Spiderman (2002)

Comic book superheroes have long been frequently used source material for Hollywood blockbusters - Superman, Batman and The X-Men being among the more famous franchises. It seems as if virtually every popular comic character has either had a big-screen adaptation or is shortly to get one and this year comes the first movie based around the exploits of one of the most famous superheroes of all - Spiderman.

Director Sam Raimi is most famous for his cult horror film series “The Evil Dead” and for his involvement in making the TV series “Xena : Warrior Princess” but this film bears little similarity to his previous efforts and is likely to ensure he won’t be short of film projects any time in the near future. It would be easy to just make a simple action movie with Spiderman taking on assorted evil villains in a flurry of special effects, but, while this film is not short of action scenes, it also doesn’t stint on character development.

Geeky schoolboy Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is looking forward to heading off to college when he is bitten by a genetically modified spider in a museum and soon finds himself growing unnaturally strong, having the ability to climb walls and being able to shoot webs from his wrists. Fortunately, the film doesn’t spend too much time trying to come up with quasi-scientific explanations for this, but just asks us to accept the fact that he’s turning into a superhero. Initially he puts these talents to somewhat prosaic uses - humbling the school bully, earning some money wrestling and trying to impress fellow student Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst). Despite the lack of action this is one of the best parts of the film as Maguire’s character is likeable and his early - occasionally accident prone - attempts to control his powers are entertaining.

Of course it wouldn’t be much of a superhero movie if things went well and after a tragedy Parker realises that his talents to be put to better use and becomes an elusive but successful crime fighter, keeping his identity concealed from the public under a spider costume. Despite his successes, some people - particularly the immensely entertaining editor of the newspaper Parker gets a job for - are suspicious of this mysterious figure (for no apparent reason) but his real problems only begin when the equally mysterious Green Goblin starts attacking the city.

The Goblin might be a mystery figure to the people of New York in the movie, but his identity is never concealed from the audience. Prominent scientist and businessman Norman Osborne goes insane after trying on his weapons companies’ newest prototype military project and takes to flying around the sky on a hoverboard and killing his rival businessman - and anyone else who gets in his way. This role could easily be ridiculous and it’s a credit to actor Willem Dafoe that he makes his alter-ego believable and menacing (even if he still looks a bit silly at times). In Dafoe’s hands Osborne’s double life is portrayed very impressively with a couple of very memorable scenes centring around the character’s struggle with his insanity.

Since Osborne’s son is Parker’s friend and flatmate, an interesting connection is formed between the two antagonists - both unaware of the other’s real identity. After Spiderman thwarts one of the Green Goblin’s attacks the Goblin resolves to either destroy Spiderman or turn him to his own side.

One of the reasons why this film works better than other superhero movies - Superman in particular - is that Spiderman is never portrayed as invincible and failure always seems an option. Despite this Spiderman is still an effective force, and his performance in the action scenes is good - with the exception of some occasionally unconvincing CGI. The combination of good action sequences and entertaining accounts of Peter Parker’s life make this more than an average action movie and the acting is first-rate. The budding romance between Parker and Mary-Jane is occasionally a bit too saccharine, and Parker’s clumsy dialogue in these scenes is sometimes (possibly unintentionally) amusing but his ineptness at romance fits well with the character and doesn’t damage the film particularly, although it does slow the pace of the film down slightly.

Overall, this is possibly the best Superhero movie Hollywood has yet produced, with a combination of modern-day action sequences and good old-fashioned storytelling that makes it an extremely entertaining movie.

Rating : 7½ / 10

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All content ©2003 William Marnoch.

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