Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: This much hyped DVD/movie was worth the wait. I am not a big fan of Tobey Maguire (what were his parents spelling-names challenged?), but he does a great job in this flick. William Dafoe is the perfect enemy for spiderman, and Kirsten Dunst does a great job of being the flighty romantic lead woman. All in all, they did justice to the Spiderman legend and this was a great work. The special effects displayed in this movie were dazzling and the Computer Generated Images were cutting edge. The sequel, which I am sure they are hot to make another few hundred million dollars on, will be good as well. This movie rates as an A- in my book.Joseph Dworak
Rating:
Summary: See it already.
Review: Since this is the highest grossing movie in an opening weekend (and one of the most profitable flicks ever produced), I realize that trying to get you to watch it is already wasted effort. Who hasn't seen this movie? If you seriously haven't, you ought to, even if you're not a comic book fan. It really is a coming of age story, despite all the special effects. Peter Parker is awkward, bad with girls, and obsessed with someone who doesn't know he exists. In other words, he's completely typical. Feeding on teen angst and lack of self-confidence, nearly everyone can identify with Pete, so we're more than ready to cheer him on when he suddenly gets some super-powers thanks to a genetically altered spider. The wild ride is definitely worth the price of admission, and the special effects are awesome (although some are pretty obviously fake). Surprisingly, not much has been made of the way on-screen Spider-man differs from comic book Spider-man. Granted, there's not a lot. In the comic book he's bitten by a radioactive spider, and his webbing is his own creation and is delivered through little jets on his wrists. In the movie his encounter with the spider gives him natural webbing. Not a big deal. The action in the movie is great, although this is a flick with flaws. First off, Tobey McGuire is an AWESOME Peter Parker, and a ho-hum Spider-man. He's got this mumbling quality that adds to the geeky persona, but translates really poorly for the wisecracking superhero. Overall, though, he looks young enough to pull it off, and isn't too "heroic," which is what Pete needs to be. I can forgive the Spider-man stuff. The second big glitch, in my opinion, is Kirsten Dunst. She's a nice girl, but she just doesn't look the Mary Jane part. This is where Jennifer Garner might have been better used (rather than as Electra in Daredevil). Don't get me wrong, she's a fine actress, but I just don't buy her in this role. On the other hand, even though he looks nothing like Norman Osborn, Willem Dafoe is absolutely perfect as the Green Goblin (even though the costume looks very little like the comic book character). Other casting is well done, though. Ben and May Parker, Harry Osborn, Flash Thompson--these are great. The DVD is definitely worth the investment. The print is beautiful and it has enough easter eggs to keep you busy for hours. No matter how good your home set-up is, you won't be able to replicate the cinema experience. But, if you enjoyed the movie, this is definitely a "must have" DVD experience. It's a lot of fun, and you enjoy the story again and again (or at least until "The Amazing Spider-man" in 2004). Excelsior!
Rating: 
Summary: Good DVD!!!
Review: The number 1 movie of all time.....Spider-Man!!!... I love this movie in theatres and I decided to check out the DVD. This movie is really good and that doesn't change...the special features are cool because you can mess with the 3d effects....well not during the movie...but parts of it. I recommend this one to anyone who liked the movie when they saw it in theatres and I also recommend it to someone who hasn't seen it....you won't be dissapointed. Peace!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great filmed comic book!
Review: I thought this was one of the best movies based on a comic book ever done. Sam Raimi and company obviously has a lot of respect for the material, and understands the underlying appeal of history of this legendary Marvel character. A lot of comic book movies go badly off course (the second and third Batman films, the second Superman film) because people that treat the subject as adolescent camp make them. To me, the classic comic heroes like Superman, Batman, and Spiderman, become over time cultural fables, just as important and "adult" as legendary figures of literature like Ivanhoe or Beowulf. This film gets it right, striking just the right note of drama and elements of humor that are both so important to the Spiderman character. Toby Maquire is absolutely perfect as Spider Man, as is Kristin Dunst as Mary Jane. Their chemistry in the film have the exact feel of the comic book: Peter Parker - awkward and terribly sincere; Mary Jane suddenly, in flashing moments, becoming aware that she actually loves this uncool geek. The "backward scene" between the two is really magical. Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) is another casting stroke, as is Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben. William Defoe seems born to play the Green Goblin, and the filmmakers understood this character well, too. I always felt that the Goblin was a character straight from Hell, perhaps even a twisted, human embodiment of the Devil himself, and this is how the filmmakers treat him. There is a fantastic scene where the Goblin crashes through a window just as Aunt May is saying the Lords' Prayer, and she screams, "Deliver us from Evil!" Very, very well done without the slightest hint of camp. Finally, the special effects are fantastic throughout, but don't get the idea the film's success is reliant upon the special effects. They are just another element that makes this a very good film.
Rating:
Summary: Not a movie for the little kids
Review: This is a great action movie. As an adult, I enjoyed it. HOWEVER, due to the wonderful marketing, and the very colorful DVD case, a parent might be inclined to get this movie for a little kid. Please watch this movie before you make this decision. It is rated PG-13 for a good reason. Spider man is a good guy, but the movie is ripe with violent scenes where good-guys die. It could be very scary for the 6 and under crowd. I only write this review because my little girl begged me to rent it at the video store. I almost did, until another parent told me to be careful, Spider-Man gave his four year old nightmares for a week. Parents need to make their own decisions about the level of violence in television that they expose their kids to. So, if you are careful of what you expose your younger kids to, then please preview this movie before you put it into the family video collection
Rating: 
Summary: Posh! Flim-shaw!
Review: If The Green Goblin is so interested in who Spider-Man is, why doesn't he take off Spider-Man's mask when he is unconcious with him on the rooftop? Possibly because he is stupid. And very lame. The only good thing about this movie is when Kirsten DUnst is wet. Cause she's fiiiiiiiiine.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mediocre Film of a Legendary Character
Review: I seem to be one of the few that didn't care too much for Spider-Man. Though I'm a fan of the character, the cartoons, and the live action 70's series, I remember leaving the theater disappointed. For one thing the plot moved too fast, and the dialogue didn't sound at all like how real people talk. It could be argued that the dialogue is written to simulate how it appears in the comic. Then there's The Green Goblin who was so over the top, he ended up being comical instead of menacing. His costume was a big departure from the comic, wearing a huge ridiculous looking helmet which looks like something out of the Power Rangers show. Another inconsistency is that Spider-Man shoots webs out of his palms when in the comic he has web shooters that he made himself. Then there's the real problem I had with this movie more than anything else..... the special effects. During the fight scenes, the cgi really sticks out like a sore thumb. I have trouble believing that a movie made this day in age could have such early 1990's looking computer graphics. Just look at the Lord of the Rings movies, most of that cgi is so seemless you can't even tell it's cgi half the time. In addition to the look of the effects, I was also upset with the movement in the cgi sequences as the characters often moved unnaturally just like the digital characters in the Star Wars prequels. The action scenes that do have the actors in them are so ridiculously fast-paced, you can almost hear the Power Rangers theme in the background. Ebert and Roeper compared this movie to the Superman movies saying they are both campy. Well, at least Superman took its time developing the characters and having a better plot which helps take your mind off how good or bad the special effects are that carry that story. I still recommend everyone see Spider-Man, but I think this movie could have, and should have been so much better.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Popcorn Movie In Years
Review: In the last decade, Hollywood has given us a bunch of bad popcorn movies that sometimes we wonder what the heck is happening with the most powerful film industry in the world. Well, maybe I should leave out "The Matrix" and "X-Men", which were great entertainment flicks. But here is one of the best movies of 2002: "Spider-Man".
This is perhaps the best popcorn movie I've seen in years. Great performers, great characters, fantastic story. It's got almost everything that a good piece of entertainment should have. The story of a young boy -played here to flawless perfection by Tobey Maguire -who is stung by a super radioactive spider, and his life is changed forever. His battle with one of his arch-enemies, The Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe, in a scene-chewing performance), is fantastic considering the bond between their corresponding alter-egos. Peter Parker's secret crush to Mary Jane (lovely Kirsten Dunst) is perhaps what drew me closer to the Parker/Spidey character, not to mention the twist ending that reminded of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in "Casablanca". I really love this movie.
"Spider-Man" came in the same year of "Star Wars-Episode II: Attack Of The Clones". When I came out of the theater, after seeing Spidey in action, my heart was filled with fear because it made me wonder "a movie about a web-slinging, wall crawling superhero is gonna be better than a "Star Wars" flick?" And I wasn't mistaken: this film is better than Episode II.
As for the DVD, all I have to say is that I love the documentaries; I love the profiles on director Sam Raimi and composer Danny Elfman; and I definitely love the gag reel with the bloopers. This is a great DVD.
Rating:
Summary: A pretty cool movie alright...
Review: What kind of movie is Spider-Man? Are you sure you really want to know? This movie is not for the weak of heart... Summer 2002, millions of die-hard Marvel comic fans were treated to seeing one of their heroes come to life on the big screen. Spider-Man. When I first saw the preview for Spider-Man, it was right before viewing my first PG-13 movie - Lord of the Rings (Another movie for another review). When confronted by the action scenes of the movie, and the grotesque view of the Green Goblin's face, my first thought was "Ew gross, another dumb blow-'em-up flick." followed by "When will they stop with the previews and just show Lord of the Rings?" When the movie came to theaters, however, I checked out some of the reviews at Focus on the Family's Plugged-in website and found that, while it did contain blow-'em-up action scenes and grotesque goblin faces, it did not contain the other junk that usually goes with such movies: swearing every ten seconds by the clock, and more skin than a hospital DOCTOR typically sees. So, after securing permission from my parents, we went to see it. In case you are thinking of seeing it but don't know for sure, or if your kids are hitting you up to go see it, here is as detailed of a review as I can give about the movie's good points and bad points, from the perspective of a 16-year old Christian. In case you are like I was, not knowing about the general basics, here they are: Peter Parker is bitten by a spider and is transformed into...Spider-Man. Just in time, because Norman Osborn, scientist for OsCorp has just turned into a raving lunatic because of his reckless Human Performance Enhancers test...on himself. Peter/Spidey chooses to protect the city of New York, and ends up in a fight to the death with The Green Goblin. GOOD POINTS: As has been said in other reviews, Spider-Man draws a distinct line between good and evil. When Spider-Man misuses his abilities and refuses to stop a fleeing robber because it "wasn't his problem" tragic events result. His Aunt recites nearly all of the Lord's Prayer at one point. There are several expressions of "Thank God for you". When offered a chance to join the Green Goblin, Spider-Man chooses good. The Green Goblin, in fact, is portrayed almost as a demon possession of the father. From a purely secular standpoint, the movie is excellent, with its dazzling special effects, allowing us to see and swing along with Spider-Man through New York City. The soundtrack music by Ben Elfman is but the icing on the cake. The story and plot are also very well formed, but occasionally poorly written. The relationship between Peter and Norman Osborn is especially interesting. When Norman is sane, he accepts Peter as a fellow science whiz and almost like a second son. (Then they both go don their respective costumes and beat each other up.) Harry Osborn, Peter's friend, tells Peter at the end that "Spider-Man must pay" for something Harry thinks Spider-Man did, he then says "But thank God for you Peter. You're the only friend I have." The door is left WIDE open for Spider-Man 2. BAD POINTS: Violence is a key factor. In an attack, Green Goblin drops a bomb-like object to kill his former employers who fired him, and, in a gruesome manner, dispatches them. Spider-Man and Green Goblin slug it out several times, as well as the mandatory explosions and city chaos/blow-'em-up stuff previously mentioned. One key character (who I cannot name) is gored by a blade, nearly bloodless, but intensely violent. Several bad words are used, but unnecessarily so, sadly. The sweet aunt tells the uncle to get off the ladder before he falls on his...um, patootie. I don't remember the D-word being used, but at one point someone makes a remark that is translated "You are really making me angry". Kirsten Dunst, Spider-Man's honey, is nearly always immodestly dressed, or as I like to say "HEY! WHERE'S YOUR SHIRT!?" At one point she is chased by four hoods who have obvious intent. Spider-Man rescues her, and they kiss as they rain pours down. Dunst's shirt gets...wet, shall we say. When Peter, after realizing his super strength, goes to a wrestling rink to win the [money]prize, there are several severely immodestly-clad women, but it's not entirely emphasized, and otherwise, there is no nudity or immorality, implied or other. MY THOUGHTS: Kids shouldn't see this movie, in my opinion. If it weren't for the bad language, and lack of clothes ("Pants don't cost THAT much, do they?!") it would be better, but the fact is that it isn't. For those who know what to be on guard for, it's a great watch. "Whatever life has in store for me, I will always remember these words: 'With great power comes great responsibility. This is my gift; my curse. Who am I? I'm Spider-Man." SPIDER-MAN TRIVIA FUN FACT: Stan Lee makes a cameo as a citizen hero who saves a little kid from falling city wreckage. SPIDER-MAN QUESTION: If Spider-Man wears that suit, how does he climb the walls? He has his climbing burrs on his hands covered! SPIDER-MAN QUESTION 2: WHERE DID SPIDY GET THAT ELABORATE SUIT?
Rating:
Summary: Possibly the best Comic Book movie ever.
Review: Tobey Maguire is outstanding as Peter Parker, the nerdy high school student who moonlights as Spider-Man. I absolutely loved this movie. It was definitely better on the big screen but you still get the feel of it on DVD. Willem Dafoe plays a terrific villan and is very eerie. I thought it was well written and acted. I highly recommend this movie to all ages. It sure beats some of the other comic book movies that were so awful, words can't describe (Tank-girl, Judge Dredd, Batman Forever, etc) I think it's the best movie to date.
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