Watch out! Here comes the human spider! Go web! (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 (DVD))

Member Name: rabbitina hole

Product:	Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
Date:	19/06/02 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, entertaining, quirky, fast paced, exactly how Spider-Man has always been

Disadvantages: Certain cringey moments, script isn't the hottest thing on the earth , relatively minor things

Spider-Man then eh? What do you actually need to know about it that you already don’t? What actually hasn’t been bombarding you through adverts, magazine articles and television programmes? What’s that? You want to know if it’s any GOOD?

Well, step right up. Now, you might have heard varied accounts of this film. Crusty old geezers who don’t really have much place to be reviewing a film called Spider-Man other than they “critique films” for a living will tell you it’s rubbish. This is largely – and I make an educated guess here – because they’ve been too busy drooling over “proper films” and look down upon anything that is not created with such a slim market in mind. This is Spider-Man, after all, what do they expect? It's not rocket science. It's not high art. And it's also not a sequel to "The Fly", but it was never going to be.

But anyway, what they might have failed to see is where this film fails as a “film” it succeeds as entertainment, fun – and comic book conversion. This film actually feels like watching a 60’s comic book taking place in 2002.

Sam Raimi (Evil Dead series, A Simple Plan) helms the film, and does so with his usual exuberant style and flair. Tobey Maguire (Wonder Boys, Pleasantville, The Ice House, Cider House Rules) stars as Peter Parker (and Spider-Man, in case you didn’t know). He really is perfect for the role. He’s good looking, but retains an essential dorkish – yet wholly loveable – quality about him that is the epitomy of Peter Parker in the comics. Kirsten Dunst (the Virgin Suicides, Jumanji, Interview with a Vampire) is Mary-Jane Watson, and she is everything you’d expect her to be. You can't help liking her. She’s a stunning actress, and she deserves the attention she’ll be receiving from now on. Willem Dafoe (The English Patient, Plat
oon) is Norman Osbourn, the villain of the piece, and Peter’s best friend’s (Harry, played by James Franco) father. He certainly makes his role fun to watch, and is suitably creepy and manic for one who calls himself “The Green Goblin”.

So, with a high quality cast – and a good, yet quirky (and big Spidey fan) director - this film really looked like a winner from the beginning. The story isn’t the main thing here. It serves its purpose, but no one’s going to be winning any prizes for the script. The story is serviceable, and there’s certainly some cringe-worthy dialogue (although I’d hasten to add that’s probably in keeping true to the comics). But that’s all part of the experience. This is SPIDER-MAN. It’s not Shakespeare. Sure, you can talk about all the morals of the (well-known) story, and the adolescent angst, and all sorts. But it’s still a man who jumps around in tights. Hang on, maybe it is Shakespeare…

But seriously, you can look as deeply in to it as you want, but at the end of the day, this is a superhero story. There’s only so much you can expect. Which is where this picture wins through though, it is exactly what you'd expect (and want) from a film about Spider-Man. And it is allowed to really shine through the team assembled for it. They go through all the well-known clichés, and the standard super-hero pieces with such enthusiasm, and a certain style that you can’t help but get swept along in it. It’s just fun.

Just thank them for it, and enjoy the ride. Sure, you can nit pick, bits of the story, dialogue, and even the special effects (but some of the web swinging sequences are akin to a truly exhilarating roller coaster). But alas, I should call such people spoilsports. It’s a fast paced film, good humoured, good-natured, has a whole lot of heart, and leaves you wanting more.

For once, it really does
feel like you're watching a comic.

Which is a good thing.

Summary: