Super-Man (2002)

Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), a troubled student is bitten by a spider and takes on some of its characteristics. Deciding to use his new powers for good, he becomes a web-slinging, wall-walking superhero. Directed by Sam Raimi, and co-starring Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco. Based on the comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Dtiko.

Spider-Man would have been the last major comic book character to have avoided big-screen treatment, therefore its potential was the subject of speculation and rumour for two decades. That is, until Sam Raimi finally brought Spider-Man to the cinema screen.

I only watched this very recently. I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed this film. It’s brilliant. I love it because it’s a lot more character-orientated than I thought it would be. While there are a lot of fight scenes (which are amazingly done and I imagine would have looked mind-blowing on the big screen), the story always comes back to the characters, which I loved. There’s just nothing complicated about this whatsoever. As usual, simple is always better!

   

Toby Maguire is fantastic. It’s amazing just how well he can play polar opposite personalities so well in the same movie. We’ve got the diffident and vulnerable Peter Parker, and then the bold and courageous Spider-Man. He does both parts equally convincingly and he is extremely likable as the hapless Peter Parker. I loved the gradual transformation his character makes. This was probably the film’s biggest success. Even the gradualness of the plot and the way the story is built. It’s perfect. The will-they-won’t-they romance with M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) is really touching, and even the relationship between Peter and his Aunt and Uncle is also quite emotional, particularly when both become victims of the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe)’s tirade.

The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including “Best Sound” and “Best Visual Effects”.

I recommend this movie 100%!

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