Critic Reviews
Spider-Man (2002) Rank 3 Reviews
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Days of Thunder (Travis Hoover)
MovieMaze (Thomas Brendel)
Apollo Guide (Dan Jardine)
A piece of vintage cinematic entertainment with a post-modernist twist ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Apollo Guide (Dan Jardine)
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
"Spider-Man," based on the Marvel Comics series, is about a melancholy superhero who can climb buildings, throw webs from his fingertips and swing through cities but can't get it together in his personal life. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)
Spider-Man succeeds not because it is not about the spider but the man, not about the action but about the way that characters react to each other, not about the special effects but the effect that special actors can have on the audience. Tobey Maguire ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)
Mark R. Leeper
Peter Parker (played by Tobey Maguire) is his school's science nebbish. He can tell you anything about science, but he cannot work up the courage to talk to his attractive nextdoorneighbor and classmate, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). An orphan, he ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Mark R. Leeper
CinemaZone.dk
Spider-Man er historien om teenageren Peter Parker, den forældreløse dreng, der bor med sin onkel og tante i New York. En dag bliver han på en skoleekskursion bidt af en edderkop, og udvikler derefter nogle ret fantastiske egenskaber. I den ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at CinemaZone.dk
FilmStew.com
Spider-Man may be the best comic adaptation of all time. It deserves a sequel (or at least we, the audience do), and Raimi, Maguire and company ought not bail out over salary quibbles or creative differences. Leaving these talented folk to the business ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at FilmStew.com
ShowBIZ Data
Wow!, as they ofttimes say in comic books, Spider-Man is getting some super reviews. Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post calls it "an exuberance, a celebration, a hoot, a kick and a half." Tobey Maguire, who stars in the title role, is being singled ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at ShowBIZ Data
Movielocity Movie Reviews (Blake Kunisch)
It's been a long time coming. Spider Man has entertained for countless years as kids both old and young have read the infamous comic by Stan Lee. And with recent advancements in computer graphics and advanced special effects, the time has come for ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Movielocity Movie Reviews (Blake Kunisch)
PreViewed DVD
Spider-Man is a fun, lightweight way to spend a couple of hours. There's plenty of action, light romance between Peter and Mary Jane, and the nerd in me relates somewhat to Peter Parker and the adolescent fantasy of becoming a ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at PreViewed DVD
Guardian/Observer
From other Sam Raimi films... you might expect this master of horror to offer something cartoonish... In fact, he plays it pretty straight ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Guardian/Observer
Crazy for Cinema
A long and beleaguered battle to the big screen ends in a flashy action debut for one of Marvel Comics most spectacular super heroes. Being a fan of Spider-Man, it's been hard to imagine how any film maker would be able to do justice to his character and ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Crazy for Cinema
CinemaSpeak.com (Ian Golding)
So, yes, Spider-Man is a good movie. A good action movie. A good summer movie. A good popcorn movie. It's got some incredibly well done action, some very clever visuals, and a first half that's the best comic book adaptation ever. The second half of the ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at CinemaSpeak.com (Ian Golding)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
...Spider-Man is not only better than I could have reasonably hoped, but may in fact be the best licensed superhero flick I have seen, besting Batman, X-Men and dare I say it, Superman. Spider-Man under Raimi's direction is light-hearted, romantic, ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
DVDAnswers.com - region 1 review of limited edition
Itâs been a long time coming but finally the green light was given to a new Spider-Man film. The last I remember is that it was in James Cameronâs hands, but there were script problems, and Cameron said he wanted the super hero to be entirely ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at DVDAnswers.com - region 1 review of limited edition
InsidePulse.com (Robert Sutton)
