Spider-Man

This movie is very nostalgic for me. I’ve lost count of how many times I watched it growing up. It has held up well over time. There are aspects that could have been better such as the acting from background characters, a few lines of dialogue, or even the effects, but none of these hinder the movie very much. The editing was actually one of my favorite parts. It made the transitions between different chapters of the story feel natural. The scoring was also amazing. Danny Elfman nailed it. I would first like to acknowledge the performances of both Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe. Maguire perfectly portrayed the awkwardness and sincerity of a young Peter Parker trying to find his way. Dafoe’s goblin will always be one of my favorite supervillain performances on the silver screen. We all know the origin story, but Raimi exquisitely captured the key emotional growth of the character. “With great power comes great responsibility” Peter gains his powers and despite having been raised well, the pressures of being a social outcast get to him. He’s been called a freak for years and barely even has the courage to talk to the girl next door, whom he loves dearly. With his newfound power he doesn’t set out to hurt anyone else, but he only thinks about how he can help himself. By fate, his negligence causes the death of Uncle Ben. Yes, he first seeks revenge, but he quickly learns that isn’t the path. His actions will always have consequences, even if he isn’t the one to feel them. It also teaches another valuable lesson. One of his biggest regrets was how he treated his uncle in their last conversation. You never know when it will be the last time you see someone. By the end of the movie, he has accepted his fate and truly become the responsible man Ben always wanted him to be.