Spider-Man
3/4
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Willem Dafoe, Rosemary Harris, Cliff Robertson
Rated PG-13 for Stylized Violence and Action
"Spider-Man" brought in the new superhero craze that has been going on for the last decade and a half (and unfortunately shows no signs of stopping). It's a fun movie that successfully treads the line between a comic-book come to life and a regular big budget movie. By no means is it groundbreaking, but it is good entertainment.
Peter Parker (Maguire) is your average geek. He is constantly bullied, can't talk to Mary Jane Watson (Dunst), the gorgeous redhead next door (with whom he has long held a secret affection) and has only one friend, the rich flunkie Harry Osborn (Franco). One day on a field trip, Peter is bitten by a genetically engineered "super-spider" and discovers that he has some amazing super powers: he has become incredibly fit overnight, he can shoot webs and swing from them, he can sense danger, and he can climb walls. But just as he's getting used to his newfound abilities, a new threat has emerged. Harry's father Norman (Dafoe) is the victim of a science experiment gone terribly wrong, and has turned into the vicious Green Goblin.
The acting is solid across the board. Tobey Maguire makes for a great geek, and an oddly effective superhero. Nerds can live out their heroic fantasies through him. Kirsten Dunst is a terrific "nice girl" while James Franco is surprisingly effective as Peter's best friend. Willem Dafoe is surprisingly uneven. He's good when he's low-key, but sometimes he goes too far over-the-top. The best performances go to screen veterans Rosemary Harris and Cliff Robertson, who play Peter's aunt and uncle. They earn our sympathy more than anyone else.
Director Sam Raimi is an odd choice for a big budget movie. Known previously as the cult filmmaker of the "Evil Dead" trilogy (he also directed the murder masterpiece "A Simple Plan"), Raimi directs the film as he should. There are plenty of special effects, and every penny of the $139 million budget is put to good use. But unlike say "Van Helsing" or the "Sherlock Holmes" movies, it doesn't feel like it's completely created by CGI. Raimi never overuses it, and it's really easy on the eyes after seeing murky movies like the latter two.
Oddly enough, the film came out at the perfect time for America, and the world. It was release nearly eight months after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, and people were still hurting. The presence of a big budget movie where the good hero fights (and conquers, obviously) the bad guy was able to lift our spirits. Actually, scenes were added, such as the one where New Yorkers throw trash at the Green Goblin over an American flag, were used to increase patriotism. It's not yellow journalism by any means, but it works.
In short, this is a fun two hour ride.
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Willem Dafoe, Rosemary Harris, Cliff Robertson
Rated PG-13 for Stylized Violence and Action
"Spider-Man" brought in the new superhero craze that has been going on for the last decade and a half (and unfortunately shows no signs of stopping). It's a fun movie that successfully treads the line between a comic-book come to life and a regular big budget movie. By no means is it groundbreaking, but it is good entertainment.
Peter Parker (Maguire) is your average geek. He is constantly bullied, can't talk to Mary Jane Watson (Dunst), the gorgeous redhead next door (with whom he has long held a secret affection) and has only one friend, the rich flunkie Harry Osborn (Franco). One day on a field trip, Peter is bitten by a genetically engineered "super-spider" and discovers that he has some amazing super powers: he has become incredibly fit overnight, he can shoot webs and swing from them, he can sense danger, and he can climb walls. But just as he's getting used to his newfound abilities, a new threat has emerged. Harry's father Norman (Dafoe) is the victim of a science experiment gone terribly wrong, and has turned into the vicious Green Goblin.
The acting is solid across the board. Tobey Maguire makes for a great geek, and an oddly effective superhero. Nerds can live out their heroic fantasies through him. Kirsten Dunst is a terrific "nice girl" while James Franco is surprisingly effective as Peter's best friend. Willem Dafoe is surprisingly uneven. He's good when he's low-key, but sometimes he goes too far over-the-top. The best performances go to screen veterans Rosemary Harris and Cliff Robertson, who play Peter's aunt and uncle. They earn our sympathy more than anyone else.
Director Sam Raimi is an odd choice for a big budget movie. Known previously as the cult filmmaker of the "Evil Dead" trilogy (he also directed the murder masterpiece "A Simple Plan"), Raimi directs the film as he should. There are plenty of special effects, and every penny of the $139 million budget is put to good use. But unlike say "Van Helsing" or the "Sherlock Holmes" movies, it doesn't feel like it's completely created by CGI. Raimi never overuses it, and it's really easy on the eyes after seeing murky movies like the latter two.
Oddly enough, the film came out at the perfect time for America, and the world. It was release nearly eight months after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, and people were still hurting. The presence of a big budget movie where the good hero fights (and conquers, obviously) the bad guy was able to lift our spirits. Actually, scenes were added, such as the one where New Yorkers throw trash at the Green Goblin over an American flag, were used to increase patriotism. It's not yellow journalism by any means, but it works.
In short, this is a fun two hour ride.
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