Rating: 
Summary: A shoddy and boring enterprise
Review: Sam Raimi has made a subtly acted mainstream movie with 'The Gift', but unwisely returns to the style of 'Darkman' for this belated comic book adaption, presumably because he felt it worked a treat the first time. Arguably, it didn't, the stylised affectations failing to engage on that occasion, either. Perhaps it's too hard to translate the 'realism' of the 'Spiderman' strip to celluloid, and Raimi doesn't try. Also, it's too old a strip to successfully incorporate the anochronistic aspects within a contemporary setting. The film also suffers from the use of too much shorthand in attempting to cover ground in Mr Parker's eventful life, making us lose interest in the second half. The audience in the late show I saw frankly giggled through the cack-handed love scenes. Parker ultimately managed to juggle a private life with heroism in the strip, thus making his vow of celebacy in the feature perplexing to the viewer. The original's charm and intrigue came from it's campus setting and if not for 'Buffy', which covers similar ground, it might have worked better as a series. Certainly, the first two 'Superman' films handled this sort of material with more wit and aplomb. As it stands, the film has trouble competing against modern fare such as 'The Matrix'. Perhaps sensing this, the producers introduce some unnecessarily graphic violence into the proceedings. This is inappropriate in my view, not to mention emetic as the film so closely resembles 'Inspector Gadget' in it's childishness. A poor commercial decision too, as much of it's target audience are now excluded from viewing 'Spiderman' in the UK. The comic strip conformed to a voluntary comics code and was never that violent, if memory serves, thus adding to one's cynicism.
Another aspect that disappoints is the lack of widescreen presentation. Surely, this picture was crying out for panoramic vistas of the city. I felt short changed, as I always do when confronted with this restricted aspect.
I have to say this is a minority view, as the public and critics have largely embraced Raimi's approach to the material.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: I saw this with my 5 year old godchild. I am 29,not really a SM fan, but with all the hype I figured I would take my godchild to see it since he likes SM. I found it boring, and the action scenes were nothing special. It was such a ripoff of Superman that it was so predictable.I was actually rooting for The Green Goblin. I was very dissapointed in this venture. I hope this is it and not a umpteen of SM movies after this one. Tobey if you are reading this, take acting lessons...
Rating: 
Summary: The Wait Is Finally Over
Review: I wrote a review of X-Men two years ago, and said that I hoped that they did not screw up the Spider-Man movie, because he is my favorite comicbook character. Well let me say one thing.THEY DIDN'T! This was the greatest comicbook movie ever. Step aside Superman, Batman, and X-Men. There is a new hero in town, and he's kickin' some major rear-end. I've seen this six times so far, and so far it hasn't gotten boring. They started right by getting Sam Raimi to direct. When I heard that I knew it would be good, but then I heard DiCaprio's name being thrown out to play Peter Parker, and I was scared. Luckily they came to their senses, and cast Tobey Maguire, who did a fabulous job. He was Peter Parker. Then I heard there would be no Doc Ock, instead Norman Osbourne, The Green Goblin. At first I heard John Malkovich would play this part, which would have been interesting, but I think they picked correctly when they chose Willem Defoe. He was creepy as Norman Osbourne. Kirsten Dunst was great as Mary Jane, but I think Julia Stiles may have been better, I just think she's a better actress. But Kirsten did a great job. The story was fantastic. There was action, comedy, sadness, and even a love story for the ladies. So it touched all your emotions. And a two hour movie in an age where a movie that lasts an hour and forty minutes is long, was great.More bang for your buck, and it didn't drag. They stayed pretty true to the comic, not exactly but who cares, it was still the best big studio movie I've seen in a while. If you haven't seen it, What the HECK are you waiting for? The DVD? You gotta see this one in the theater. Get out of your house and go see it ya net-nerd. Jeez, what's wrong with you? There's something other to do than screw around on your computer all day! I can't wait for the DVD or the sequel. Remember, "With great power, comes great responsibility"See ya,Spideyy
Rating: 
Summary: From great power comes great responsibility!
Review: Firstly, let me say that I think Tobey Maguire was a great choice for Peter Parker/Spiderman. He also seemed to play the typical boy next door better than Kirsten Dunst's typical girl next door. The first costume Peter comes up with for his costume is just hilarious...you'll know what I mean when you see it but the actual costume you see him in for the majority of the movie was just fantastic. Apparently they had to sew him into his costume since the seams kept on ripping - not at all surprising when you see just how agile he had to be in the role of superhero.I had not followed the comics or cartoons but found the story very easy to follow. At times I actually anticipated where the story was going, like what happened with Peter's uncle and when the Green Gobulin tricks Spiderman into saving him. I also enjoyed the scene on the rooftop when Peter first tries to use his webbing on command, when he first climbs a wall and his aunt's comment "You're not Superman, you know". One major downfall was the obvious use of computer animation in scenes such as where Spiderman is pursuing the criminal in the car. It's disappointing because the CGI is detectable but it would be so hard to do that kind of stunt work using real people with speed, realism and acrobatics. I remember thinking that it was looking more and more like a game or something. Most noticable on the big screen I predict that it will be less of a problem when watching at home on DVD. William Dafoe seemed to play his duel role with particular relish and I think that the scenes involving the glider would have been quite fun. The scene he does in front of the mirror was quite clever I thought. It's also easy to see how they they are planning to do a sequel to the movie since the storyline was already written into the story.
Rating:
Summary: Well done!
Review: I was never really into comic books as a kid, but as a movie, this brought the story of Spiderman to life for me. A well thought out storyline, well made technically, and a good performance from Tobey Maguire... Along similar lines of the "recent" Batman movies, with whiz-bang special effects etc., but with a better thought out plot. Will be added to my DVD collection when available. Cleverly setup for a sequel, which I will most definitely see!
Rating:
Summary: Praise for "Spiderman"
Review: I am not wont to seeing movies, nay in the cinema, because most of them have this commonality that would make one remark "banal." Or they are the nine-days-wonder type which in the next day or so vaporize from the watcher's psyche. They are those kind of movies that come in the merest name of Hollywood.
But this movie--Spiderman--was far from such commentary. I had harbored that the movie was going to be this temporal hoopla, but the diametrical was the denouement. After watching it, it kept coming back to my head now and again with the spirit saying, "You need to rewatch this movie." And to confirm that, most of my friends, who watched the movie in tandem, went back for the second or third time to the movies. In what name? "Spiderman."
Just peek at the technography, the scene placements, constumes. Great indeed.
Although there were some complaints regarding the storyline, the movie somewhat relives the cartoon form. It genders this seriocomicness that befits its portraiture. With that you only need think back at the Spiderman cartoon. Ask yourself, "Need there be any intense storyline? One that would get me to the very edge of my seat?" No! to help answer. If the viewer is too frail, then he/she could get to the middle of the seat. If the movie had been quite edge-of-your-seat, it would have lost its befitting taste.
Thumbs up to "Spiderman."
Rating:
Summary: Good one!
Review: Ok, I'm giving this five stars, which I rarely do, because it really does the job! I expected this to be another one of those comic book adaptations you have to be a long-time fan to get into. It wasn't. The basic premise (the lead character is transformed into a super-human after a bite from a genetically enhanced spider) is easy to follow, and from there on out it's just a matter of suspending disbelief and enjoying the show. Toby Maquire was adorable as the webbed hero. His love-interest, Kirsten Dunst, didn't have much to do besides look pretty, but she did that well. Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin may have been just a smidgen over the top, but hey, it IS a comic book story after all! He certainly had the creepiness down pat. All in all very enjoyable. Lots room for a sequel, and if there is one I'll watch it. :)
Rating:
Summary: Soooo much fun
Review: This really is a family movie, a crowd pleaser, and the type of film that everyone should get something out of. The type of Blockbuster that the people involved actually cared about making, and it shows. The characters are so much fun, from the central trio of young adults--Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, young Spidey-in-the-making, James Franco as his best friend, the troubled Harry Osbourne, and Kirsten Dunst, perfect as the warm and friendly but slightly inaccessible girl-next-door, Mary-Jane Watson--to the great Willem Dafoe, hamming it up gorgeously as Harry's scientist father, a.k.a. The Green Goblin. One of the funniest scenes is when a wounded Spidey gets a pep talk from the responsible Goblin, who sits conspiratorily beside him and taps the woozy Spidey's head to get his attention. The screenplay is marvellously tongue-in-cheek, every frame is drenched in colour, and the whole film shows the signs of love that went into making it. True, not everything works, some of the big special-effects scenes look a bit too animated, but bring on the sequels anyway, this one was a lot of fun.
Rating:
Summary: A GOOD Film.
Review: If you want to see a good film, see "SPIDER-MAN", if you want to see a great film, see "INSOMNIA". The only reason I gave both 5 stars is because "SPIDER-MAN" is good film not because it's missing things, but because there are things that could have been added to make a great film. Do you see where I'm going with this? Anyways, "SPIDER-MAN" is about Peter Parker(Tobey Maguire), he's pretty much the school nerd, he's also an orphan who lives with his aunt and Uncle Ben. One day, he goes on a field trip with a group of other highschool kids to a spider exibit. amongst the group of kids is the most popular and beautiful girl he has met(Kirsten Dunst). She points out that one of the super genetic spiders is missing, but no one is listening as the group progresses. It's that same time, that Peter gathers the nerve to talk to the girl(It's been a month and half, I hardly remember thier names, so bear with me).
"For the school paper?" Peter asks, holding up a camera.
"Sure," she responds. As he takes the pictures, the missing spider spirals down on his hand and bites down, inserting its super genetic powers into his DNA.
After a day or so Peter begins to explore these powers. He knows he could use them on criminals, but at first he chooses not to. Then suddenly, his Uncle Ben is shot and killed and Peter devotes his life to stopping crime as, Spider-Man, but he is taken the wrong way and is thought to be a criminal.
Throughout the movie Peter budgets his time as himself and Spider-Man. Soon, the girl forms a relationship with BOTH Spider-Man AND Peter. Also, around the same time, Spider-Man meets his rival, Green Goblin, who really is the father of Peter's best friend. But he doesn't know.
Soon it becomes a deadly game of sabotage and The Green Goblin tempts him to fight by putting his aunt in the hospital and taking hostages. Spider-Man only figures out who The Green Goblin is until the last fight. So, overall, "SPIDER-MAN" is a good movie at the fullest, but not a great movie. The only other way to explain this is that "SPIDER-MAN" is a blockbuster, not an Academy Award-Winner.
Rating:
Summary: Great fun!
Review: This was a perfect superhero film. It was exciting the right places, emotional in the right places, and, yes, cheesy in the right places. It has the wonderful Tobey Maguire in the lead role, who is more believable as Peter Parker than as Spider-Man; and also the adorable Kirsten Dunst (a red head here!) as Mary Jane Watson, his lifelong love. Also in attendance in Willem Dafoe, giving a wonderful scenery-chewing double performance as Norman Osborne and his "other self," the Green Goblin. The mirror scene is a highlight of the film. In the supporting cast are Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben, Rosemary Harris as Aunt Mae, James Franco as Harry Osborne (looking a lot like James Dean), and J.K. Simmons, giving a stunning turn as Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson. The special effects were a little distracting at times, especially during the "discovery of powers" scene, and the film could have been a tad shorter, but I had a great time and would probably watch it again.
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