SPIDER-MAN

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: thematic elements, violence

Rated:

Heroes at the Box Office come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, from hobbits to reformed convicts and bright-eyed college kids. This year we've had our fair share of them in films like A Walk to Remember, The Fellowship of the Ring, and Joshua. But this comic book hero enters under a different name, a different premise, and a different tone... and his message is a unique one that packs as mighty of a punch as his well-toned muscles impress the ladies.

Peter Parker (Tobey Magquire) is your on-average high school nerd who's always being picked on in the lunch line, laughed at on the buss, and ignored by the popular crowd... when they're not heckling him on the street. A shy, introverted individual with a loving and protective shield in his aunt and uncle, Peter is an all around nice guy who deserves a break. His only friend is Harry Osborne (James Franco), the son of a wealthy business tycoon who is undertaking an experiment on super-human development. Harry's father Norman (William Dafoe) sees in Peter everything that his son is not and offers to give him a hand in the world. But all Peter really wants is the friendship of the beautiful girl next door, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst). Too timid to speak with her, his single interaction with her is when the class visits the museum of scientific discovery, where a new type of genetically-enhanced spiders are being developed. Peter is accidentally bitten by one while photographing Mary Jane and stumbles home to collapse in his room.

When he wakes up the following morning, everything has suddenly changed. His physical form, his eyesight, his reflexes... his personality. Peter discovers that through the spider's bite, he has been given great powers... strength, agility, speed, weightlessness, and confidence. Not entirely understanding his "gift," Peter seeks to use it for his own advantage... hoping to win over Mary Jane with his new superhuman qualities. While brainstorming, he comes across an ad in the paper offering $3,000 to a "colorful character" who can survive three minutes in the ring with the heavy weight champion. And so, the "Human Spider" is born. He wins the match, but ultimately looses more than the prize money when his own anger is allowed to get in the way of justice... and a life is sacrificed. Peter realizes then and there that his uncle was right... with great power comes great responsibility. 

Spider-Man has a duty to be done... to protect the innocent, defend the helpless, and save the lost. He also unknowingly has an enemy equal to his own powers... Norman Osborne, who has knowingly infected himself with a life-altering serum that unleashes a multiple personality complex on its unwary victim. The "Green Goblin" now stalks the streets of New York, seeking to terrorize and destroy all that is good. The ultimate showdown between good and evil will commence, and our hero will be forced to choose between his life... or his soul. This film had the highest opening weekend at the box office of all time, and it's not really hard to see why. Getting past the incredible special effects, excellent cast, and actually intriguing storyline, this film will appeal to a lot of Americans for the simple reason that it's patriotic and has a lot of good lessons to offer. Peter's aunt and uncle are religious characters who are shown praying on more than one occasion. His uncle gives him some valuable advice in one poignant scene. He tells Peter that this point of his life will ultimately shape the man that he will become, for good or evil... and to make that choice carefully. Peter also learns the harsh lesson of never leaving someone in anger... your angry words may be the last they ever hear. 

The tagline "With great power comes great responsibility" is actually a line that makes it into the film itself on numerous occasions. Peter ultimately realizes the truth in this statement and risks his own life to help those in need... without expecting anything in return. When tempted to join the side of evil, he chooses instead to follow the side of good, despite its painful consequences. When faced with revenge vs. justice, Spider-Man sticks to justice. Even Mary Jane, who is enthralled by this unknown super-hero, realizes that it's not being a powerful that makes the difference in someone's life. It's being trustworthy and honorable, two attributes that belong solely to Peter. 

The film also strives to exalt family and friendship above wealth or notoriety. Its hero chooses to help people regardless of the opinion they may take of him. Its villain is utterly evil, the characters are surprisingly two-dimensional and well-developed, and the ending leaves the viewer with a definite sense of patriotism... the sight of Spider-Man crouching under a flag bearing proudly the Stars and Stripes. But not every film is perfect. Parents and older teens may want to leave the youngsters at home... not only is this film intended for mature audiences, it carries too many frightening scenes, explosions, and comic-book violence to make it suitable for the under-thirteen crowd. Fortunately the film dwells more on friendship as the ultimate goal than romance, which keeps it reasonably clean. True, Mary Jane could dress more modestly but there are virtually no innuendos or hints of impropriety, although at one point her top becomes almost transparent in the rain. There is some mild language but profanity is surprisingly limited. Violence is the only pause button to an otherwise enthralling film. While Spider-Man never purposely kills anyone, two characters do die... one by his own devices, the other from an accidental fall.

Mingled in-between the strong storyline and likable characters are many instances of comic-book violence that include flying fists, feet, explosions, head-bashing, citizen endangerment, and one particularly cruel wrestling match in which a man uses a chair to plummet someone. Several bikini-clad women grace this scene but are in the background. A man is impaled. The violence is extreme but necessary in a plot where the hero is essentially facing terrorists: the only way to protect others is to fight back. Younger viewers should stay home, but for older teens and action-loving adults, Spider-Man is one film that not only promises thrills but actually delivers them. There's a lot to like about this super-human kid thrown into extraordinary circumstances, and a lot to cheer about when all is said and done. Spider-Man weaves quite a web.

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