Spider-Man

REVIEW
Mild-mannered high schooler-cum-newspaper photographer Peter Parker (Maguire) is bit by a mutant spider, enabling him to climb walls, beat up bullies, and swing from buildings on his sticky web. This happens just in time, too, as scientist Norman Osborne (Dafoe) has gone a bit nuts, ready to destroy New York City via his alter ego Green Goblin. And, oh yes, Peter’s in danger of never winning the heart of his high school crush, Mary Jane (Dunst). Ultimately, all superheros have some similarities: leading a double life, an unrequited love interest, the choice between personal vengeance and saving innocents, so Spider-Man is forgiven for some familiarity. And while this Green Goblin story is largely faithful to the original comic, it has enough little twists (mainly involving the heroine) to make it seem fresh to longtime fans. Director Raimi continues to show signs of mellowing, focusing intently on the familial relationships and the coming-of-age of the young (and surprisingly sexually charged) characters. In fact, the best moment occurs at a Thanksgiving dinner, where everyone is hiding at least one secret from everybody else, resulting in tremendous comic tension. The big selling point, of course, is the web-slinging and swinging, which is naturally exhilarating if a bit over-digitized. The film is exceptionally well-cast, with a beefed-up Maguire able to carry both the strength of Spider-Man and the meekness of Peter Parker, Dafoe just enough over-the-top to be able to emote from behind the Green Goblin’s mask, and Simmons pitch perfect as J. Jonah Jameson, cigar-chomping newspaper editor from the His Girl Friday era. As a whole, it does the trick, popcorn-ready summer entertainment and the foundation for a franchise that's long overdue.