Review of Spider-Man (2002) by Landon M — 13 Jan 2016

There just aren't any directors like Sam Raimi anymore. Spider-Man is one of my favorite superhero movies, and a movie I have loved since a young age. This movie is filled with great action, a strong emotional core, and fantastic directing.

Tobey Maguire, while not playing a comic-faithful Spider-Man, is great as both Peter Parker and Spidey. Kirsten Dunst and James Franco are really good, and Willem Dafoe kills it as the Green Goblin. The movie is very lighthearted and cheesy, and while some might find that unappealing, I think it is the only proper way to tell the story of Spider-Man.

This movie also has very dark moments, and nails them all. The visuals, while some are dated, still make for fantastic action scenes, most particularly in the movie's amazing climax. This movie never fails to make me smile, laugh, tear up, and feel empowered.

Its unique directing style and great characters make it a superhero movie you don't see anymore. I love it and always will, regardless of its fifty eventual reboots. 9.5/10.