The actors in this film series are quite well cast. Andrew Garfield is a good Peter Parker, Emma Stone a good Gwen Stacy and Dane DeHaan a good Harry Osborn. They’re all a little on the light side weight wise in my opinion. LIke they’re all from some kind of thin universe, which works well for DeHaan as the Green Goblin, but I think some characters are suited to have a bit more meat on their bones.
It’s crazy that this film is already over a decade old now, as I still see it as one of the ‘new’ Spiderman movies since the originals in my mind are those that star old Tobey Maguire. But the actor who probably came off worst in the casting is Jamie Foxx since his whole character was replaced with glowing blue CGI. I think the audience was as relieved as his character when he returned in the latest films as an actual human-looking character and not the glow stick of this flick. Fans of The Office will likely enjoy seeing BJ Novak being a bit of dick and helping guide this villain down his path of anger and despair.
The fact is that besides the thin stars and wonky villain costumes, the story of this film holds up quite well. Of course Sally Field makes a marvelous Aunt May, because she’s pretty great in anything she does. And we all know the role that Uncle Ben plays in the story of Spiderman. But the original plot device in this narrative is Peter’s father, Richard Parker. Someone relatively unknown in the previous films. And when they dust off this character they do so with intent, using him to drive the central story forward.
It’s a solid movie and stands fairly strong in the pantheon of Marvel movies. The most moving moment is undoubtedly in the climax. I always enjoyed the CGI artists playing with the shape of Spidey’s web, in the shape of a hand as it reaches for Gwen Stacey. It’s a poignant symbol of the yearning to be her hero. To save her. To reach for her. A symbol that any of us who have ever loved someone else deeply can appreciate. The ending of the climax draped in tragedy is also something those of us who have lived long enough can attest to.
But to cheer us up before the end credits roll they put Paul Giamatti in a ridiculous robotic rhino suit and give him a silly Soviet-style Russian accent. It’s worth a chuckle and brings back some of the light-heartedness of the rest of the film that gets doused out in the main story’s final moments.
All told, this Spider-Man installment manages to balance heart, spectacle, and just enough humor to keep it from feeling too heavy. It may not be perfect but its emotional core, memorable performances, and iconic moments make it a film that can still resonate with fans of the franchise. Whether you’re revisiting it for nostalgia or discovering it anew, it’s a worthwhile swing through the world of Spider-Man.
