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Spider-Man (Widescreen Edition)

Spider-Man (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $19.94
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My Movie-Sense is Tingling!
Review: This movie is, without a doubt, the best adaptation of a comic book that I have ever seen. Tobey Maguire is Sensational as Peter Parker, portraying him as the outcast teenager undergoing some Spectacular changes.
Dafoe portrays businessman Norman Osborn and his diabolical alter-ego, the Green Goblin, with undeniable skill and makes Spidey's deadliest foe oh-so-frighteningly believable.
Kirstin Dunst is outstanding as Mary-Jane Watson, Peter Parker's long time love interest. She shows a wide range of emotion in this film, from joy, elation, and happiness to fear, grief, anguish, and sorrow.
The rest of the cast accurately portray their roles, from irrascible publisher and noted nemisis of Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson, to Norman Osborn's unappreciated and troubled son, Harry, to Peter's beloved Aunt May, the comic that entertained me since I was five years old comes to life in a way I'd only dreamed about.
The special effects are well done, too. From Spider-Man's wall-crawling ability to his trademark webs, and the mid-air battles with the Green Goblin, you can almost feel what it's like to swing through Manhattan.
Some aspects of the book were changed for the movie. Spider-Man's web-shooters are no longer mechanical, but a biological aspect of his new powers, and the Goblin's costume is somewhat altered, among many other things. But these details are to make the movie flow more smoothly, and only readers of the comic will notice them anyway.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Spider-Man's web is half-woven
Review: ...It's easy not to envy director Sam Raimi ("Evil Dead," "A Simple Plan") at the moment. Countless millions of people across the world are laying eyes upon his version of "Spider-Man," starring one of the most loved superheroes of all time. The anticipation approaches that of a new "Star Wars" movie.

No matter what critics say, fans of the comic book are going to love the movie. But the fact is, it's only so-so. There are plenty of things to like about "Spider-Man," and just as many that prevent it from achieving greatness.

The story is set up swiftly and efficiently. New York City high school student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is a nerdy science buff living with his aunt and uncle. He has a crush on his lovely neighbor, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), and all the kids at school pick on him. Peter's only friend is the filthy rich Harry Osborn (James Franco), son of Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe).

While on a class field trip to Columbia University, Peter is bitten on the hand by a genetically altered spider that has escaped from its cage. Slowly, he begins to change. First he goes from scrawny to muscular overnight, and then he can climb walls, release webbing from his wrist and leap tall buildings.

It's at an amateur wrestling event that Peter becomes Spider-Man. He is trying to win $3,000 so he can buy a convertible and impress Mary Jane. When he tells the ring announcer that he is "The Human Spider," the announcer (Raimi vet Bruce Campbell) scoffs at the name and dubs him "Spider-Man."

Soon, Spider-Man is rescuing people throughout the city. He saves babies from burning buildings; he saves storekeepers from being mugged; he helps the police chase bad guys; and he saves the life of Mary Jane twice. Some think he's a hero, other's believe him to be a menace.

But Spider-Man has a nemesis. The Green Goblin, aka Norman Osborn, is the result of a scientific experiment gone wrong. He flies around on a "glider" that resembles a futuristic surfboard. He wants Spider-Man to join forces with him (do they ever want anything else?) so they can rule the world. But Spider-Man only fights for the good guys.

The filmmakers have put forth a lot of effort here. The action sequences are elaborate and ambitious. It's exciting to watch Spider-Man fly around New York City saving lives and doing battle with the Green Goblin. Save for a few instances of unconvincing computer generated images, the special effects are outstanding.

Unfortunately, there are too many weaknesses. First and foremost, the Green Goblin is a terrible villain. He's comical, not menacing. His cackle is silly, his costume bland. A great villain is a must for this type of movie, and the Green Goblin doesn't cut it.

The writing is also poor -- particularly in scenes involving Spider-Man and the Green Goblin (bad one-liners, lame threats) and Peter and Mary Jane (corny and sappy) -- and the pacing is off. Where as the superior "X-Men" comes in at a brisk 100 minutes, "Spider-Man" runs almost half an hour longer and drags as it crawls to a finish.

