This being my first (and possibly only) review, I suppose I should try to live up to the standard my sister has set. Also, I would like to note that I was pretty much forced to write this at gunpoint. Okay, maybe not at gunpoint.
This summer "blockbuster," retells the story of how Spider-Man came to be, with the somewhat milquetoast Tobey Maguire portraying the web-slinger. In the updated version, Peter Parker's powers are transferred to him via a genetically mutated spider, not a radioactive one, like in the original comic book. Other than that, the story is pretty much the same as the original, or so I'm told by a Spider-Man fanatic friend of mine. I believe that the success of a classic story/novel/comic come to life on the silver screen, is determined by its original super fans. Seeing how Spider-Man has been well received by these people, Sam Raimi must have done something right.
Although some deemed this movie a "chick flick" before it even opened, the incredible action scenes and mind-bending special effects can't be ignored. Of course, there is a love story involved-- but every superhero has his lady love. In this case it is the beautiful girl from a troubled family, Mary-Jane Watson, played by Kirsten Dunst. I couldn't quite understand why Kirsten was picked for this role; any other teen queen could have filled "M-J's" hooker boots. Also, I don't understand what was supposed to be so "hot and steamy" about that kiss Mary-Jane and Spidey share in the alley. First of all, she doesn't even know who he is. He could be some middle-aged psycho who happens to fancy red and blue spandex. Secondly, it didn't look all that comfortable, and I've always thought people's mouths look funny upside-down. But that's just my opinion--maybe it does something for her.
Most of the movie dealt with the inner torment and not-so-charmed life of Spider-Man, but there were plenty of comic hero moments to balance those out (e.g,: "I'll get you Gobby!" referring to the villain, the Green Goblin, played by Willem Dafoe--who didn't so much scare me, but annoy me). All of the basic elements of the superhero story are in this movie: boy gets powers, boys gets all muscle-y overnight, boy learns how to use powers, boy obsesses over pretty girl, boy meets villain, villain blows up some stuff, boy must overcome fears and kick villain's ass, villain somehow kidnaps pretty girl, boys stares at pretty girl for a while before deciding to rescue her, boy decides to use power for good and not hurt the one he loves, by telling the one he loves he doesn't love her. See, it's simple.
I don't think I'm going to become a hardcore fan of Spider-Man simply because of this movie, although I've read the entire first series of the new "Ultimate Spider-Man" comic book. I guess we're supposed to become obsessed with this guy for a while, forget about him for a few years, and when that Spidey-sense starts tingling again, go see the sequel.
Really, I'm not that bitter.
-reviewed by the ant, May 16, 2002 |
