"Spiderman" Spins a Youthful Tale by Homer Yen (c) 2002
"Spiderman" may be the name of a superhero, but the story is really about an ordinary kid. He just happens to have extraordinary powers. Compared to other superhero films about Batman or the X-Men, this film certainly doesn't have their otherworldly feel. For example, when Tobey Maguire in costume says "I'm your friendly, neighborhood Spiderman," he sounds like a total geek. Yet, in many ways, our favorite web-slinger is the most powerful of the lot because it is about human nature rather than colorful villains and their mad schemes. Thus, comparatively, "Spiderman" seems fresher, with a more human perspective. That's something that we can all appreciate.
"Spiderman" recounts the superhero's origin and introduces the central characters that spawned the comic book franchise. We meet Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who is nerdy, bookish and socially inept. He's just about to graduate from high school but isn't ready for the world as he is very much an outcast. He has a burning but unrequited love for Mary Jane Parker (Kirsten Dunst). He is being raised by his venerable Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson). And his best friend Harry (James Franco) is ashamed of his father's (Willem Dafoe) wealth.
Concentrating on Peter Parker rather than his alter ego is the right move. Yes, we do see how a genetically enhanced spider bites Peter and subsequently gives him these super powers. His vision improves, his muscles begin to bulge, and a pesky glutinous substance sprays out from his wrists. But, the film is really a tender story about a frail boy trying to cope with some tough realities of life. They include bullies, responsibility, sacrifice, and love. We see these elements being explored whether it's Peter Parker trying to survive high school or whether it's his alter ego battling the Green Goblin.
Tobey Maguire brings fallibility to the character. After all, he's just trying to figure things out. Kirsten Dunst is also enjoyable as we watch her character change from a high schooler motivated by good looks to a young woman attracted to good character. Seeing their relationship evolve was more absorbing than watching Spiderman go against the Green Goblin. However, it's clear that Dafoe as the bad guy relishes being a villain, and he's suitably creepy in that role.
As a summer movie, and it lives up to expectations. Visuals are quite impressive, especially in the sequences where Spiderman swings through the concrete jungle shooting out strands from his wrists as his means of travel. And, it's plenty amusing as Peter tries to figure out life and his new powers primarily through trial and error.
Just how much do people want to see "Spiderman"? At the local 18-theatre cineplex, this film is playing in 5 of those theatres. That's 25 screenings throughout the day. And on it's first two opening nights when there were a total of 50 showtimes from which to choose, 42 of those were sold out. It's 3-day national opening totaled a record-breaking $114 million, eclipsing the previous record holder by $25 million and became the first film to ever gross over $100 million in it's first three days. You'd have to crawl up and over a wall to get into a theatre during the opening weekend. But it's probably worth the effort. You can't keep a good man down.
Grade: B+
S: 1 out of 3 L: 0 out of 3 V: 2 out of 3
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