Spider-Man (2002) – Film Review

Sam Raimi‘s first Spider-Man film centers on high school student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who, after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider, gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. He vows to use his abilities to fight crime, coming to understand the words of his beloved Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson): “With great power comes great responsibility.”

It may be hard to imagine these days, but we once lived in a day and age in which superhero movies weren’t incredibly dark and dreary (I’m looking at you Batman v Superman. I still love you, though).  There was once a time in which superhero movies could definitely still be serious, but also inject some campy fun that comic book fans love.

This is perhaps best demonstrated with Sam Raimi’s original 2002 Spider-Man film. It tells the origin story of Peter Parker and how he became everyone’s friendly neighborhood web-slinging superhero. It deals with some legitimately dark themes but also isn’t afraid to embrace the hugely campy elements of its source material, and strangely enough, there is no jarring tonal shift here. It’s kind of miraculous, actually.

Throughout the course of Spider-Man, we follow Tobey Maguire’s version of Peter Parker which is, in my opinion, still the best incarnation of the character we have ever had. Yes, Andrew Garfield was a great Spider-Man and Tom Holland, who currently portrays the hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is truly great, but there is something so oddly endearing about Maguire’s version that still hasn’t been topped to this day.

Some may say I am a bit biased because yes, I did grow up with his version of the character and I spent a huge portion of my childhood absolutely adoring Raimi’s trilogy. However, every single time I go back and revisit these films, I can’t help but grin from ear-to-ear watching Maguire play this character. Not only does he clearly have a blast with it in all three of his outings, but he also knows exactly how to bring this character to life and make it feel real.

The same thing can be said about the screenplay by David Koepp. Without a great script, your movie isn’t going to be that good, and thankfully, the script here is terrific. Koepp truly makes Parker feel like any other teenager despite the fact that he gets incredible superhuman abilities that allow him to shoot webs and swing from buildings.

In this film, Parker has a ton on his plate, and it seems as though with each and every scene, things get increasingly worse for him. We learn here that Parker has had a crush on his next-door neighbor Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) ever since he was a toddler. In one of the most beautiful scenes in the film, Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) is talking to Parker about MJ, stating “I remember when you were six and they moved next door to us. When Mary Jane got out of the car, and you saw her for the first time, you grabbed my hand and said, ‘Aunt May, Aunt May, is that an angel?'”.

But the problem is that he just doesn’t know how to work up the courage to go and ask her on a date. Just when he thinks he’s feeling confident enough, his anxiety gets the better of him. Aside from MJ, early on in the film, Parker’s uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) is fatally shot by a gunman, which essentially serves as the final straw for Parker.

Before, he didn’t know what to do after he got his incredible powers. He thought they were riveting, but really, what was he going to do with this newfound power? It’s here where that realization finally clicks in – he is going to fight crime. Parker’s plight in this entire trilogy, really, is absolutely beautifully fleshed out. By the time each film comes to a close, you feel as though you’re best friends with Parker in real life. You just want to reach out and tell him everything’s going to be alright.

Aside from Maguire being able to demonstrate Parker’s qualities and bring them to life so effortlessly, the other actors do a heck of a fine job as well. Willem Dafoe is now considered an iconic superhero movie villain in the role of the villainous Norman Osbourne aka the Green Goblin.

Does his suit look like a bizarre Power Rangers knock-off? Yes, absolutely. Is it extremely corny every time he flies in on his glider and delivers a one-liner? Yes. But is it an absolute blast to watch Dafoe give it his all, as well as give us a devilishly creepy laugh to boot? You bet. And do I even need to talk about how J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson is easily one of the best casting choices of all time?

Kirsten Dunst gets a ton of flack for her performance as Mary-Jane Watson in this trilogy and I honestly have no idea why. People always complain that she yells and cries a lot in these movies, but honestly, how can you blame her? In every single movie she finds herself in the midst of extreme danger and almost gets killed numerous times. If a relentless, murderous villain was about to choose you as their next target, wouldn’t you act the same way?

And although Cliff Robertson gets an incredibly small role to play in this movie, he nevertheless is one of the most important parts of the story as a whole. After all, it is Robertson as Uncle Ben who delivers the now hugely iconic line to Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility”. It’s a lesson that is hugely important and rings true so many years later. Spider-Man is a big, fantastical superhero adventure, but at its core, it’s really a movie about learning to love yourself, look out for others, and accept responsibility. Only you are in the way of yourself when it comes to making a difference. I find that message beautiful.