Rating: 
Summary: Finally...a story with motivation!
Review: To think, I almost avoided this film because of Ebert and Roeper's review. What a mistake that would have been! An action film with an actual story that makes sense, has character development and heart (something Lucas' films seem to be lacking lately). Imagine that! My only slight critcism would be the cheesy costume worn by the Green Goblin (It looks like something out of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.) and his lack of character development. As a villian, he could have been explained a little more thoroughly. He's portrayed as a Jekyl and Hyde kind of personality. It works ok, but could have been stronger. And, I wouldn't recommend taking children under the age of 15 to see it. Some of the "cartoon" violence is rather graphic (I had to close my eyes a couple of times) and totally inappropriate for youngsters. Frankly, I was disgusted at how many parents had toddlers in the theater. Shame on you! Other than that, it's a great flick. Guys, even your girlfriends will like it. Trust me.
Rating: 
Summary: Spider-man Spins Into Theaters
Review: We have agreed to give this movie 3 stars though we wish we could give it 3.5 stars. Person 1: I thought this movie had really good special effects. Some parts where I
thought the special effects were really good was when the Green Goblin flew on his glider,
Spiderman flew on his webs, buildings were bombed and crumbled, and when the
apartment caught fire. Person 2: I don't totally agree with what Person 1 said. I mean, you could tell that half of
the movie was computer animated, and when Spiderman made his webs, sometimes they
just looked like yarn braided together, and the Green Goblin, well I loved his costume but
you could see his lips moving and that sort of spoiled it for me. Still, I loved the movie. Person 1: I thought that the actors/actresses did a pretty good job. But, Tobey Maguire
and Kirsten Dunst sort of goofed up. In some parts they over reacted and in other parts it
was really obvious that they were just acting. Still, I think they did a great job and I
enjoyed the movie. Person 2: I have to agree with Person 1 that there were some parts were Maguire and
Dunst over reacted or looked like they were just acting. Person 1: I thought that the costumes were excellent. All of them (Spiderman's, the
Green Goblin's, the wrestlers costumes) just really suited everybody. Person 2: I don't completely agree with Person 1. Maguire and Dunst's underwear
showed and in one scene they made it so you could see Maguire's midriff (yes, he had his
shirt off one time to and Dunst could have easily seen him) and that was sort of gross. We hope you have found this review helpful. Yes, Spider-man has it's ups and downs just
like all movies, but it was still great!! We have both seen it 2 times and plan to see it
again. Also Recommended: The Lord of the Rings-Elijah Wood
Star Wars Episode 2
Rating:
Summary: A spider with a big heart
Review: It's rare to see a movie that is both entertaining and compelling. It's also rare to see a mass-market movie that isn't laden with cliches. The lead story, Peter Parker's coming of age, is surprising in its depth and sincerety. Equally so is how developed Mary Jane's character was, particularly in light of the fact that the majority of the film's running time is reserved for Spider Man and Green Goblin's origins-and of course the action scenes. The film merits four stars because it has heart, a rare element in Hollywood films of any stripe, let alone the action blockbuster. How can you not root for a superhero that was a bigger dork than you were in high school? Plus, this movie is really cool.
Rating: 
Summary: Comic book Come back
Review: I never really liked comic books or even cartoons for that matter but I really loved spider-man. It was alot deeper than most action/super hero movies and Tobey Maguire did an amazing job! I think anyone, even if u havnt read ths comic, should go see this movie, its definatley worth the time
Rating:
Summary: You'll Believe a Man Could Web-Sling
Review: Spider-Man is a super hero that has been a part of my life for a very long time ever since I was old enough to understand the meaning of the words "With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility." Everything about Spider-Man was unorthodox, mainly due to the character's status in the world as both Peter Parker and as Spider-Man... Peter Parker is an outcast due to his vast intelligence, and eagerness for learning which, in effect ostracizes him from the rest of the human race. Spider-Man, meanwhile has a problem, due to the constant paranoia of the people, due to their uncertainty of what to make of him. A paranoia that is fueled by an untrustworthy J. Jonah Jameson's propaganda. These elements have made Spider-Man such an appealing character for me to grow up watching, and believe you/me I have. I spent all my childhood watching reruns of the old 1960's cartoon, then it was the old 1980's cartoon, and finally the sublime 1990's animated series. Though there was also a touch of the overly silly 1970's live action series. So obviously I've been eagerly awaiting Spider-Man to web-sling into a new medium, preferably the cinema.... Well finally my wish has been granted and it's beautiful!!! I will admit this was a frightening wait for the movie to come along. Especially when I keep hearing about changes in the stories and even with certain tidbits of the production, I was on pins and needles. I mean come on! If Cameron directed DiCaprio would've been Spider-Man! I don't think so! So when I heard about the changes in personnel I was seeing the ray of hope. Firstly Sam Raimi as director. at the time the news was announced I was just becoming a fan of his thanks to the beautiful "Evil Dead" Trilogy, and so I knew that Raimi was a director with a disciplined visual style, a knack for character depth, and an appealing sense of humor. So "Spider-Man" was right up his alley. As for the man who would