Spider-Man was first brought to the big screen by director Sam Raimi in 2002. Raimi's version of the web slinging superhero stared Tobey Macguire as Peter Parker, a nerdy, socially inept high school student. On a class tip, he was bitten by a radioactive lab spider and thus the story began. Not quite halfway through the film, Peter graduated high school and set out to make his way in the adult world. Around the same time that Peter grew into his web-slinging powers, his friend Harry Osbourne's billionaire scientist father, Norman was working hard to save the company he created from men who wanted very much to see him fail. When his attempt to test his latest project went wrong, he became Green Goblin, the foe Peter would spend the movie battling. Kirsten Dunst co-stared as the beautiful Mary-Jane Watson, Peter's love interest while James Franco also appeared as Harry Osbourne, Norman's son and Peter's best friend. J.K. Simmons gave a screen stealing performance as J. Jonah Jamison, the quick tempered editor of The Daly Bugel, a small newspaper where Peter went to work as a photographer.
This more modern version shows Peter in a similar stage of his life, but focuses more on one specific part of his life. Peter (portrayed by Andrew Garfield) spends this entire movie in high school and never takes a job at any newspaper. The character of J. Jonah Jamison is written out completely, as is the character of Harry Osbourne, although Norman is credited as the founder of Oscorp Industries. Mary-Jane is completely absent from this film, but in her place is Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), a smart and talented girl from Peter's school. As luck would have it, however, Gwen's father (Dennis Leary) happens to be the very police captain who wants to put Spider-Man away for good. The original film had no mention of Peter's parents, but this one begins with him being dropped off at his aunt and uncle's house to live "for a little while." When he happens across his father's old briefcase, he discovers a photo of his father and another scientist. His uncle Ben reveals this man to be Dr. Curtis Conners, his father's former partner. When Peter sneaks into Oscorp Industries to learn more about him, he is bitten by a spider which of course gives him his powers. This movie didn't quite top the original, but it is still interesting enough to be worth watching. Even fans of the original Spider-Man films, like myself, should enjoy this. Its not a bad movie at all, just not quite as good as the original.
4 Stars
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