sPiDeR mAn SuCcEsS UPDATED (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 (DVD))

Member Name: jacklover

Product:	Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
Date:	04/08/02 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: STORYLINE, ACTING

Disadvantages: WAITING FOR SPIDERMAN 2

I wrote this review on SPIDERMAN the movie quite a while ago now and as I've just been to see the second installment of the movie I thought I'd update this review and head straight onto the next movie!

I have watched the spiderman movie three times over the last couple of years (Got it on DVD!) and all I can say is - Its brilliant, definitely worth seeing if you are yet to watch it!

The long awaited movie which hit our cinema screens in 2002 was a huge success due to the great acting and superb storyline. The history of Spiderman obviously also played a huge part in the movie becoming so popular. Scooby Doo the movie 2002 was also released around the same time as this film and from an opinion written by myself quite a while ago (About when this was originally written) on the movie you will discover that I didn't enjoy the film as much as I thought I would. Trying to turn an everyday famous cartoon into a box office movie is most probably a very hard task to do and unfortunately I think the Scooby Doo movie failed. However this is where Spiderman was sucessful, although Spiderman is based apon cartoon and comic the movie makers definitely got everything right, every little detail that was needed to make the film a hit.

The first thing they got right was the actors, Tobey Maguire plays the main part of Peter Parker and does he do a good job or does he do a good job!? The geek in the movie who is the main character suits the role down to the ground, his motion and his talent are presented well throughout the whole movie, he is believable and an amazing actor who I personally think will be getting many offers for future films. (I wrote this part of my opinion back in 2002 and was I right!? Of course - Mr.Maguire is surely making it big now PLUS all the females are beginning to notice his cute but irresistable good looks!) He relates to spiderman in many ways so I was always thinking it was Maguire in the spider suit, when really i
t was all computerised. Playing a character that has two roles and is two completely different people united by one actor must be a hard task but I think Maguire has done very well. He has made Spiderman sucessful and a very positive role model.

James Franco acted Peters best and only mate, Harry Osborn. He was a credit to the movie but didn't have that much of a huge part. Without him there would have been something missing in the movie but with him in it, there wasn't much to mention him on, however Franco did a brilliant job of learning the lines for this character as well as learning the whole character itself and getting used to it. The work behind the scenes was probably more than on stage for this character. Franco obviously worked as well as he could with this character.

Kirsten Dunst plays the girl next door in this movie and she is fab too! Mary Jane Watson otherwise known as 'MJ' is the girl Spiderman lurveees. Ahhhhh..... (And who wouldn't love Miss Dunst?!)

Kirsten Dunst has been in many top films, mainly chic fliks but she has usually grabbed herself a main character in each movie and her talent has shone throughout, hence maybe why she got this part in such a big film. It seemed a little weird to me, Dunst appearing in this movie. She is usually the 'chief bird' in girlie movies! (Or just captain cheerleader! ~ Bring It On) These films are a little different to Spiderman, a completely different genre so it seemed a little weird with Dunst playing this part! (But that was only to begin with, I think she did brilliantly and was a great person to play the role) Dunst's regualar 'girlie' character shows a little in this film. Her looks are made to look incredible as always so she is the prettiest girl in the movie who grabs attention just like that. Her girlie voice and goings about are also used well. Basically Dunst had quite an easy part to play, a character she is 'sort-of' us
ed to, just with a few little changes or twinges. (And I bet it was fun working with Mr.Maguire and Spiderman!)

But Dunst isn't a blonde in this movie, Oh no, Dunst is a brunette. Maybe because directors didn't want any of her previous films 'dumbness' to be presented in this movie. Hence, the colour of her hair, blonde. (Not saying anything women, just what those poxy men who were in charge of her probably thought) Or maybe they just simply changed her hair so she isn't mixed up with previous characters she has played? I don't know but the hair did suit her so it was used sucessfully!

Willem Dafoe grabbed the evil part of this movie because of cause when you have a superhero starring, you have to have a bad guy! The villain is the green goblin. Now I didn't really pay much attention to this character, I don't like evil roles! But the overall performance of the villain was superb, he could easily trick Spiderman and other characters into believing something totally untrue and this was so believable sometimes I believed the villain! I think Dafoe played really well with this role and made it to suit his style. I think the villain was superb and the characters were created really well to conflict with one another how they did.

THE STORYLINE

Peter Parker the geek of the movie who lives with his aunty and uncle and his best geeky mate Harry Osborn go on a school trip. They are unpopular with the rest of the colleages so stay together but Peter has a mad crush on his next door neighbour, 'MJ' and so they tend to follow her around. On the school trip which is to a science museum Peter gets bitten by a spider. Little do we know this is a genetic spider wth great powers!

Peter gets home ok, he just feels a little woozy and different but he eventually passes out. The next morning Peter wakes up to find that overnight his weedy chest has been transformed into a full on muscle show and he h
as also lost his need for wearing glasses. (Whoa - hot stuff!) During that day Peter starts to become much hairier and it seems Peter has attained many characteristics of a spider! (HeHe!) He can climb walls and shoot webs from his wrists! Even though Peter has discovered these powers of his, he has to try and remain as human and normal as possible, especially since his best mate Harry is introducing Peter to his father that afternoon, Norman Osborn.

Harrys father, Norman Osborn is the owner of a science experiment company named Oscorp. The business is dead ended and never suceeds so Osborn decides to finally experiment on himself hoping it all goes right to proove to people that things can go right for him. As you would expect Osborn ends out as an evil green goblin! (Hope I'm not giving too much away!)

The movie goes on from there, Peter Parker discovering miraculous powers of what is to be 'Spiderman' and Osborn discovering himself as a greedy, evil goblin! Will the pair meet each other (Well of course!? D'oh!?) and will they fight one another for what they believe is right? And lets not forget good old 'MJ' from next door - she's a main character so surely she will get involved at some stage? No more needs to be said, it could spoil the storyline!

The other thing the movie got just right was the computerised scenes, they were believable, not over the top and fun to watch. They were made with time, effort and care and this has been noticed in the movie. Costumes were also superb! I will also mention at this point that it is very obvious there will be a second installment of Spiderman! Look forward to the ending!

CONCLUSION

Director: Sam Raimi
Certificate: 12A
Website: http://spiderman.sonypictures.com/

SPIDERMAN 1 : 2002
SPIDERMAN 2: 2004 (Just Released)
SPIDERMAN 3 : 2007 (To Be Confirmed)

Spiderman is a great movie, really worth a watch. The 12A certific
ate allows the appropriate amount of action whilst other parts of the movie focus on different issues! It consists of great acting and a superb storyline yet not too complex. I recommend this film to anyone interested who hasn't seen it yet! Especially as the second installment is now out! Thank you for reading my UPDATED review everyone, I hope the changes were of some interest and I hope I've inspired you to see both this and the second Spiderman at the cinema if you are yet to see both! Cheers!

PS DEFINITELY WATCH SPIDERMAN BEFORE SPIDERMAN 2!

Best Wishes
emma x

Summary: