell in small roles. His 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 also turns up.
© 2002 Christian L. Pyle

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