"Spider-Man" is much too amiable and harmless to be considered a bad movie, but it has no staying power. It's almost instantly forgettable and doesn't warrant more than one viewing. And that has to be looked at as a letdown.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: depends on how you look at it.{movie spoiler}
Review: this was a great movie.I mean this whole thing was
just to cool to see.
but if you want to stay true to the ultimit spiderman
comic book.than this is good till 2/3 of the movie.
cons:[to stay true to the comicd book]
norman osborn was the owner for the spider
shop.
peter parker did not make the suit,he got
by restling.
pros:
awsom action shots
funny in many many places
plot twist every where
you get to see how spiderman
was born.
what more cuold you ask for?
so i'de say this was the best movie sinc
lod of the rings.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Gratuitous Violence Does Not a Great Movie Make
Review: We had heard that, despite its PG-13, rating, Spider-Man was a movie for the whole family. So, I brought my 8 and 5 year old boys expecting a nice family evening out with them.

My idea of a nice evening out with my boys does not include watching loved ones get blown up, a villian gleefully trying to kill a group of children and people getting shot up.

Why on earth wasn't this movie rated R? We wonder why our children are killing each other in school, but yet we happily take them to movies, at age 13, that show terrible violence that does abolutely nothing to enhance a story! What does that say about us.

For me, I brought my kids to this movie not expecting what I saw and I will never bring them to a PG-13 picture again (even Disney PG-13 movies have not been suitable).

Why this movie is so popular, I don't know. It was your typical action hero saves the day (although there wasn't a sceen in the movie where the audience cheered), nerd beats up the bully and loser gets girl. After watching this movie, I was disturbed by its gratuitous violence, but otherwise felt unmoved by storyline and its characters.

The movie never manages to bring you in to it. You are left as an observer watching the characters and the situations and therefore are uninvolved and unmoved.

If you have kids under 13, definately do NOT take them to see this movie. Even if they are 13+, I would think twice about what messages you want your kids to learn.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Spider-Man.. Rating not high enough. On a 1-5 scale 4*s
Review: Spider-Man... Would I see the movie agian, yes! Would I have picked other actors to play the two lead roles Mary-Jane Watson and Peter Parker, yes. Ok... maybe not for the part of Mary-Jane, but for the part of Peter Parker, yes. Maguire wasn't a bad choice he just made the character look sickly to me. Casting could have picked another Spider-Man/Peter Parker.

I did enjoy the computer graphics animation. The movie is definately worth a look at on the big screen. Very action packed. Though I gave this movie 4 stars that does not do it justice. On a scale of 1-10. This movie is an 8 1/2.

Recommend! However could be scary for young fans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Spider-man
Review: This is the best movie i have seen all year. Its the movie I recommend seeing its the best. You have got to see it, its great. Tobey Maguire is great on it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: YES, they didnt ruin spiderman
Review: Well i have been a spiderman fan for years, and when i heard the news last year about a movie in producion, i was excited.. but most of all , worried. the last thing we needed was another x-men. but sam raimi did it... he put his great directing, with great actors to bring us a amazing movie on the best comic series ever... everyone go see it right away! i already own a bootleg... cripes, im obsessed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Maguire Brings Spider-Man to Life
Review: It may be a story lifted from the pages of a comic book, but with some strong performances, a focused story and some great F/X, director Sam Raimi puts blood in the veins of one of the best superheroes ever to hit the big screen. And let's face it, right now the world needs just such a character; someone who can right wrongs, stave off injustice, assuage fears and give people a sense of security in a world seemingly gone amuck at times, and thanks to the magic of the movies we have him now. His name is "Spider-Man."

Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is a normal, if not typical teenager; mature beyond his years, he would rather attend a science fair than go to a rave, he lives with his aunt and uncle (Rosemary Harris, Cliff Robertson) and has been in love with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), the girl who lives next door, since about the first grade. "MJ," however, doesn't even know he exists; except for an occasional "hello," they barely know one another. But though Peter doesn't know it, all of that-- Peter's life-- is about to undergo a radical change.

On a field trip to a science lab, Peter is bitten by a spider-- not just any spider, but one that's been genetically altered. And when he wakes up the next morning, he finds himself changed; it's not exactly Kafka's Metamorphosis, but he does have new life and new energy, and beginning with his vision (he suddenly can see clearly without his glasses), he gradually discovers that he has certain physical abilities that do not necessarily coincide with the kind of changes consistent with a young man of his age. Like being able to spin webs from his wrists and climb up the side of buildings. And now all he has to do is learn how to control and use his newly found prowess, and decide what to do with it all. Which he does very quickly, when circumstances provide him with a motive and a personal agenda that leads him to become, as Peter himself puts it, "Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."

With this film, Raimi takes a page out of the Tim Burton Book and gives us a character that is convincing and real, because he shows us the man first, and then the superhero. Like Burton did in the original "Batman," in which Michael Keaton played to the man, rather than to the "bat," Raimi takes Maguire down the same path, having him play to Peter, rather than the "spider." And it makes all the difference in the world. Instead of merely thrusting a full-blown superhero onto the screen, Raimi first develops a plausible storyline (screenplay by David Koepp) complete with a central character to whom the audience can relate, and once that is established it enables the audience to suspend disbelief and go with the flow when Peter emerges as Spider-Man. The F/X are incredible, and Raimi uses the stunning visual aspect of the film to great effect, but it would all be for naught without the solid core of believable characters he puts into place and then uses as a foundation upon which to build the spectacular. It's reality based, but imaginatively presented-- Raimi definitely knows what works and how to entertain and involve his audience, which he certainly does here. And this is arguably Raimi's best work yet.

When it was announced that Tobey Maguire had landed the role of Spider-Man, you could almost hear the collective audible gasp of fans everywhere. Tobey Maguire? Spider-Man? !!! But-- as it turns out-- it was inspired casting, as Maguire is perfect as everybody's favorite web-slinger. In fact, hopefully he's been signed to a multi-picture deal, because now it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. Without question, Maguire IS Spider-Man. His appearance, the way he carries himself-- his entire countenance-- combined with his attitude and the subtle way he expresses himself, are all part and parcel of what brings Peter Parker and Spider-Man to life. Maguire, as he has demonstrated previously in such films as "The Ice Storm" and "The Cider House Rules," has a naturally pleasing and accessible personality that serves him so well in the characters he creates, and none more so than with his portrayal of Peter. He has the talent and ability to aptly convey that "ordinary person under extraordinary circumstances" scenario and make it believable, which is exactly what was needed to make this film successful; and Maguire nails it with a performance that is introspective and affecting, and it makes the character-- as well as the film-- work.

Willem Dafoe also contributes to the film's appeal with his portrayal of Norman Osborn, aka, the "Green Goblin." Not since the Joker sparred with Batman has the screen had such a memorable villain; and again, Dafoe first plays to the man-- to Osborn-- and then to the "Goblin," which puts a real face on Evil and gives the character the depth that makes him more than just superficially "bad." Defoe goes that extra mile to make a Osborn real, and deserves credit for giving him real substance, rather than being satisfied with a one dimensional character that has nothing going on beneath the surface. The Goblin is a complex character, and Dafoe plays him perfectly.

Kirsten Dunst had something of a challenge with her role of Mary Jane, as the character is somewhat ambiguous; on one hand, she plays a pivotal role in motivating Spider-Man, while her own part in the grand scheme of things remains uncertain until the end. And only then are we given a glimpse of the direction in which MJ may go, and it will be interesting to see how the character develops in the next installment, now that the groundwork has been ably laid by Dunst. In the final analysis, "Spider-Man" is a winner that is going to attract a huge following; this is one film that definitely has legs.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You either love it or hate it!
Review: What I said above is true. I had better expectations for this. But all in all it was okay. It could have had more action, it could have been longer, it could have had less Tobey Maguire crying! But enough of the negative.

"Spider-Man" is a movie that has good special effects, great acting, great supporting cast, great villain, but there's one problem, the 2 hours and 1 minute length, just wasn't good enough. I mean the Batman movies were almost 2 hours and 20 minutes, I'm sure there could have been more Spidey to be shown. I just recently finished reading the novelization of the movie, and I noticed tons of things that were taken out. Such as, Peter has a notebook that he writes things to his parents, in hopes that they can see what he's writing. In the beginning of the novel, a bunch of rebels speed through a cemetary in a Corvette (or similar car), in which Spidey scares them. Plus, in the book, the Green Goblin's mask talks, not Willem Dafoe, looking at himself in a mirror. Oh well. Here's a list of the positives:

1. Fantastic effects
2. Spectacular soundtrack featuring Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, and Sum 41
3. Good acting, Tobey played a good Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst was a good Mary Jane
4. Okay time length (Note to Sam Raimi: MAKE THE NEXT ONE 2 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES)

This is a good movie. I enjoyed it. This is a movie that is for girls also. If you are a girl and you liked "X-Men", then check this movie out, you will like it. And don't watch it, just to check Tobey out, becuase that means that you HAVE NO LIFE! I will be owning this on DVD when it comes out. Hopefully those scenes that I listed will be put back in!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AMAZING! A web well spun!
Review: Wow! I can't even describe it! This movie had you rolling in your chairs laughing and on the edge of your seat in suspense! Toby played an excellent Peter! Couldn't have asked for a better guy. Defoe was absolutely amazing! The Goblin freaked me out! What a stunning performance! The only drawback was the immobile mask on Goblin's costume. All in all, YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!!


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