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Knowing that, we can look at this “Spider-Man” with great amusement, and sometimes with great awe. Most likely the ingenuity of the film came from the inventive mind of director Sam Raimi, so we can look at his past films to kind of manipulate the conditional state of “Spider-Man” as a dormant memory. In other words, try to remember how you feel about the film later on while taking into consideration Raimi’s style.
Up first is his cult classic shocker “The Evil Dead” from either the late 70s or early 80s (no one can seem to decide on one solid date). Going on (skipping “Evil Dead II” and “Army of Darkness”), we can stop at “The Quick and the Dead”. Although Louis L’Amour wrote a book by that title, it’s something totally different. Coming to about 1998, we detour at “A Simple Plan” – Raimi’s best by far to date. All of those films are stylized in what I like to call Raiminization. Okay, fine that was lame, I don’t care. The point is that he has a greatness to him that is sometimes overlooked because of the surface oddities. “The Quick and the Dead” isn't exactly cherished – probably because of its strange angles and weird characters, but it’s got style.
Now, let’s see here. “Spider-Man” is rated PG-13 for stylized action violence. That stylization comes directly from Raimi. He has a way of taking something well and good and making it personal. This is the triumph of “Spider-Man”.
I also like Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst are both excellent young actors and play their roles with confidence. Both are complex in one way or another, and both are effective. However, I didn’t like Willem Dafoe’s performance as the Green Goblin. He tries to be a layered villain, but ends up thrashing every maniacal aspect of the Goblin into inadvertent laughter.
“Spider-Man” also lacks digital continuity. We have wonderful shots of Peter Parker slinging his web through New York from building to building, but most of them are unsatisfying. The special effects are as complex as the characters, but nowhere near as effective. However, the ending is timed perfectly, and I can’t wait for the sequel. *** ˝