Spider-Man

Spider-Man is an action adventure superhero film. This is the first of a series of films about the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and was directed by Sam Raimi. Tobey Maguire stars is the lead role and is ably supported by Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe and James Franco.

The film was an overwhelming success at the box office. Even diehard fans agreed the casting was right on the money. The special effects are nicely understated and it is very difficult to spot where Tobey Maguire leaves off and the CGI takes over. Willem Dafoe is outstanding as psychotic, schizophrenic villain Norman Osborn aka Green Goblin. Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane is a believable heroine and shows a bit of backbone long overdue for female romantic interest parts.

The start of the story shows Peter Parker being bitten by a genetically altered spider. His slow transformation into superhuman is tastefully and humorously done. Already an upstanding citizen Peter soon realises how he can use his powers to do good in the city after he is involved in his uncle’s death. Meanwhile Norman Osborn (Dafoe) is working on a new chemical enhancement drug developed for military purposes. He uses the drug on himself and is turned into the evil Green Goblin.

Cinema release 2002

Certificate 12

Available on DVD and Blue Ray