“With great power comes great responsibility.” —Uncle Ben
Today’s quick review: Spider-Man. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), a nerdy high school student, gains incredible powers when he is bitten by a genetically modified spider. Assuming the identity of Spider-Man, Peter dedicates his life to protecting the people of New York, no matter what the personal cost. But Peter faces his greatest foe when Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe), the father of Peter’s friend Harry (James Franco), becomes the Green Goblin.
Spider-Man is a superhero action comedy directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows Peter Parker as he learns to use his powers, juggles hero work with his personal life, and pays the price for doing what’s right. Spider-Man is a spiritually faithful adaptation of the character, playing up Peter’s outsider status and the sense of responsibility that drives him. Freewheeling action, light humor, and a solid story make Spider-Man a classic of the genre.
Spider-Man has everything it needs to be a satisfying superhero movie. Peter makes for a sympathetic character, caught between his responsibilities as Spider-Man and the expectations of his loved ones. His relationship with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) gives the movie a strong emotional arc, as does his tragic connection to Norman Osborn. These heavier elements are balanced out with plenty of humor and a fundamentally heroic tone.
Spider-Man also delivers on action. The film does a skillful job of introducing Peter’s powers, so that by the time he starts swinging from the skyscrapers of New York, it feels earned. The action scenes make good use of the mobility that Peter’s powers give him, and the special effects hold up surprisingly well. Although not quite as polished as modern superhero movies, Spider-Man has a solid foundation of action to build on.
Spider-Man is one of the cornerstones of the modern superhero genre and well worth a watch for fans of the genre or character. The film serves as a definitive origin story for the character, and its combination of drama, humor, and action make it a solid pick for anyone interested. However, you may not get as much out of the movie if you dislike the goofier side of the genre, as its acting and writing occasionally go a bit too far.
For an updated take on the character, try The Amazing Spider-Man. For one with a younger cast and a more comedic tone, try Spider-Man: Homecoming. For an animated love letter to the character, try Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
[7.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145487/). I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for adventure and charm.