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Spider-Man

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Spider-Man (2002)

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90 %
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Reviews Counted: 207

Fresh: 186

Rotten:21

Average Rating: 7.6/10

Consensus: Not only does Spider-Man provide a good dose of web-swinging fun, but it also has a heart, mainly due to Maguire.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for stylized violence and action

Runtime: 2 hrs 1 min

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:May 3, 2002 Wide

Box Office: $403,706,375

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

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Release:

Aug 4, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Average teenager Peter Parker is transformed into an extraordinary super hero after he is accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider. When his beloved uncle is savagely murdered during a robbery, young Peter vows to use his powers to avenge his death. Deeming himself "Spider-Man ," he sets about ridding the streets of crime, bringing him into conflict with malevolent super-villain "Green Goblin."
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    Reviews for Spider-Man

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
    04/29/09
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Cinema Crazed
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: NPR.org | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Bob Mondello
    NPR.org

    An adaptation of the Marvel Comics superhero adventures that effectively takes time between exhilarating digital effects to develop character and motivation.

    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    08/07/08
    Mark Halverson
    Sacramento News & Review

    Colourful, energetic and well-cast, Spider-Man is a good-quality, highly-entertaining action movie.

    Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
    03/05/08
    Daniel Etherington
    Channel 4 Film

    A perfectly serviceable early-summer popcorn picture that will satisfy its core teen constituency and not displease general viewers looking for some disposable entertainment.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    03/05/08
    Todd McCarthy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    [Sam] Raimi captures the ineffable quality that makes this misfit with muscles New York's own blue-collar, working-man's hero.

    Full Review Source: Seanax.com | comment Comment
    02/28/08
    Sean Axmaker
    Seanax.com

    Spider-man flows as smoothly from scene to scene, catching the audience in its charming web and setting us up for a sequel which, for once, will be welcome.

    Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
    07/14/07
    Joe Lozito
    Big Picture Big Sound

    Unfortunately the film, like many of its ilk, is driven by special effects, and there's a serious disconnect between Maguire's sweet-natured dialogue and Spider-Man's pounding violence and stunning acrobatic work.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 2 Comments
    04/17/07
    J. R. Jones
    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Practically pitch-perfect summer entertainment.

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
    12/30/06
    Ian Freer
    Empire Magazine

    This accomplished blockbuster announces itself as a stylish piece of pop myth-spinning.

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Derek Adams
    Time Out

    At its best, it's action packed fantasy, grounded in reality by a talented cast who pack a real emotional wallop. At its worst, it's over the top, and more than a little sappy.

    Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
    09/30/05
    Scott Nash
    Three Movie Buffs

    Spider-Man was the first really alienated guy to swoop around fighting crime in a funny outfit. His strange powers made this teenage outsider into even more of an outsider -- and Spider-Man... stays true to that idea, thanks mostly to Maguire.

    Full Review Source: Nation | comment Comment
    03/03/05
    Stuart Klawans
    Nation

    Count on Sam Raimi ... to deliver a Spider-Man movie that recaptures the wonder of those first-generation comics.

    Full Review Source: Fort Worth Business Press | comment Comment
    12/08/04
    Michael H. Price
    Fort Worth Business Press

    This is one of those rare adventure movies in which character, not violence, is the backbone of the film.

    Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
    12/06/04
    Jeffrey Overstreet
    Looking Closer

    Director Sam Raimi was right. Tobey Maguire was the right choice for Spider-Man.

    Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | comment Comment
    06/22/04
    Judith Egerton
    Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

    cool

    Full Review Source: sbs.is | comment 2 Comments
    01/10/04
    Stefan Birgir Stefansson
    sbs.is

    Let the gauntlet be thrown: Spider-Man may be the best comic adaptation of all time.

    Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
    05/28/03
    Todd Gilchrist
    FilmStew.com

    Will have any 12-year-old trying to perfect that trick of hoisting themselves up between walls using their legs.

    Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) | comment Comment
    04/16/03
    Harry Guerin
    RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)

    The final sequence . . . will have you leaving the theater feeling both dizzy and giddy, and looking up at the top of the nearest building wishing you could shoot a web at it.

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    03/19/03
    Brian Mckay
    eFilmCritic.com

    This is not a good movie, but a mediocre means of passing a few hours. It is a classic example of money and special effects diluting artistic vision and talent.

    Full Review Source: Zertinet Movies | comment 6 Comments
    03/05/03
    Steven Snyder
    Zertinet Movies
     
     
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    Latest News for Spider-Man

    April 01, 2009: Weekly Ketchup Special Edition: Raimi Announces Next Spider-Man Villians
    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 Opens in new window
    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...

    January 21, 2009: Five Favourite Films with James Franco
    Having established his name in the Spider-Man movies, these days James Franco is clearly making some more personal career choices. He was in three films in 2008, notable for... More...

    September 23, 2008: Spider-Man Musical Coming Next Year? Opens in new window
    Yes, Broadway fans, you really will be able to see Spider-Man on the Great White Way soon. In fact, if Marvel chairman David Maisel has his way, "Spider-Man: The Musical" may... More...

    See More Topics...

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