Writing a review of the new Spider-Man movie is actually pretty pointless. As it is on of the biggest blockbusters of a busy movie summer, there are already countless reviews all over the internet and other media. Actually, people should pay even less attention to any thoughts that I have about the film. After all, I'm the person who said that they shouldn't even bother making an X-Men movie. However, over the course of the next two-three weeks, countless customers and casual people will ask my opinion of the ever present blockbuster. I might as well get my thoughts in order here. Anyone who reads my stuff here really knows better than to ask me what I think of a movie anyway.
My viewing of Spider-Man took place in the wee hours of the morning before its official May 3rd release. It was just my family and a few theater employees, which makes for a completely different experience from seeing the movie with a crowd. My children struggled to stay awake and were less rambunctious than usual. Unlike most everyone else, it seems that I actually was less excited to see the film with each new trailer or preview that I saw. I am in no way trying to live up to my curmudgeon reputation. It just seemed that every trailer focused on fast and furious special effects that sparkled and glowed and exploded, with less attention to the characters who were the cause of all the fury. Friends of mine who are far more into movies than myself have all stated what a wonderful actor Tobey Maguire is. Can't say for myself, all I have seen him play is a nerd, which he does admittedly well. William Dafoe looked to be an excellent Norman Osbourne, but let's just say that his costume left me more than a little underwhelmed. While there is a score by Danny Elfman, the already released soundtrack features lots of pop music tracks by various "hot" or ready to promote artists, including Macy Grey, who makes a totally useless appearance in the film. All in all, it added up to product, product and more cross promotable product!
For a change, I won't even go into the basic plot. If you're here, you know it already, both from the advance hype for the movie, and from the familiar comic stories, to which is sticks very closely. Tobey Maguire is actually very good as Peter Parker. His acting is really no different than it is in all of the other films in which I have seen him, but it is perfectly suited to this role. Kirstin Dunst is only adequate as Mary Jane. In most every promotional stop, all cast members concerned talked of the incredible chemistry between Maguire and Dunst. Nope. Not a factor. Dunst is fine, but nothing more. James Franco, however, is outstanding as Norman Osbourns son Harry. He's not given any great lines or pivotal scenes, yet his contribution to the love triangle is believable and is crucial to the framework of the film. William Dafoe is really good when he is not in his Green Goblin armor, but then his role is the kind of scene chewing part that can't help but grab attention.
The whole film actually works better when it is on the ground. The action sequences are good enough, but we have seen so much of this already, that this movie really doesn't offer anything new. What makes the film tick is the characters, who only really come across when they are not hidden under a mask. The Spider-Man costume certainly looks great, and his web swinging is believable enough. It's just that most of the fighting and thunder just doesn't do anything for the advancement of what is going on in the story. They're like instrumental interludes on a rock CD. You enjoy them well enough, but you're really just waiting for them to be over so then can get on with the more important parts. Nonetheless, it is really nice to actually have an action movie with a plot to get back to, especially one based on a comic book. The razzle may not be as dazzling as the hype, but surprise! There's a heart underneath.
A couple of other small quibbles: Just as I was beginning to warm up to Danny Elfman, his score here is strictly by-the-numbers. It sounds like a quick combination of his other work, with an emphasis on Batman Returns. It never detracts from the film, but it doesn't live up to the work that Elfman has shown himself capable of. Next, whoever played J.J.Jameson did such a good job that I wished for more. His performance managed to be comic relief and never degenerate into annoyance. It was a balance that could have easily ruined any scene that he was in, instead his time on screen was some of the best moments, as well as the ones that were most true to the comic. It was really probably best that they avoided over using him, but his part still seemed too small.
I am always asked about how comic book movies affect comic book sales. The usual answer is that they don't. People get their fix of action on the screen and move on to the next fad. Ironically, while this film doesn't pack the action punch that a lot of people are expecting it to, it might actually make more people interested in the comic. If the explosions and stunts aren't all they could be, you forget about them when you actually start following a story! Whether this will actually happen or not is anyone's guess. The X-Men movie kind of snuck up on us and proved to be a great thrill ride. Spider-Man jumped on us with all the attention getting fury it could muster. The surprise may be that the story is what you remember when you walk out of the theater.