Looking for a hero, audiences found one with the boy from New York City in the red long-johns, who brought hope to those who needed it. Here was a film about the people of that city rallying around a hero from their streets, who find strength and unity ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at InsidePulse.com (Robert Sutton)
Nitrate Online (Elias Savada)
Raimi, taking a cue from a line in the film, realizes that with great power comes great responsibility. He's taken a childhood treasure and spun it into a delightful, respectable classic, something of which he, and Sony Pictures, should be very proud. Do ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Nitrate Online (Elias Savada)
The Self-Made Critic
As our society reels with the controversy of whether violent television and violent video games are warping our impressionable youth, along comes a film which is destined to cause kids, all too eager to mimic whatever 'cool' things they see on the ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at The Self-Made Critic
DVDActive (Chris Gould)
Spider-Man is a good film that definitely does justice to the character, but I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I had hoped I would. I found Blade, another Marvel adaptation, more involving and entertaining than this film (although the tone of the ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at DVDActive (Chris Gould)
DVDActive (Paul Cooke)
Spider-Man did huge box office dollars (over $400 million in North America alone) and has already spawned a sequel (with a third virtually a certainty). Although the picture and the sound are great on this disc, the question remains, "Is it worth ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at DVDActive (Paul Cooke)
Tracksounds! (Steve Townsley)
Spider-Man is something of a pop-historical figure. An ongoing success in the comics industry, he has also enjoyed a multi-media existence in animated and live-action programming, as well as the occasional computer game. Granted, he doesnât have the ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Tracksounds! (Steve Townsley)
Harvey's Movie Review (Harvey O'Brien)
Spider-Man is two-thirds a terrific movie. It is not Bergman, or Shakespeare, or even Donner or Singer, but as popcorn-munching summer fare goes, the film has the guts of a solid little script and some tremendous action set pieces which generate genuine ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Harvey's Movie Review (Harvey O'Brien)
Jigsaw Lounge (Neil Young)
But thereâs also perhaps yet another level at work â the film ends Parker rhetorically asking and answering âWho am I? Iâm Spider-Man.â In the trailers, Maguire says the line as an exhilarated boast. But in the movie, Parker, now aware of that ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Jigsaw Lounge (Neil Young)
Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
Spider-Man is the ultimate comic book movie that not only looks like it came from the comics, but adds in the sounds and some dialogue. From the opening credits to the last shot, you could see it in an issue of "Spider-Man". Like X-Men, the film is ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
What follows is typical of the superhero genre film, as Dafoe's Osborn turns villainous by experimenting on himself with some kind of superhuman concoction. He dons a plastic suit and climbs aboard a strange one-man jet-glider, then is nicknamed the ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Entertainment Ave! - The Movie Theater
Cinema Blend
Spider-Man stars Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, High School student, nerd, and all around class whipping boy. Until⦠on a field trip to the prestigious Columbia University research center, Parker is accidentally bitten by a genetically altered âsuper ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Cinema Blend
Cinema Blend
I guess since Iâm supposed to be some sort of film critic that I ought to at least attempt to be objective when writing a review. That likely means I should take a few steps back and tear Spider-Man apart one piece at a time, until the wall-crawler has ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Cinema Blend
Orlando Sentinel (Jay Boyar)
A yarn that respects the Marvel version without becoming ensnared by it. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Jay Boyar)
Empire Magazine (--)
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
A cool comic-book movie with enough thrills for any kid and a haunting emotional depth missing in such predecessors as X-Men or any of the Batman films. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
Showbizz.net (Nicolas Lacroix)
Sam Raimi a réussi un tour de force: l'adaptation de bande dessinée la plus fidèle à voir le jour au grand écran. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Showbizz.net (Nicolas Lacroix)
