Spider-Man (2002)

When bitten by a genetically modified spider, a nerdy, shy, and awkward high school student gains spider-like abilities that he eventually must use to fight evil as a superhero after tragedy befalls his family.

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers:

Stan Lee (Marvel comic book), Steve Ditko (Marvel comic book),

Stars:

Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 44 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tobey Maguire	...	Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Willem Dafoe	...	Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Kirsten Dunst	...	Mary Jane Watson
James Franco	...	Harry Osborn
Cliff Robertson	...	Ben Parker
Rosemary Harris	...	May Parker
J.K. Simmons	...	J. Jonah Jameson
Joe Manganiello	...	Flash Thompson
Gerry Becker	...	Maximilian Fargas
Bill Nunn	...	Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson
Jack Betts	...	Henry Balkan
Stanley Anderson	...	General Slocum
Ron Perkins	...	Dr. Mendell Stromm
Michael Papajohn	...	Carjacker
K.K. Dodds	...	Simkins

Storyline

Based on Marvel Comics' superhero character, this is a story of Peter Parker who is a nerdy high-schooler. He was orphaned as a child, bullied by jocks, and can't confess his crush for his stunning neighborhood girl Mary Jane Watson. To say his life is "miserable" is an understatement. But one day while on an excursion to a laboratory a runaway radioactive spider bites him... and his life changes in a way no one could have imagined. Peter acquires a muscle-bound physique, clear vision, ability to cling to surfaces and crawl over walls, shooting webs from his wrist ... but the fun isn't going to last. An eccentric millionaire Norman Osborn administers a performance enhancing drug on himself and his maniacal alter ego Green Goblin emerges. Now Peter Parker has to become Spider-Man and take Green Goblin to the task... or else Goblin will kill him. They come face to face and the war begins in which only one of them will survive at the end.

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Plot Keywords:

spider | evil | fight | student | superhero | 

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Taglines:

A Gift. A Curse. A Destiny.

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Genres:

Action | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for stylized violence and action

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia Pictures [us] Columbia TriStar [uk]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Spider-Man: The Motion Picture

Filming Locations:

4th Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$139,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$130,613 (Brazil) (2 August 2002)

Gross:

$15,917,016 (Brazil) (11 October 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Marvel Enterprises, Laura Ziskin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Spider-Man is an iconic figure for New York, the majority of the film was actually made in Los Angeles. Only two weeks' worth of location filming was done in the Big Apple.

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Goofs

During the science trip where Peter is bitten, Harry says that the microscope is the "largest electron microscope on the eastern seaboard". However, the microscope images shown are taken from a phase contrast microscope not an electron microscope. (Phase contrast gives less magnification but lets you work with live material, for example, the cell being manipulated in the image shown on the film).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Peter Parker: [voiceover] Who am I? You sure you want to know? The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a happy little tale... if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, not a care in the world... somebody lied.

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Crazy Credits

Towards the end of the closing credits the theme song from the original Spider-Man animated series is played.

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Connections

Referenced in King of the Hill: Stressed for Success (2004)

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Soundtracks

"My Nutmeg Phantasy"
Written by Macy Gray, Darryl Swann, Lonnie Marshall, Keith Ciancia, Finn Hammer and Tom Ralls
Performed by Macy Gray
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

~ Web-Slinging Fun ~

Normally I can't stand movies derived from comics, for example the duds that were the Hulk & Daredevil, but this one surprised me.

An excellent take on the comic book character created by Stan Lee. Next to the X-Men movies that came out about the same time, and Superman with Christopher Reeve, it is definitely one of the better Comic to Movie films put out.

The cast is well chosen. McGuire is Spiderman/Peter Parker to me. I don't think they could have chosen better. Kirsten Dunst makes a decent Mary Jane Watson, wasn't ever fond of her to begin with, but it's pulled off well. Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin is sheer genius.

The story is well written and keeps you along for the entire ride, coupled with action that's explosive and thrilling. Definitely fun for all, even die hard Spidey fans won't be disappointed! Fun for all! 9/10.