The 'Spider-Man' movie has grossed over US$285 million at the box office since its opening in the United States three weeks ago. 'Spider-Man' opens today at Palace Amusement theatres islandwide. - Reuters
SPIDER- MAN the hero of the popular comic book of the same name is now a blockbuster movie and from early indications as well as reports in the current edition of TIME magazine, will break box office records.
It has so far surpassed all
previous weekend earnings in American theatres after it opened. However, that is to be expected in a largely hype
driven society. This is not the kind of movie that leaves a lasting impression with me
but it will no doubt find
favour with lovers of the action hero genre.
Spider-Man will also be interesting to those who like the world of fantasy, and one thing is certain, viewers will not fall asleep for its duration. The movie carries a PG13 rating but since Jamaicans usually ignore this warning and take under-age children to such movies, please caution them about trying the stunts. Exiting the theatre after the viewing, I noticed a child who could be around age six, attempting to move like Spider-Man, falling and hurting his wrist - right in front of his mother!
Plot: Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), is orphaned and lives with his aunt and uncle in Queens, New York, the setting for the movie. An aspiring photographer, he's an average teen who is branded the class nerd. On a field trip, his class is in the middle of a demonstration on arachnids when Peter is bitten by one of the lab's genetically altered spiders. At first he becomes ill but he wakes up to realise he suddenly has 10 times the strength he had before as well as a sharp telepathic 'spider sense'.
Soon after gaining his abnormal capabilities, Peter uses his powers to make money, but tragedy strikes close to home, forcing him to use them to fight crime. All the time, he's guided by the words of his uncle, "with
great power comes great responsibility."
His double life is soon put to the test when his best friend's dad, Norman Osbourne (Willem Dafoe), consumes an experimental formula to prove his funding partners wrong, and is transformed into the super-intelligent but insane Green Goblin - Spider-Man's biggest enemy. As Spider-Man battles criminals, the Green Goblin is always one step ahead to foil his actions.
Of course, every action hero has a beautiful damsel who seems always unattainable; for Peter Parker, it's the 'angel' of his childhood dreams and next-door neighbour , Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Both share something special but Peter always seems just too shy or too clumsy to make her know his heart.
To see how things work for the characters in Spider-Man, you have to make the trip to the Palace Amusement cinemas island-wide where it is now playing.
Outstanding Performances: Many who have become accustomed to muscled, giant-like action heroes do not like the choice of Maguire for the lead role in this movie. Perhaps they're right, but once he dons the costume, the transformation is of this gentle soul into a larger-than-life hero is complete. These plot lines are much too far-fetched for my taste but I suspended my disbelief for the movie's duration.
Willem Dafoe gets my vote for outstanding performer in Spider-Man, delivering a credible portrayal of the evil, twisted person we can't help hating. Of course, the use of some advanced special and visual effects, particularly in the web spinning scenes, adds much to the spectacle of the movie.
The Spider-Man costume is already a big hit and sure to be among the choices for Halloween celebrations later this year; other costumes and masks were also interesting.
- Barbara Ellington
Movie: Spider-Man
Director: Sam Raimi
Genre: Action Adventure
Main Cast: Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kristen Dunst, James Franco and Cliff Robertson.
