Spider-Man: **

Judged as a 'comic book movie,' comparing it only to other comic-book based movies, it's a masterpiece. The director's decision to use CGI to compose 65% of the movie may be viewed as regrettable in the 'normal' film world, but in the world of schlocky comic-book cinema, overuse and abuse of available special effects is as common as overuse of wire-work in Hong Kong. Similarly, the director's choice to incorporate four signature scenes from THE MATRIX into his own, separate movie of SPIDER-MAN might be seen as derivative and overkill in the critical world of regular cinema, but it's been par for the course for every post-MATRIX comic book film save GHOST WORLD. Several jarring plot omissions contribute to a sense of character stasis - why should this reviewer care if Aunt Mae is terrorized by the Goblin, if she's happy, adjusted and unmentioning the second she's out of her coma? However - again par for the course for comics on celluloid - this deficiency is coupled, oddly, with the existence of several either extraneous, unexplained or useless elements inserted into the story. Spidey's new costume appears from nowhere. MJ is too much of a dolt to recognize the voice of a guy she's been friends and next-door neighbors with for her entire life. Et cetera.

As a movie, SPIDER-MAN's sense of fun and geek- empowerment can't make up for its substitution of effects for plot, common sense, and plain old acting. **.

As a comic-book movie, SPIDER-MAN stacks up well against its brethren, THE PUNISHER, SUPERMAN IV and SPAWN. Director Sam Raimi's b-movie stylings are a good fit to the world of live-action comic books, as anyone who saw THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, DARKMAN or ARMY OF DARKNESS would have likely been able to surmise before May 3. ****.

Please.

The Punisher, Superman IV, and Spawn all stank.

Spider-Man was interesting, exciting, funny, and smart.

Which were these? I only remember one as part of a

He's pissed that Attack of the Clones won't have nearly a good opening because Lucas drove people away from the theaters with Phantom Menace.

. MJ is too much of a dolt to recognize the voice of

Having seen the film tonight, I got the impression that 'Spiderman' calls her 'M.J.' when she's dangling above the cable car on purpose. That the line was written in so that later on (I guess in the sequel...and let's face it, they'll make one whether the $$ comes in or not), she realizes 'Hey, there's only one other guy who calls me 'M.J.' And that look...that look at the very end, when she's looking over her shoulder at him...SOMETHING came into her head there. She goes from being a crying, 'oh, I'll never have a boyfriend with Peter Parker' to 'Hey, waiiiiiiiiiiittt a minute!'

I have a feeling that the sequel will have that as one of the first things in the film. Either that, or they'll tout to the audience in the theater that she knows, but it won't be revealed until the end/near the end, to draw it out for suspense.

says...

As long as Kirstin returns for that part, I'll still buy a ticket.

Just about everyone called her MJ.

She touches her lips and realizes the kiss she just got came from the same guy she kissed in the alley.

I think she's smart enough and likes him enough to not run around saying 'Peter Parker IS Spiderman!' And, at the same time, I think she realized at that instant why he was reluctant to be her boyfriend.

-MJ(no relation)

She touches her lips supposedly remember the kiss with Spiderman, and comparing it to her kiss with PP, going 'Hey! Wait a sec their lips feel the same way!'

IMO

Grey Wolf

Ba dum dum.

Thank you! He'll be here all week!

Some stuff.....

However, I would like to mention that as of 12 noon, California time today, May 5, 2002...

Spider Man has grossed over $114 million dollars.

Apparently, someone likes it. Other then me, that is.

LArry the Ultimate Fanboy

Britney Spears sells the most albums. Movies like Independence Day break records. Judith Krantz is a best-selling author. The World Wrestling Federation gets monster cable ratings. Fear Factor gets monster network ratings. Should I go on? How about a summary?: your point is irrelevant.