Colourful, energetic and well-cast, Spider-Man is a good-quality, highly-entertaining action movie.
Spider-Man (2002)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:11
Fresh:10
Rotten:1
Average Rating:7.5/10
Consensus: Not only does Spider-Man provide a good dose of web-swinging fun, but it also has a heart, mainly due to Maguire.
Runtime: 2 hrs 1 min
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: Orphaned at an early age, Peter Parker (Toby Maguire) lived in Queens, New York with his beloved Aunt May (Academy-Awards®) nominee Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben (Academy Awards® winner... Orphaned at an early age, Peter Parker (Toby Maguire) lived in Queens, New York with his beloved Aunt May (Academy-Awards®) nominee Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben (Academy Awards® winner Cliff Robertson). Peter leads the life of a normal student, working as a photographer at the Daily Bugle under the tutelage of publisher J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons), pining after the beautiful Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) and hanging out with buddy Harry Osborn (James Franco). On a school trip, during which Peter and his classmates are given a science demonstration on spiders, Peter is bitten by a genetically altered spider. Soon after, he discovers that he has unusual powers: he is endowed with the strength and agility of a spider along with a keen, ESP-like "spider sense." After discovering these powers, Peter appears in a televised wrestling match and, armed with his new spider strength, wins the match in record time. But the wrestling match promoter refuses to award Peter the $3,000 prize money, alleging that Peter won too quickly. Soon afterwards, Peter has the opportunity to catch a burglar fleeing from the promoter's office, but because he wants revenge, he refuses to stop him. Moments later, the same burglar kills his beloved Uncle Ben. As Spider-Man, Peter apprehends the burglar but is plagued with guilt for not being a hero sooner. During his time of turmoil, Peter remembers something Uncle Ben once told him: "With great power, there must also come great responsibility." Peter takes this to heart and decides to us his extraordinary powers to fight crime. Meanwhile, megalomaniacal businessman Norman Osborn (Academy Award® nominee Willem Dafoe), Harry's father, is undergoing some changes of his own. An experimental formula has blown up in his face, increasing his intelligence and strength but also driving his insane. He is now the Green Goblin, Spider-Man's arch-enemy, who will put young Peter Parker's vow to fight crime and help innocent people to the ultimate test. -- © 2001 Columbia Pictures [More]
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Bill Nunn, Scott Schwartz, Randy Savage, Michael Papajohn, Deborah Wakeham
Director: Sam Raimi
Director: Sam Raimi
Screenwriter: David Koepp, Alvin Sargent
Producer: Laura Ziskin, Ian Bryce, Grant Curtis
Composer: Danny Elfman
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Reviews for Spider-Man
This accomplished blockbuster announces itself as a stylish piece of pop myth-spinning.
This is entertaining stuff, and Sam Raimi has spun a good yarn for the summer.
A perfectly serviceable early-summer popcorn picture that will satisfy its core teen constituency and not displease general viewers looking for some disposable entertainment.
The origin story is well told, and the characters will not disappoint anyone who values the original comic books. It's in the action scenes that things fall apart.
Though [Raimi's] Spider-Man marks time more than it needs to and is no more than sporadically exhilarating, it does enough things right to be a solid comic-book citizen.
The filmmakers have succeeded in rejuvenating the character while staying faithful to his roots.
Guileless and charming with a perpetual look of startled bewilderment at the super powers he possesses, Maguire is perfect as an ordinary guy with a big secret.
Latest News for Spider-Man
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August 21, 2009:
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April 01, 2009:
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This week's first few days, mostly because of the annual Entertainment Exhibitors Expo in lovely Palm Springs, has brought a surprising amount of movie news, so this is an extra... More...
February 25, 2009:
Spider-Man Musical Gets Title, Opening Night ![]()
The Julie Taymor-directed, Bono-scored "Spider-Man" Broadway musical we've all been giggling about just got itself a title ("Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark") and an opening night... More...
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