Spider-Man (2002)

Spider-Man is a comic book adaptation from director Sam Raimi, starring Tobey Maguire in the titular role. After being bitten by a genetically modified spider, Peter Parker gains incredible spider-like abilities that he eventually must use to fight evil after tragedy befalls his family. Let’s consider the pros and cons of Spider-Man…

Pros: Firstly, the acting from Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst is great, but Willem Dafoe is superb as the Green Goblin! Watching Dafoe descend into madness while playing off himself in a mirror is exactly as good as it sounds. And Sam Raimi deserves his share of the credit for portraying Osborn’s decent, as well as the thrilling web-slinging fight scenes! Lastly is the score from Danny Elfman which somehow manages to outshine every other wonderful thing about this movie!

Cons: Although the practical effects still hold up, the CGI is pretty dated. Specifically when Peter is jumping around on rooftops and the Goblin is mounting his glider, you might confuse this with the animated Spider-Man. My only other gripe is how oblivious everyone is to the Green Goblin’s identity. After Osborn experiments on himself and there are a string of deaths not only connected to him but incredibly beneficial for him, no one seems to bat an eye. It’s not egregious enough to ruin the movie, but it might pull you out of it.

I give Spider-Man an A-. It’s an iconic superhero flick with great performances, blockbuster action, and an emotional story. It’s a fantastic origin story and a strong start to the original Spider-Man franchise, so you don’t want to miss this movie! Happy Watching!

“With great power comes great responsibility”