Spider-Man

The greatest superhero origin film ever made, and I'm not even sure that the origin caveat is necessary. Raimi directs Spider-Man with comic book flair; there were several moments when I had to pause and rewind to confirm that they really put this much editing craft into a superhero movie. (I'm thinking specifically of the Green Goblin explosions to graduation transition, but a few scenes are just as good). But Peter Parker himself is played with aching realness. He makes clear early in the movie what he wants: he wants a job in the city and he wants the girl. He gets neither (freelancing and friendship aside), and loses his uncle and lies to his friend to boot. All he gets is a suit and the support of his aunt. Ultimately, Parker is just a working-class kid trying--and mostly failing--to keep his head above water. Who among us cannot relate? (As an aside, Spider-Man has a great depiction of New Yorkers. They're assholes and sleazebags, sure. But if you threaten to murder one of them if he doesn't rat out a kid photographer, he'll continue wise-cracking until he martyrs himself.)