Spiderman (2002)

"Pure spun gold!  George Pennachio, KABC Los Angeles

Editor's Note Based on the classic Marvel Comics series, Sam Raimi's SPIDER-MAN deftly details the origin of the web-slinging superhero. When awkward New York City teenager Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) attends a class field trip to a laboratory, he gets bitten by a genetically altered spider while taking photos of his longtime crush, the lovely Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Soon he discovers this bite has given him remarkable powers--heightened strength, dexterity, and awareness, along with the ability to cling to walls and shoot webs from his wrists. Hoping to win Mary Jane's heart using his new talents, Peter becomes distracted from home life with his doting Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson), ultimately leading to tragedy--and his new role as the crime-fighting Spider-Man. Meanwhile Harry Osborn (Willem Dafoe), the industrialist father of Peter's friend Norman (James Franco), undergoes a transformation of his own, bringing about the creation of Spider-Man's arch-nemesis: The Green Goblin. In order to save his loved ones--and all of New York City--from the devastating force of the deluded Goblin, Spider-Man must take on the villain in a series of stunning battles. By staying true to the essence of the comic book, Raimi accomplishes the rare feat of crafting a superhero movie with a real heart. Rather than focusing solely on action and explosions, SPIDER-MAN wisely shines the spotlight on the character of Peter Parker, played with perfect bewilderment by Maguire. The special effects, of course, are dazzling, but they are topped by an excellent cast that also includes the radiant Dunst, the menacing Dafoe, the brooding Franco, and the scene-stealing J.K. Simmons as Peter's tough-talking boss. (Raimi fans will notice cameos by the director's brother, Ted Raimi, and EVIL DEAD series star Bruce Campbell.) The result is a charming and amazingly entertaining film unafraid to combine CGI animation with sincere human emotion.

	Cliff Robertson
	James Franco
	Kirsten Dunst
	Tobey Maguire
	Willem Dafoe
	Rosemary Harris
	Stan Lee and Steve Ditko - Based on the Marvel Comic Book By
	Grant Curtis - Co-Producer
	James Acheson - Costume Design By
	Sam Raimi - Directed By
	Don Burgess - Director of Photography
	Bob Murawski - Edited By
	Arthur Coburn - Edited By
	Stan Lee - Executive Producer
	Avi Arad - Executive Producer
	Danny Elfman - Music By
	Ian Bryce - Produced By
	Laura Ziskin - Produced By
	Neil Spisak - Production Designer
	David Koepp - Screenplay By
	John Dykstra - Special Effects Designed By

New York Times
"...The filmmakers have succeeded in rejuvenating the character while staying faithful to his roots....Mr. Maguire seems at once knowing and vulnerable..." 05/03/2002 p.E1

Entertainment Weekly
"...SPIDER-MAN, an adventure in vicarious acrobatic daredevilry, has been excitingly staged by director Sam Raimi..." 05/10/2002 p.47-8

Rolling Stone
"...The actors seem to be having as good a time as we are....Maguire and Dunst keep SPIDER-MAN on a high with their sweet-sexy yearning, spinning a web of dazzle and delicacy..." 05/10/2002 p.87-8

Variety
"...Chemistry between Maguire and the winning Dunst is excellent....[A] standout supporting turn is served up by J.K. Simmons, who brilliantly catches his pieces' comic book origins..." 04/22/2002 p.27-36

Box Office
"...Raimi does know his genre and has a lot of fun with the always gratifying makeover element....[Maguire] seems the only choice to play Peter, imbuing the character with intelligence, sensitivity, affability, strength, humor and edginess..." 07/01/2002 p.90

Sight and Sound
"...SPIDER-MAN is full of deftly handled small moments and characters..." 07/01/2002 p.36-7

Chicago Sun-Times
"...Kirsten Dunst is effective as the conflicted Mary Jane....Willem Dafoe has fun with a Jekyll-and-Hyde character..." 06/30/2002 p.5