Matt Dalton (--)
Jam! Movies (Bruce Kirkland)
My spider sense says Spider-Man will be a deserving blockbuster hit. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Jam! Movies (Bruce Kirkland)
Moose Hole (Joseph Kastner)
Spider-Man manages to spin a web that is able to capture many integral story elements in an amazingly beautiful pattern that doesnt out do itself. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Moose Hole (Joseph Kastner)
Reno News and Review (Bob Grimm)
Putting a comic book geek in charge of your Marvel franchise proves to be a very good thing. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Reno News and Review (Bob Grimm)
ESpy.CA (Rob Vellone)
Toronto Star (Peter Howell)
A blockbuster with a heart and a brain. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Toronto Star (Peter Howell)
This is Lancashire (--)
Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
DVDTalk.com (Loren Halek)
Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
This may not be the best four-color adventure ever lensed, but it's the most affectionate and faithful to its source. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
Movie Marshal (Paul Boschen)
Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
A wonderful surprise a superhero action movie almost everyone can enjoy. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)
Projectionist (Sean Caszatt)
Empire Movies (Brendan Cullin)
Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)
A whiz-bang, action-packed fantasy with a genuine love story at its core. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland (John Urbancich)
They don't make action-adventure movies better than the often spectacular "Spider-Man," the most exciting film re-creation of a superhero since Christopher Reeve donned a red cape and blue tights in "Superman." ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Sun Newspapers of Cleveland (John Urbancich)
Dark Horizons (Garth Franklin)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Raimi gives this unapologetic fluff a mind, a heart and a keen sense of fun. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
With disarmingly entertaining movies like this, dare I say, who needs big bad superhero ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Spider-Man, while hardly immune to these vices, is, like Mr. Maguire, disarmingly likable, and touching in unexpected ways. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
had taken off work a bit early that day to go see Spider-Man around 11 AM. The line was around the corner and I thought that this might indicate something. Six weeks and $400 million dollars later, it seems that I was right. Spider-Man has finally ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
UTK Daily Beacon (Glenn LaFollette)
The Hot Button (David Poland)
Spider-Man was a lot better than I expected and it has gotten better over time as I have reflected on it in the process of writing this review. There are a lot of flaws, make no mistake. The film takes almost half of its running time to really start ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at The Hot Button (David Poland)
Moovees.com (Jay Tierney)
Spider-Man is not a bad movie by any means, but still a serious letdown. At least now that the roots of the character have been established, a second film will have the potential to surpass this first one. None-the-less, dedicated fans who have been ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Moovees.com (Jay Tierney)
artechock (Andre Grzeszyk; Karsten Hertrich)
Jetzt kommt er also endlich in die Kinos: SPIDER-MAN. Die Starttermine hatten sich immer weiter nach hinten verschoben wegen dieser einen Szene. Sam Raimis Comic-Realverfilmung war schon fertig geschnitten, stand im Internet bereits zum download bereit, ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at artechock (Andre Grzeszyk; Karsten Hertrich)
Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
With centrifugal force on his side, Spider-Man dips, weaves, and whooshes past, up, and around the camera -- it's a rush, and it plasters a grin on your face even after you've left the theatre. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
Washington Post (Desson Howe)
Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)
'Spider-Man' Jumps Off the Page, Lands on the Big Screen and Makes It ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)
Cinematic Group X
Apollo Guide (Jon Lap)
An accomplishment of co-belligerence. That is to say, the unnatural alliance of pyrotechnics and honest emotional catharsis team up to create quality entertainment... Alas, its an entertainment that is not complete in its uprising. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Apollo Guide (Jon Lap)
Reel Criticism - Honest Reviews!
Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews (Harry Knowles)
I've been terrified of SPIDER-MAN. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever been more afraid of a film in my entire life. The first geek thing that I latched on to was SPIDER-MAN. It was my nursemaid. It was my gateway to Hulk which took me to Gorgo ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews (Harry Knowles)
CountingDown.com review (Larry Carroll)
In the days that followed, friends were priming me for information on the movie they were dying to see. The weird thing is, I repeatedly caught myself subconsciously putting a positive spin on things. "When his Spidey-sense goes off," I'd say, "they have ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at CountingDown.com review (Larry Carroll)
Digital Monkey Box
Films based on comics, more specifically superhero films, had become a bit of a pit of stinking money losing hell for film studios after the success of films like Superman and Batman had worn off. Things changed when X-Men paved the way for a successful ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Digital Monkey Box
MovieWeb (Stephen "Kerouac" Lindsay)
What we're given in terms of story is mostly origin. How Peter got his powers, how he comes to discover them, the process of learning how to use them, etc., etc. Most comic book films blow through the origin at mach 3 so they can get to the action. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at MovieWeb (Stephen "Kerouac" Lindsay)
hip online
If you donât know the Spider-man plot, welcome to America. Have a complementary action figure. Nerdy teen, Peter Parker (Maguire), is bit by a mutated spider during a class field trip and turns into a web-slinging acrobatic superhero. Elsewhere in a ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at hip online
7M Pictures (Chris Alexis)
Before I begin this review I will admit full out that I am a huge Spider-Man fan. Some of my earliest memories are of watching the live action series, âThe Amazing Spider-Manâ with Nicholas Hammond as Spidey. Iâm also an avid reader of the comics, ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at 7M Pictures (Chris Alexis)
TheWorldJournal.com (Gino Pagliuca)
Basically there is some nostalgia involved when seeing a comic hero I read, drew, and role played in my early years growing up, finally make it onto the big screen. Itâs larger than life itself. The medium of film has perfectly evolved to make a ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at TheWorldJournal.com (Gino Pagliuca)
Entertainmentopia: We Are Entertainment
I came into this expecting gold, but I thought that nothing could have lived up to my expectations of this film. I love being proved wrong. What worked really well on screen was the feeling of being inside of the comic book. Director Sam Raimi did a ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Entertainmentopia: We Are Entertainment
Techtite's DVD & Movie Reviews
Kudos should definitely be given to Sam Raimi, whose directing effort here is perfectly handled. A less seasoned director would either have truncated the action to a mere few days' time, or gone too far forward/back in Spider-Man's life. In this film, we ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Techtite's DVD & Movie Reviews
Juicy Cerebellum (Alex Sandell)
I'm tired of feeling compelled to like a movie because it "looks cool." Spider-Man does not "look cool," no matter how many times the corporate television shows tell you that it does. It could have been the best time at the theater in ages. The ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Juicy Cerebellum (Alex Sandell)
JoBlo's Movie Emporium reviews
IndependentCritics.com (TC Candler)
Going in, we all know that this film is going to follow the standard formulaic clichés of the superhero genre. There are set rules for this type of film and we are aware that no major Hollywood studio is going to even bend them, let alone redefine them. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at IndependentCritics.com (TC Candler)
The Digital Bits
On the story side, what Raimi and company did was make a film that essentially told the origin story of Spider-Man, as well as brought in the epic story flux enough so that people weren't too bored with the "coming of age-itis"... although I do think ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at The Digital Bits
DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")
I think Spider-Man could have been an awesome movie, but this was little more than a flat out disappointment. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")
Pixelsurgeon
Maybe it worked after all. Weâll see a lot of blockbusters this summer, but I suspect there will be few as charming and endearing as ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Pixelsurgeon
THE WEEKLY MOVIE REVIEW
Of the film, I had some preconceived notions (from loving the comic book), but none were enough to affect my view if changes were made. In fact, I had few expectations at all, except the same hope that I have with every film - that Iâm going to enjoy ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at THE WEEKLY MOVIE REVIEW
JackassCritics.com (Grim Ringler)
And rock it does, there is a good reason this thing made all the money it did. Smart, funny, and a hell of a great action film, this is how all comic book characters deserve to be treated â with care but also with a sense of fun. A great movie and a ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at JackassCritics.com (Grim Ringler)
Deranged Video Dude (Robert Wurth)
Yes , Spider-man has flaws, but anything approached with an intent to have fun is bound to fall shy of perfect. The choice is whether to nitpick it to death, or give in to the spirit in which it's intended and simply enjoy the ride. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Deranged Video Dude (Robert Wurth)
