Spider-Man
Comic books are excellent reserves for filmmakers to drill into for box office hits. Superman and Batman spawned three sequels each. Men In Black II is due in theaters this summer, and X2 (the sequel to X-Men) is scheduled for 2003. There are several other examples, but some of them rank high on the Suck Scale. Spider-Man is the latest comic-book hero to shine on the big screen after hitting the stands for many years.
Tobey Maguire (Wonder Boys) stars as Peter Parker, a geeky high-school senior who can't even get respect from the bus driver. During a field trip at a science lab, a genetically enhanced spider bites Peter. The next day he discovers some "improvements": improved vision, excellent reflexes, incredible strength, and the ability to shoot a durable adhesive web from his wrists. Peter first uses these talents to prevent a bully from giving him an old-school ass kicking. After his uncle dies at the hands of a carjacker, Peter/Spider-Man (coined during a brief stint as a wrestler) discovers that his powers bring with them responsibility. Simply put, Spider-Man must concentrate on catching criminals.
Elsewhere in New York City, scientist Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) is frantically trying to maintain funding for a performance-enhancer; human tests have been disastrous so far. Norman uses the formula on himself as a last-ditch effort. The performance-enhancer works in giving the scientist super-human strength ... at the price of his sanity. Norman throws his associate scientist across the room, killing him. The next night, Norman (as the Green Goblin) murders his rival and the general that is working to cut Norman's research funds. The tales of Norman and Peter acquiring new powers seem to be unrelated so far. However, Norman Osborn's son is Peter Parker's only friend.
Spider-Man follows several formulas of comic book heroes, thus lacking fundamental originality. Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man all have alter egos. Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Peter Parker all have love interests that are attracted to their respective secret identities. Often, the villain uses the leading female character as bait against the super-hero, creating an intersection between his public and secret lives. That doesn't mean that every element of this film has been derived from a previous plot device. Peter chooses not to help the wrestling manager who ripped him off, after the manager was robbed at gunpoint. Not many "heroes" are that discriminatory.
The film's cinematography is outstanding. Director Sam Raimi (A Simple Plan) allows you to closely follow Spider-Man as he uses his web to fly through the streets of New York City. The fights between Peter & the bully and Spider-Man & the Green Goblin pay homage to The Matrix.
Spider-Man is one of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2002, and it has met all of the hype. Although formulaic, the film is never slow. The only bad part of the movie is James Franco's catatonic portrayal of Harry Osborn. Whether you have every issue of the comic book or have never read a single page, Spiderman could be THE action movie of the summer.
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The stylish cinematography will give you a decent rush without the assistance of beer. However, that won't stop the hard-core chuggers.
A trite love triangle between Peter, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), and Harry doesn't make this much of a date film, unless you're watching it with an action junkie.
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