SPIDERMAN

US, 2002, 121 minutes, Colour.
Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris, J. K. Simmons, Joe Manganiello, Bill Nunn.
Directed by Sam Raimi.

When a film becomes a phenomenon, something that everyone wants to see, they say it is 'critic-proof'. Whether it be Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings or the Star Wars series, millions of people go to see the film, no matter what the reviewers say. Early warning that Spiderman was going to join this box-office list was the figure for takings on its opening weekend in the US: $114,000,000, a staggering amount.

One of the big advantages of Spiderman is the casting of Toby Maguire as Peter Parker/Spiderman. I am surprised that I can say this because Maguire is a very quiet and introverted performer, very good at serious dramas. I never imagined him as an action hero. However, like Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman many years ago, Peter Parker is all the more believable because he is shown as a very ordinary young man who discovers that he has extraordinary powers. Younger audiences will identify with him because he is in his final year at high school. He is shy, wears glasses, is clumsy, loves science and photography but is pushed around by the school bullies. And he has a crush on Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) who lives next door.

The screenplay tries to make Peter's transformation credible by having him accidentally bitten during a school visit to a museum by a genetically modified spider who combines all the skills of other spiders. As he discovers how he is changing, we believe that it is happening.

Parallel to his change is that of the unscrupulous arms tycoon, Norman Osborne, played by Willem Dafoe. He neglects his own son (James Franco), imposing on him unreal expectations while admiring Peter and his scientific knowledge. When his experiments for the Pentagon go wrong, he is transformed into a monster, a 'Green Goblin' who is the evil mirror image of himself. Everyone can guess the rest: Spiderman versus the Green Goblin. Even though Spiderman is a comic book character, we come to believe that he could be real, even when he puts on his spider costume. On the other hand, the Green Goblin, sailing around on his hover raft, looks so unreal and comic book, that he puts the special effects battles between good and evil off balance. Where the true battle lies is in the way that Osborne/Goblin struggle with each other, the inner evil taking over Osborne's personality as Spiderman shows Peter the power for good.

Spiderman can be funny (as when Peter goes to a wrestling competition and everyone ridicules him until he wins) as well as serious (the death of his uncle and the attack on his aunt). Peter learns that power must mean responsibility and service of others. So, what we have is a mixture of reality and comic-book life and a sympathetic hero for our times.

1. The popularity of Marvel Comics, of Marvel films? The character of Spiderman and his activities, good versus evil? Previous films? Sequels and subsequent new re-boots?

2. A hero for the early 21st century? A young man, high school, good at science, intelligent, school photographer, shy and reserved, awkward with the girls? Yet transformed?

3. New York City setting, suburban streets, homes? School, museums? The views of the city, aerial views from Spiderman’s point of view? The laboratories, experiments? Sense of realism?

4. The Comic book atmosphere? Peter Parker and the spider bite, his transformation, the webs, his powers, climbing buildings, leaping and swooping? His disguise and working out his costume? A masked hero? Norman Osborn, his experiments, transformation into the Green Goblin, his raft board, mask and make up, costume? The unreality compared with Spiderman’s costume?

5. The action sequences, special effects, transformations, conflicts?

6. Peter Parker, his age, with his uncle and aunt, the family bonds? Mary Jane next door, attentive to her, her interest in other boys? His devotion? At school, his friendship with Harry? At the Museum, the information about spiders? His trying to take photos, Flash and the others pushing him? The authorities? Explaining information to Harry, his using it with Mary Jane? Peter being bitten, unwell, in his room, collapse, revising? In the dining room, the clash, Flash being humiliated? The spectacular fight in the school corridor and Flash’s defeat? The web and its effect? Peter testing out the web, the way to throw the web?

7. The wrestling match, his mask, the crowd, his win, acclamation, going to collect his money? The robbery?

8. Peter and his moodiness at home, going in and out? The character of his uncle, a good man? His aunt and her care? Having the talk with his uncle, the wrap remand about the School fight, the motto that with power comes responsibility? His reaction against his uncle? Discovering the attack, his grief at his uncle’s death? The funeral? His seeing the killer, the robber at the wrestling match? Confronting him? His fall into his death?

9. Peter designing his costume? The collage of his activities? Righting wrongs, saving people?

10. The editor, rough manner, not liking Spiderman, sales going up, wanting photographs, advertising? Peter and his setting up the camera, bringing the photos, the payment? Employed by the paper?

11. Norman Osborn, the industrialist, the self-made man, the meeting with the military, the deadline for the experiments? His assistant wanting more time? Osborn taking the potion himself, the transformation, the violence at the killing of the assistant? His being informed and not aware of it? At home, his other self, in the mirror, the continued dialogue between his two selves? His relationship with Harry, taking him to the Museum, Harry failing at all the private schools, his admiration for Peter, his interest in science? Harry interpreting this that his father preferred Peter? The later meeting of the board, the unanimous firing? His becoming the Green Goblin, on the raft, creating mayhem, the destruction of the board members? The clash with Spiderman, the burning of his house, the injuries to Aunt May and her going to hospital? The visit at Thanksgiving, friendly, upstairs, the drop of blood, Peter’s wounded arm, his realising the truth? Confronting him, taking Mary Jane, the cable car, the passengers, dangling, their being saved by Peter? The buildup to the final confrontation? The taunts? Unmasked? The threat to Peter and the barbs, Peter’s movement and Osborne being transfixed?

12. Mary Jane, next door, wanting to be an actress, to leave the suburbs? Peter and his dreams? Her admiration for Spiderman, the kiss? Her being in danger, her later telling Peter that it was he that she thought of during the dangers? His walking away – to his mission?

13. Harry, resentment towards Peter, his threats to avenge his father?

14. The first episode in the series, audience appreciation, wanting more?