Spiderman: 'Great' (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 (DVD))

Member Name: davidso_99

Product:	Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
Date:	06/07/02 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: dynamic, easy to watch

Disadvantages: corny, lacks depth

After languishing for years in the depths of rumour and development, our favourite web-slinging hero has finally hits our big screens. Geeky Peter Parker has nothing going for him. He's bullied by the 'jocks' and his girl-next-door-love-of-his-life is oblivious of his mere existence.

That is, until one day when he attends a school trip as is bitten by a genetically altered spider which sparks a biological makeover that transforms school nerd into SPIDERMAN. Which is all too convenient as the destructive Green Goblin similarly makes his debut on the New York scene. And there we have it. GOOD versus EVIL.

Turning a comic into a credible blockbuster movie is tremendously difficult for there are two contrasting target audiences whos needs must be met. First and probably most obvious is the action-man-child with youthful imagination and enthusiasm. Secondly, the adult 'anorak' must also be considered for it is impotant to rememeber that the comic was greatly popular in the seventies and eighties and many adults grew up with Spiderman as their childhood hero. In short, this film failed.

Contrary to other heroic legends, the Spiderman comics tend not to over-glorify the hero as they seek to present Peter Parker's deeply rooted emotional struggle regarding his identity. Granted, the film does attempt to re-create this but does so in a somewhat feeble manner. Despite the promise of such great casting (Tobey Maguire IS Peter Parker and Willem Defoe is convincing as the Green Goblin), the movie lacks the atmospheric qualities of say....Batman. Flawed script writing and poor delivery tend to characterise the attempts to evoke emotion which often leave you cringeing at the sheer corny-ness.

[Mary Jane Watson to Peter Parker]: 'I never knew your eyes were so blue.' Yuck!

Ok, so maybe i've been a tad harsh. It is afterall just a child's comic. But no. The die-hard adult fan will no doubt feel che
ated by the film in that justice has not been done to their legendary childhood super-hero.

Having said that, it is apparrent that the creators did infact intentionally neglect the 'schmaltz' to turn their focus to the more dynamic aspects of the comic. It must be said that the action scenes are often tremendously breath-taking. The scenes surrounding Peter's development of his newly aquired abilities are particularly impressive. The special effects that illustrate his manouvering around the New York skyline are refreshingly all too real. However you can't help but think that a little more thought should have been given to more basic issues such as character interaction for the film is greatly lacking in depth.

The film is very ordinary but certainly watchable.Definately one for the kids unfortunately.

Summary: