Spider-Man (2002)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers (WGA):

Stan Lee (Marvel comic book) and
Steve Ditko (Marvel comic book) ...

Release Date:

3 May 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

With great power comes great responsibility.

Plot:

When bitten by a genetically modified spider, a nerdy, shy, and awkward high school student gains spider-like abilities that he eventually must use to fight evil as a superhero after tragedy befalls his family.

Plot Keywords:

Spider | Superhero | High School | Superhuman Strength | Businessman

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 40 nominations

Cast

Tobey Maguire	...	Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Willem Dafoe	...	Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Kirsten Dunst	...	Mary Jane Watson
James Franco	...	Harry Osborn
Cliff Robertson	...	Ben Parker
Rosemary Harris	...	May Parker
J.K. Simmons	...	J. Jonah Jameson
Joe Manganiello	...	Flash Thompson
Gerry Becker	...	Maximilian Fargas
Bill Nunn	...	Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson
Jack Betts	...	Henry Balkan
Stanley Anderson	...	General Slocum
Ron Perkins	...	Dr. Mendell Stromm
Michael Papajohn	...	Carjacker
K.K. Dodds	...	Simkins

Also Known As:

Spider-Man: The Motion Picture (USA) (working title)
Spiderman (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for stylized violence and action.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #37531) | India:U | Italy:T | Malaysia:U | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Austria:10 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:10 (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Ireland:12 | Mexico:A | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Taiwan:PG-12 | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) (2002)

Filming Locations:

4th Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When Uncle Ben drops Peter off to go to the library, a bus can be seen driving by with a promotional advertisement that reads, The Producers (1968), a 'Mel Brooks (I)' musical. Brooks later sued Sony Pictures Entertainment for unwanted advertisement in motion-picture space.

Goofs:

Continuity: On the morning Peter does a little web practice, he talks to his Aunt at the door. After closing the door, we see that there are webs all over the room, even in the path he just walked to get to the door.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Peter Parker: [voiceover] Who am I? You sure you want to know? The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a happy little tale... if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, not a care in the world... somebody lied.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sin City: The Premiere (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

What We're All About (The Original Version)

Amazingly Spectacularly Great

Having seen the trailers for this film I have to say that I didn't walk into the cinema with high hopes. The computer effects looked badly integrated, the Green Goblin's costume looked awful and comic book adaptations usually have such painful scripting and plotting. Thankfully I was wrong on most counts (The Goblin still looks rubbish).

As it turns out, this is probably the best super-hero film I've yet seen - certainly up there with Superman and Batman. People seem to automatically comment that the script and acting was bad because they expect it to be the case in these films; and indeed it usually is. But if you go into Spider-man without this prejudicial attitude you'll be pleasently suprised. The acting is generally great - there is never a time when anyone is not believable as their character and you think "Hey, that's an actor, not Peter Parker". The effects do look artificial but the pace of the movie means you don't have time to dwell on this and the script is fine! What do people want, Shakespearian soliloquies? That would sound incredibly out-of-place in modern day New York. There are few of the painful cliches or dreadful dialogue that plague films like The Phantom Menace and the catchphrases like "friendly neighbourhood spider-man" are fully in-keeping with the character.

The comic turns from J.J. Jameson hit the mark, the snarling facial contortions of Willem Defoe were suitably evil-looking (and the conversation with his mirror-image was a great touch). My only gripe was with the Green Goblin's costume. Very monotone green and not very scary.

All-in-all a great film that I wouldn't hesitate for a second in recommending.