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| B B B | |
| Review by Xibo | Date seen: May 5, 2002 |
| Viewing Location: 34th St, New York City | Grade: B |
| Summary: Goofy fun movie, but only one bad guy | |
| The backstory on Peter Parker was very nicely done, and they certainly made Mary Jane look like quite the hottie. I mean woo-hoo, FOXY! Anyway, It's a lot of fun seeing Spiderman swing his way through Lexington Avenue, watch the movie magic as it moves ING's building over to Times Square, and have the Flatiron Building become the narrow headquarters for the Daily Bugle. But unfortunately Spiderman doesn't have a lot to do, as there's only one bad guy, the Green Goblin, which is horribly written as a father-son tale gone awry, and it really goes awry when the bad guy dons the stupid Goblin mask and adopts the idiotic voice. And in the end, he doesn't get the girl! Why? Is he gay?? What the hell... at least Tobey Maguire and Cliff Robertson put on good performances. The rest are really forced. | |
| A A A | |
| Review by Jigen | Date seen: May 4, 2002 |
| Viewing Location: Spokane Valley - MegaSuperPlex | Grade: A |
| Summary: Very nicely done comic book on the big screen | |
| A nice telling of the origin of Spider-Man even if having webs come right of of his wrists seemed a bit creepy. Sam Raimi was a great choice to direct this film. He has a style that lends itself well to comic books in all of it's over-emphasized, slow motion, freeze frame, everyone sells out glory. When Peter Parker first gets his Spidey powers I really felt his confusion and then later his joy when swinging down the street. Every punch seems like it would crush ribs and each scene takes on an importance all of it's own. The love story is the only flawed part seeming very forced. I know they wanted to keep it true to it's comic nature, but they could have come up with some better lines, right? The ending also confused most people and could have been clearer (Spidey doesn't want to get too close because those he cares about could get hurt.. yada yada). J.K. Simmons steals a couple scenes as J. Jonah Jameson. | |
| A- A- A- | |
| Review by Finrod | Date seen: May 4, 2002 |
| Viewing Location: AMC Parkway Pointe 15, Atlanta GA | Grade: A- |
| Summary: Spider-Man drubs Star Wars | |
| This movie came out at about the same time as Star Wars Ep 2, and it kicked its ass. Granted Raimi made Spider-Man's webshooters be organic, not Peter Parker's invention, but that's the only major exception to the comic book Spider-Man.
I knew this movie would be a hit when on the way into my 7pm showing, I ran into a family with a bunch of kids on their way out of the theater, and all the kids were imitating Spider-Man. The Green Goblin does an excellent job of being evil just because he wants to be, and William DaFoe really cranks up the creepy as him. Tobey Maguire does a great job as Peter Parker and Spider-Man, and you can't beat the upside-down-in-the-rain kiss with Mary Jane. | |
"I should put quotes here."