Review of Spider-Man (2002) by Rex A — 01 May 2014

300th Review Special!!!!

Wow, I've reviewed THREE HUNDRED movies on this site. Seems a bit excessive, doesn't it? But I'm glad to be writing about this movie. THIS MOVIE, man. It's my third-favorite superhero film of all time (The Dark Knight is second, behind, oddly enough (but not really), Spider-Man 2). Raimi's trilogy even surpasses the Nolan Batman saga in my mind. It's also a good one to talk about since this weekend marks the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the predecessor of which I felt bastardized everything the Raimi films stood for.

But why is Spider-Man so much better than The Amazing Spider-Man?

Well, it's obvious, isn't it? Maguire plays the part far better than Andrew Garfield ever will, first of all. His (Maguire's) is an intensely emotional showing, taking Spider-Man's internal turmoil and putting it all on the screen in a way that couldn't be more pleasing. Dunst is also a much better love interest than Emma Stone will ever be. I like Stone just fine, but Dunst perfectly balances charm and sharp, incisive wit as Mary Jane Watson. It's not as much an acting flaw, but Stone's Gwen Stacey is above all a bland schoolgirl. It seemed as if they just stuck her in there because SOMEONE had to fill a "love interest" position.

The list goes on. Rosemary Harris is a better Aunt May than Sally Field, etc, etc, etc. Anyway, the narrative of Spider-Man is just a lot more interesting and well-executed. Think of how much more effective Uncle Ben's speech is when Peter is about to use his newfound powers to earn money in a wrestling competition. It highlights a stark ambiguity in Parker's character that continues throughout the trilogy. He's not always a great guy. He can tend to be opportunistic with his superpowers and a bit of a show-off. But these flaws make us love him even more, because we can see ourselves in him.

Aaaaaaaand then The Amazing Spider-Man had Uncle Ben get killed when Peter was getting milk or something. Fantastic.

Anyway, 300 reviews is a lot. Film is such a vast artistic well from which we can draw life-changing messages and experiences. This website has made me realize that even more. I hope -- nay, I know -- that movies in the future will enthrall me the way this one does, because there's always something new to be found.