Plume Noire
Sam Raimi's Spider-man is a surprisingly self-restrained work whose charming and quiet self-mocking narrative sometimes bursts into pure adrenaline. A perfect way to symbolize Peter Parker's character, the real hero of this film. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Plume Noire
DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)
Student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who, after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider, gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. He vows to use his abilities to fight crime, coming to understand the words of ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)
Wolfpack Productions (Sujit 'Chief' Chawla)
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is a typical nerd, geek, whatever you want to call him. He's picked on by others, has a brilliant science mind and is in love with literally the girl next door, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). One day while on a field trip, ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Wolfpack Productions (Sujit 'Chief' Chawla)
ninth symphony films
The special effects really do take priority over the other elements in this film. It seemed to be a conscious effort on the part of the filmmakers to push the story and the acting to the back burner. Like they felt that the audience would be overwhelmed ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at ninth symphony films
Filmdog - (Mike Fisher)
I don't like superhero movies. I was never into comic books. I'm not a big fan of big-budget Hollywood action flicks. Imagine my surprise when Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" turned out to be okay. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Filmdog - (Mike Fisher)
LeisureSuit Media
I don't have a lot to say about this new big-budget Spider-Man movie. In general I liked it -- good comedy, good human drama, okay action although I reckon director Sam Raimi could have employed a few more stunt men and had a few fewer CGI cartoons ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at LeisureSuit Media
Chicago Tribune (Mark Caro)
The Spider-Man saga is a classic for a reason, and the filmmakers don't squander the material's strengths. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Chicago Tribune (Mark Caro)
Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)
Snack Bar (Adam J. Hakari)
Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
Toronto Life (--)
Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
What distinguishes Spider-Man from most other comic book movies is that the film is at its most engaging when its hero is out of costume. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
It's got one of the best kisses in movie history: Spidey, hanging upside down, delivers an open-mouth smooch to Mary Jane, a lip-lock for the ages. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
Urban Tulsa Weekly (Cory Cheney)
"Spider-man is better than any summer blockbuster we had to endure last summer, and hopefully, sets the tone for a summer of good stuff. If youre a comic fan, you cant miss it. If youre not, youll still have a good time." ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Urban Tulsa Weekly (Cory Cheney)
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Liam Lacey)
There's a particular upside-down, half-masked kiss that instantly becomes one of movie history's more memorable smooches. It's the kiss to send any teenaged boy on a spinning high, as well as launching the new age of arachnophilia. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Liam Lacey)
Boston Globe (Sam Allis)
Raimi crafted a complicated hero who is a welcome relief from the usual two-dimensional offerings. That said, we could use some moxie in the sequel. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Boston Globe (Sam Allis)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
This is a pure popcorn movie -- the kind of film one can unabashedly enjoy for what it is. There's plenty of visual flash and dizzying action, but not at the expense of the other qualities that make for a complete motion picture experience. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
When the cast and their director are really cooking, they conjure a bipolar sense of high school-age emotion -- and use it to fuel outrageous fantasy. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
Film Freak Central (Walter Chaw)
Spider-Man is about growing strange hairs, getting a more mature body, and finding it necessary to hide new secretions from the parental units. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Film Freak Central (Walter Chaw)
sbs.is (Stefan Birgir Stefansson)
New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)
Surprisingly charming and even witty match for the best of Hollywood's comic-book adaptations. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)
David N. Butterworth
These early scenes are extremely well done, as Peterlike the audienceis first frustrated, then amused, then excited by his new found skills. This is when we get the first sense that `SpiderMan' (the movie) doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's all ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at David N. Butterworth
Hollywood.com (--)
Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
When we line up to see summer "family fare films" based upon comic book characters, our expectations tend to be low. An interesting film that adults will enjoy¾probably not. "Spider Man" is a pleasant surprise; the acting, special effects and the plot ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
