PG-13, 2 hr. 1 min. Directed by: Sam Raimi. Release Date: May 3, 2002. DVD Release Date: November 1, 2002.
There are lots of movies that I can tell you where I saw them first. There are few where I can provide as many details as this one. I was in my second year in the Navy, still serving in Monterey, California. I was in the intermediate Arabic course because I, like three other members of my class, was still waiting on the security clearance that would let me move forward in my training. The movie’s release was big news, even in my Arabic class, and Saber, one of our professors who had designs on being an actor decided we should read about the film release write-up that had appeared in Al-Jazeera. That day, right after class (and I mean as soon as we could get ourselves out of uniform and off post) two members of my class and I saw this movie. It was the first and only time I watched a movie with either MJ or Jorge, but I still remember the excitement in the air when the house lights dimmed and the opening credits started.
Spider-Man delivered everything we could have asked of it. It is the beginning of what should be one of the crown jewels of the superhero movie genre. I’m not even a fan of the Spider-Man comics, and I think this adaptation is nearly perfect… although the red and blue “super spiders” were a bit of a turn-off. I’m generally a fan of Sam Raimi’s movies, so it comes as no surprise that I enjoyed this one, but this script felt so strong that it could have been directed by just about anyone. The dialogue is pretty tight, and lacks the usual campy feel that seemed to be so common to the genre before Marvel seriously upped the comic book movie bar with this project. The special effects are brilliant, and I don’t doubt that what we saw in Spider-Man inspired most, if not all, of the superhero movies to follow… even those made by the competition (DC Comics).
Most of what I love about this movie is the action sequences. The CGI, or blue screen, or whatever magic these guys used to show us how Spider-Man got around New York City and fought crime is incredible. Even while Peter Parker is transitioning into his new alter ego, we’re treated to lots of pretty cool features, and it doesn’t appear that any details were ignored. I love watching the tiny spider hairs growing from his hands and allowing Parker to adhere to walls.
Spidey also gets credits for putting two actors on my radar: Tobey Maguire and James Franco. Franco’s gone on to a pretty prestigious career, most especially in the wake of his 2010 Best Actor nomination for 127 Hours. Maguire puts on solid performances, but I think he’s a bit under-exposed. I would have had money on him as Best Actor for Brothers in 2009, but no such luck. I’m hoping each has a long career.
If there’s anything I could have done without, it was Willem DaFoe, who DID bring some of that campy badness into this movie. His performance was so consistent and his track record is good enough that I’m assuming he was directed to do his role like that; it just wasn’t really the way I might have gone. It was great that the movie managed to take itself seriously, and I think the way the Green Goblin is performed detracts from that a bit. Not enough to wreck my enjoyment of the film, but it’s something I notice every time I watch the movie.
If you've managed to go the last decade without seeing this, crawl out of your hole at some point and take a look. Tell me if you get all wrapped up in Aunt May, who may just be the best casting decision ever made. After three Spidey flicks, I want her to be MY Aunt May.