be the spider? Tobey Maguire had earned my respect the first time I saw him in "Pleasantville" I saw that he can play humble, while at the same time strong in both the mind and body, and to top it all off HE CAN ACT!!! Don't believe me? Watch "Cider House Rules," watch "Wonder Boys," you'll see what I mean. If there was any assurance about Spider-Man being great, the credit definitely goes to Raimi and Maguire. Don't fret there's more credit to be sorted out, sit tight. The next aspect of credit goes to Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn AKA The Green Goblin. I knew Dafoe was perfect for the role after I saw him in "Shadow of the Vampire," and obviously I wasn't disappointed. Probably for me his performance was at it's most effective in the scenes in his room. Whereas Osborn speaks to the Goblin in the mirror which gives me a fond recollection of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde which, in a symbolic sense is exactly what is happening to Osborn. Since we're talking about one Osborn lets talk about another. Let's Talk about James Franco as Harry. Franco automatically gained my sympathy at the first moment you meet him and truly gained the believability of being Dafoe's son.
Oh, and speaking of believability, nothing filled me with more mirth than J.K. Simmons' Dead-on portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson, he's a fast talking, obnoxious, opportunist who for some reason or another trusts his barber as opposed to the plain facts. As for other obvious mentionables, there's Rosemary Harris and Cliff Robertson as Aunt May and Uncle Ben who show this beautiful commitment to their characters and you see their eagerness to ensure that Peter is raised right. Now if there was a surprise in this cast it was Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane. At first glance of her in the trailer, you think "Oh, eye candy, just there to be saved all the time." Not even! Her performance succeeded in giving the character the depth and dimension that must be expected in the "Spider-Man" world. Plus... she looks bloody good as a red head. Now onto technical aspects... I could really care less about special effects and CGI as long as they're believable and it succeeds in getting the point across as to what's supposed to happen. Fortunately these effects combined with Sam Raimi's wonderful cinematic vision deliver a completely energetic cinematic rush that has truly never been seen before. As for the script. David Koepp was the last guy I'd have wanted to write for it, but he ended up proving me wrong. He managed to tell Spider-Man's legacy with that same humanity and flair that embodies the characters, though I won't say the script is flawless. It does suffer moments where the characters say the occasional line that reeks of Saturday morning cartoons. Thankfully I can tell that Sam Raimi noticed this and took advantage of that to add in his genius input to make the dialogue less painful and more appealing. I'm not gonna get into the costumes... Spidey looks the way he needs to look, and Goblin looks the way he's supposed to look when the suit was made by a high-tech research organization. So stop complaining you silly obsessives and enjoy it.
So, in conclusion I will say that Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire have done for "Spider-Man" what Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve did for "Superman." AND what Tim Burton and Michael Keaton did for "Batman"(Figured I'd add that in.) But Finally A Hollywood feature with a load of hype that actually managed to support the hype. Could this be a glimpse of great things to come? I hope so! But basically I say SEE "SPIDER-MAN!!!" and SEE IT AGAIN!!!
Rating:
Summary: Movie's Great, Acting's Awesome, FX's Par. What A Movie!
Review: I've never been a fan of the comic book, nor the animated series, yet, I found Sam Raimi's live-action Spiderman quiet entertaining and full of amazing (some) special effects and great acting. Everyone knows the story. High school nerd, Peter Parker (Tobey MaGuire) is bitten by a genetically enhanced super-spider, and his body changes to the likes of a spider. Enabling him to crawl up buildings, and shoot a webby substance. Peter takes full advantage -- in the positive way -- of his new found skills, and begins to solve crime for the city. When a villain (William Defoe), with superpowers also, begins to destroy the city, Peter must stop him. It's the simple good guy against bad-guy-who-wants-to-destroy-everything plot seen in every superhero movie (Except for X-Men which had a much deeper plot, but let's not compare). But the premise does work here, and keeps you entertained. The acting was great. Tobey MaGuire is Peter Parker to the core. Innocent, appealing, and a knack for small humor makes him a perfect lead. Kirsten Dunst is our female lead, and she -- as always -- is wonderful. I've never seen her play the damsel in distress part, but she pulled it off. And her smile lights up any day. William Defoe is the antagonist Green Goblin. Defoe handled this part fairly well and made it believable. Especially during the moments when he had to be Norman Osburn and The Green Goblin. But I just didn't buy his whole character. I found it more interesting when Peter was fighting off criminals. Except for the World Day Celebration scene. That was awesome. The rest of the supporting cast were great. Especially Uncle Ben, played by Cliff Robertson. The special effects is the place where it gets kind of hokey. You can absolutely tell when Peter is CGI and when he's not. The whole CGI bit is what puts it off, but still, it's topnotch. The scenery is great, and gave the movie a real comic book feel to it. But again, I go back to not liking the Green Goblin much. His costume looked like my kid cousin's Halloween costume from 5 years ago. But maybe that's what Raimi was going for. In the end, Spiderman was an entertaining movie that sucked you in. It's high gross rankings are certainly well deserved.
