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M ay ô , 2002
‘Spider-Man’ spins a web of excellence
SHADRA BEESLEY
Staff Writer
From the moment Peter Parker
was bitten by a genetically
enhanced spider until the ending
credi my eyes and my
thou[ 'its were glued to “Spider-
Man.’ I felt like a child, wide-
eyed, sitting on the edge of my
seat, thrown from tender sadness
to humor to excitement.
“Spider-Man” is impossible to
categorize by normal stan
dards—it is romance, action,
comedy, sci-fi and suspense.
Only a true superhero has the
power to make so many ele
ments work in harmony.
In many instances the movie
strays from Stan Lee and Steve
Ditko’s original creation, but I
think the live-action web-sling
ing and building climbing more
than make up for it.
One of the best changes is
Spider-Man’s web-slingers are a
natural ability instead of man
made web cartridges. This alter
ation makes his character more
believable (what high-school
student could really make a
steel-strength chemical web
solution?) and adds humor as he
attempts to figure out how to
use his new attribute.
Tobey Maguire was the ideal
choice for the role of a web
slinging schoolboy. I can’t
imagine anyone else mastering
this unlikely hero role the way
he did. His boyish looks and
geeky mannerisms made Peter
Parker as I’ve always imagined
him. Maguire transforms from
a nerdy outcast being picked on
at school to a misunderstood
hero who is bullied by the
media. He plays a very com
plex character with flawless
transitions and impressive sin
cerity.
When I heard Kirsten Dunst
was taking on the role of Mary
Jane, I doubted she’d be able to
pull it off, but I was pleasantly
surprised with her performance.
The comic book Mary Jane is a
supermodel, but the writers
wisely changed her character to
the girl next door. Dunst’s
enthusiastic depiction of Spider-
Man’s true love is believable
and consistent. She accurately
displays the turmoil of a teenage
girl, from angst caused by her
disturbing home life to her
childish crush on a super hero.
Willem Dafoe’s sadistic grin
gives life to the Green Goblin. I
love the fact that he is both head
of a large corporation and an
evil super villain. Dafoe has
once again proven his wor
thiness to play the lead bad
guy. He impressively plays
the pathetic victim of insanity
and the bloodthirsty, revenge
seeking Goblin, often at the
same time.
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Hospitality SyMaw
The award for best perform
ance in a minor role goes to J.K.
Simmons for his portrayal of J.
Jonah Jameson, the owner of
The Daily Bugle. Parker meets
Jameson while searching for a
job. From the moment I saw
Simmons’s beady eyes peering
at me over the stub of a cigar, I
read “slimeball” all over him.
His voice, his look, and his body
language embody the perfect
destroyer of Spider-Man’s public
image.
Yet somewhere along the line,
the truth slips out he’s not all
bad. It is Jameson who creates
controversy surrounding Spider-
Man’s reputation, and it is he
who helps Peter Parker when
he’s searching for work.
The acting is well matched by
other artistry. Danny Elfman’s
dramatic strains of stringed
instruments perfectly comple
ment Spider-Man as he soars
through the air dangling from a
silk thread. Amazingly life
like special effects and com
puter animation turn impossible
events into reality.
‘Spider-Man” is a roller coaster of
heartbreak, comedy, action, fantasy
and real life that left me wanting
more. I give “Spider-Man” four
stars, a 10, and two thumbs up.
To reach Shadra Beesley, e-
mailherat
shadrab@hotmail.com or drop
by B-104.
Internet Photo
Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) keeps an eye on the chaos of
the city below as people gather at theaters to keep an eye
on him. The movie smashed all box office records its first
weekend, grossing over $100 million.
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