A thoroughly enjoyable, popcorn-injesting, CGI-enhanced, movie-going experience. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
As success stories go, you canât get one any more protracted than that surrounding the making of Spider-Man. Maybe the most anticipated film of the year â and thatâs saying something what with installments of Star Wars, Harry Potter and The Lord of ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at MovieFreak.com (Sara M. Fetters)
The Self-Made Critic
Harvey S. Karten
Choosing wisely, Raimi has put Tobey Maguire in the title role. Maguire, so good in roles of a smart young guy who is nonetheless deferential to those who are older ("Wonder Boys," "Cider House Rules"), is an orphan being raised in a lower middleclass ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Harvey S. Karten
Steve Rhodes
Eventually Peter gets the knack of how to throw a web on command and other such spidery skills. A tragedy causes him to dedicate his life to battling the forces of evil in the world. After helping stop normal criminals, he finds his match in a creature ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Steve Rhodes
Bob Bloom
It careens along at a pace that crams in all the important components of the SpiderMan mythos.The question on the minds of most fans of the comic hero deals with the performance of Tobey Maguire, whose transformation from the nerdy Peter Parker to the ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Bob Bloom
Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
Good show, Spidey: We knew you had it in you. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
Sam Raimi has set the bar unusually high for the rest of the summer film season with this exciting and exhilarating adventure. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Todd Anthony)
In this age of soulless, FX-driven action franchises Raimi anachronistically emphasizes character development. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Todd Anthony)
Lee's Movie Info (Craig Younkin)
TheWorldJournal.com (Giancarlo De Lisi)
Without giving too much away, Raimi is on the ball as he delivers a fun, entertaining and satisfying âSpider-Manâ film that will have them in droves at your multiplex. On a final note, make sure to stick around for the end credits as true Spidey Fans ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at TheWorldJournal.com (Giancarlo De Lisi)
CountingDown.com (Larry Carroll)
Spider-Man is in the same category as X-Men - occasionally brilliant but mostly average, showing signs of potential for the sequels, but not giving us much this time around. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at CountingDown.com (Larry Carroll)
Kansas City Star (Robert W. Butler)
It's still a comic book, but Maguire makes it a comic book with soul. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Kansas City Star (Robert W. Butler)
Detroit News (Susan Stark)
Exciting as it is tender and romantic, Raimi's Spider-Man looks like a movie that will please not only the Spider-Man converted but also the viewer who just wanders in. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Detroit News (Susan Stark)
Fresno Bee (Donald Munro)
It's a solid addition to the comic-book-movie genre. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Fresno Bee (Donald Munro)
Decent Films Guide - faith on film
From its breathless, cartoony title sequence, with the letters of cast membersâ names stuck like flies in a vast spiderweb, Spider-Man makes its intentions crystal clear: This is one wide-eyed comic-book movie that revels in its pulp ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Decent Films Guide - faith on film
Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
Director Sam Raimi gives Marvel Comics' wall-crawling hero the cinematic treatment he has always deserved. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
watchingmovies.com (Rob McKinnon)
Maguire has created a persona that fits the average comic book hero fan perfectly. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at watchingmovies.com (Rob McKinnon)
Reno Gazette-Journal (Forrest Hartman)
Sam Raimi has created a picture so likable and true to the Marvel comic book that comparisons with the first Superman movie are inevitable. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Reno Gazette-Journal (Forrest Hartman)
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
It's good fun that engages our heart. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
The Film Asylum
Whilst on a school trip, geek schoolboy Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider. The next morning he awakes and begins to discover that he has new powers, the ability to scale walls, sense danger and spin webs. Initially Peter uses his powers to ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at The Film Asylum
Movierapture (Keith Allen)
Whatever Spider-Man's appeal, it never rises above the ordinary. The story is formulaic. Its characters, though likeable, are unmemorable, and, visually, the film is never realized with any great sensitivity. The movie is a fun but undistinguished work. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Movierapture (Keith Allen)
Moviegnome.com
Sappy and overrated, this faithful comic book adaptation isn't all bad. Never minding the awkward moments, it maintains a certain charm that keeps it entertaining at the very least. It also features a driving Danny Elfman score. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Moviegnome.com
Boston Globe (Sam Allis)
Raimi crafted a complicated hero who is a welcome relief from the usual two-dimensional offerings. ...read the complete Spider-Man movie review at Boston Globe (Sam Allis)