Rating: 
Summary: Spiderman hits the Spot
Review: When I was talked into seeing this film, I wasn't expecting much. Well, was I wrong... it's terrific. Pure fantasy, of course, but what a fun story. Pure good vs. pure evil, and throw in a little romance. Lots of fun for everyone. Based on the Spiderman comic book character, it's even better. Great effects without being a cartoon.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Film but wimpy Spiderman
Review: First, I confess, I was a teenage fan of the comicbooks. On the surface, I was delighted to see that the makers of the film held pretty closely to the comicbook tale, with some modern modifications. The story reels you in quickly. Sadly, I felt Tobey was a bit wimpy for the role. Am I the only one who felt this way? Granted, he is supposed to represent the geeky, unpopular student in high school, but even after he is bitten by the spider he still seems a bit wimpy for the part. Still, the film is an entertaining ride. Dafoe does an excellent job playing the complex villian. The action and special effects scenes are excellent. Perhaps I saw the film too close to 9-11, but the scenes of the Green Goblin terrorizing people in New York hit just a little too closely to home. Tobey does a good job of capturing the burden of his responsibility as Spiderman. The film ends on a tentative note, hinting at the sequels which will inevitably come. The DVD includes additional screen test shots and interviews that are enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: At Least the Kiss Was Real
Review: Why wasn't this film a cartoon? That's the question that nagged me as I watched Spider-Man. I'm beginning to believe that Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) is a narcotic in Hollywood (second only to the addiction of exporting film industry jobs to Canada). Spider-Man, directed by Sam Raimi (who did so well directing A Simple Plan in 1998), represents the worst of both worlds. As with all movies taken from comic books, this character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko for MARVEL comics - we are unpleasantly reminded of Marvel at the very first frame of the film - the story starts with the creation of our super-hero. A nerdy high school student (Tobey Maguire), with a passion for photography, is bitten by a genetically modified spider and gains spider-like abilities. These include great strength, agility, the ability to shoot webs from his wrists, and to kiss gorgeous babes while hanging upside-down. Well, maybe not that last one. As befits the super-hero tradition, his name begins with the same consonants (Peter Parker), and he is an orphan, brought up by kindly Aunt May Parker (Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben Parker (a geezerlike and underutilized Cliff Robertson). The human story (screenplay by David "Jurassic Park" Koepp) is not so bad: Spidey, er, Peter, longs for the unattainable Mary Jane Watson (the gorgeous Kirsten Dunst, who I last saw in Crazy/Beautiful in 2001), who longs to be an actress. Trouble is, she sees everybody but Peter because Peter won't ask her out. She only notices him when he becomes Spider-Man... most guys know how that goes. But there's trouble in Gotham City - er, sorry, wrong super-hero! - a soon-to-be-mad scientist (Willem Dafoe, who I last saw in Auto-Focus, 2002), faced with a funding cut-off, transforms himself into an evil alter ego known as the Green Goblin (repeated consonants again). GG doesn't seem to have much purpose aside from urban mayhem, and he can't even move his face, but he does put MJ (Dunst) in danger a couple of times, providing Spider-Man with the occasion to save her life, and to give her that memorable kiss (actually, looking at MJ's rain-soaked sweater was more memorable for me). It's all filmed in New York and LA, too! So far so good. Granted, these are super-heroes portrayed by human actors and real people can't do these things, but I was seriously put off by the CGI/animation of the hero-villain fights. I'm not opposed to a little digital tinkering with reality, but I think the overuse of these effects (the CGI credits list is as long as Spidey's web) reduced the human element to infinitesimal. The characters might as well have populated a cartoon: there was nothing remotely realistic about them, especially their apparent weightlessness. There was never a moment in Spider-Man when I wondered if I was looking at a CGI effect or if I was looking at human actors; it was all fake. For me, this destroyed the verisimilitude, my willing suspension of disbelief mired in a suspension of belief. You can't have that in a movie that relies on a strong element of magic for its power. Maybe CGI is becoming too easy. Why wasn't this film a cartoon? Maybe because the Spider-Man I remember already is.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent movie
Review: I love the humor throughout this movie - especially when he's trying to figure out how to use the web. Worth buying to watch at home :)
Rating:
Summary: He's one of the best comic book heroes ever
Review: And his movie is bar none the best comic book movie. Superman, X-men, Batman, Spawn... this one blows them away. It has his best enemy as well. The Green Goblin. When I saw this movie the first time, I almost cried because the effects are that good. The cinematography is something to behold. Definitely, the best comic movie ever. Until Spiderman Returns...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie to see again and again
Review: It's just a fun movie. Special effects were great, and some of the liscense they took was actually an improvement. Maguire played an good Parker, with that geeky kind of outlook on everything. For a first movie that has to introduce everything and everybody, they did a wonderful job (much better than I expected). Defoe overplayed his role a bit, but that is kind of his calling card anyways. The web slinging was excellently done (computers are wonderful things). Yeah, if you are looking for a movie that is 100% comic book faithful, you might be a bit irritated at some of the changes. But if you are looking for that, you need to stay away from Hollywood all together. If you are looking for a fun night with the family, or just want a good fun action flick, this is a definite good choice. I even got to see it on a plane ride back from France. Watching Spiderman swing around the city, while the plane is undergoing turbulance is a VERY interesting feeling. :)
Rating: 
Summary: I agree with [other reviewer]
Review: This movie is awful. The only characters that have characters are the evil ones. Spiderman's girfriend's hair cannot be that red. The last lines were so lame I died laughing. Where was Peter Parker learning his new powers? Do movie makers know the word "forshadowing." Simply not worth the time. The beginning had me falling asleep and the touching ending had me laughing out loud. The girl playing Peter Parker's love interest need dental work. Rent Dagon, not Spiderman.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not Great...
Review: Spiderman was a lot of hype. It was over-rated and the movie just wasn't all that great. The producers could have did so much more with that huge budget. Maybe the "Hulk" will be better...
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Graphics!
Review: I almost didn't watch this movie--just not too big on Science Fiction types. However, I'm glad I decided to bring it home for the night. The story line is ok. Loner boy gets magic power, loses his uncle, and finds the ones he loves threatened by the mysterious Green Goblin. The best part of the movie are the incredible jump scenes where Spiderman hurtles himself through NYC. The fight scenes are also pretty neat...kind of reminiscent of The Matrix. If you want a movie that you watch strictly for the filming, this is probably it.
Rating:
Summary: Top-notch comic adaptation
Review: This is the movie I've been waiting for since I was 9 years old! Director Sam Raimi and screenwriter David Koepp have gotten it just right. The story of high school nerd Peter Parker's (Toby Maguire) transformation into the powerful, crime-fighting Spider-Man is light, humorous, and filled with action and thrills. The major characters from the comic are brought to life by the fine cast. I hope we get to see more of JK Simmons' J Jonah Jameson next time around. Unlike many, I thought that the CGI effects worked well. The one disappointment in this film--and it was a big one--was the design of the Green Goblin's costume. Why did they put that blank Power Rangers-type helmet on him when they were had such a fine actor playing the role? The Goblin's mask should have been malleable, just as it is in the comics, so that we could have seen Willem Dafoe's acting. As he demonstrated in the laboratory scene, he is capable of projecting frightening rage.
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