Rating:
Summary: By far the best of its species.
Review: Full disclosure: I have never read a Spider-Man comic book, and I avoid reading the daily Spider-Man strip because it annoys me having to feel sorry for a superhero! Here he is with all these wonderful powers, and he gets nothing from them but grief; he's a paragon of goodness, and almost everyone in the world thinks he's a diabolical criminal. I have real people and problems to worry about! Nevertheless, Sam Raimi's movie version of Spider-Man made Spidey and his alter ego, Peter Parker, seem more real to me than I ever imagined they would. The sheer craft of this movie is, of course, incredible; Raimi really makes you feel Peter's astonishment at discovering his new powers, as well as the breathtaking adrenaline rush of web-swinging between skyscrapers. But it is the casting which is this movie's ultimate triumph. Like everyone else, I was doubtful about the casting of Tobey Maguire as Peter/Spidey. Among other things, however nerdy he might be, Peter has always been drawn in the comics as fashion-model handsome, which Maguire most definitely is not. But Maguire is such a pure, emotionally direct actor that he makes you love Peter and ache for him. Kirsten Dunst, perhaps the most talented actress of her generation, is equally lovable as MJ. Willem Dafoe does a brilliant job of playing the Jekyll-Hyde aspects of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin; Cliff Robertson and Rosemary Harris are very moving as Peter's Uncle Ben and Aunt May; and J.K. Simmons (in the absence of Jason Robards) makes a hilarious blowhard of J. Jonah Jameson. This unquestionably is the best superhero movie ever made. If you ever needed proof that, on the evolutionary scale, a spider is superior to a bat, here it is.
Rating:
Summary: As Good As the Genre Gets
Review: The Story: Brainy high-school outcast, Peter Parker, gets bitten by a genetically engineered hybrid spider, and gains many spider characteristics and abilities. He must figure out how this fits into his life and what to do with it. Meanwhile, he runs afoul of a rich scientist/businessman, who runs performance-enhancing tests on himself and becomes the Green Goblin. They are very evenly matched, and it's quite a contest for a while. Technical: This is a well-cast, well-paced, lively movie with more story than I had expected. Some of the computer-generated combat scenes are frenetic and hard to follow, but I didn't mind it too much because there was also the idea that poor Peter is having a hard time keeping up with his own new abilities (e.g., he stumbles several times while running super-fast across building tops). Commentary: Of the comic book to movie adaptations, I like this one best. Like Sam Raimi's earlier "Dark Man", Tobey McGuire gives us a very believable superhero, and even a sometimes-pitiable villain. The "Batman" films are intentionally dark for the "Dark Knight" but "Spider-Man" shows us Peter Parker's pain and confusion in stark contrast to the bright, mundane world around him.
Rating:
Summary: SpiderMan Review
Review: Spiderman to me was just a good movie.
For One Thing, I could not see what the Critics saw in this movie. I mean I could have just sat at home and watched the 1970s Batman Show and get the same rush. This movie was supposed to have more action than "Star Wars Episode II." But all it really was, was about a guy that gets bitten by a super-spider and turns into Spiderman who is suddenly caught in a struggle between the Green Goblin the whole entire movie. Maybe I'm wrong about this movie, but for now my Rating for this Movie is:
8.2 out of 10
Rating: 
Summary: HOW DID THIS BECOME SUCH A HIT????
Review: Usually, I'm open to movies, and I'm far fromt picky about what I'll go to see, or what I'll be dragged off to have to see. But this movie was very disappointing. I've never been a Spiderman fan, but I've never been a Batman and Superman fan either, and I like most of those movies. I guess the reason I don't like this one is that it takes the word 'corny' to a faraway demention. Oh yes, it has some touching moments, and some funny ones. The kissing scene between McGuire and Dunst has become pretty popular, and it will continue to be famous. Willem Dafoe is creepy enough, but then again he's always creepy.
So, to conlcude, it was good, but it just wasn't THAT good.
|
