Webheaded Rambles

Hello. For January's 2nd blog post, I'm writing about another one of my favourite movies (similarly to the film I analyzed earlier in the month, it has a redheaded, blue-eyed actor from Wisconsin). Luckily, it happens to be superhero film.

The film of this post is Spider-Man. 'Twas Sam Raimi's 2002 gamechanger. As a child, this beguiled me. As an adult, I'll relentlessly defend it.

Production value-wise, it's marvelful. The opening-titles are rather nifty. Sam implemented The Oldsmobile. There's NYC location-footage and affective sets! They're blended. The cinematography resembles moving comic panels. I admire the stunt work and fight choreo--It's admirable how Spider-Man's aerially acrobatic and the Green Goblin's ruthlessly agile (mazel tov to Willem Dafoe for accomplishing a massive conglomerate of his stunts).

Overall, the fim's skillfully costumed! They translated Spidey's costume to celluloid and I've actually obtained a liking for the Green Goblin's outfit (it coulda been crummier). I appreciate the cleverness of the costuming in the Thanksgiving scene and there's Steve Ditkoish costumes, too. Danny Elfman's score is heightening! The conducting, arrangements, musicians and choir singers elevate it. Though there's outdated CGI, there are effectual effects.

Regarding the cast, this film's efficiently acted. There's cameos by Jesse Heiman, Octavia Spencer, Sara Ramirez, Lucy Lawless, Nicholas Hammond, Stan Lee and Bruce Campbell (I wish Campbell eventually evolved into Quentin Beck). Ted Raimi is a hysterical Daily Bugle scapegoat. The film naturally has an assortment of the comic's characters. Though I'm dismayed by Flash Thompson's underdevelopment, Joe Manganiello acts adequately. Ron Perkins, Randy Savage and Michael Papajohn deftly inhabit origin roles. Bill Nunn and Elizabeth Banks are comic-accurate as Robbie Robertson and Betty Brant.

Toby Maguire's a relatable, untraditionally heroic leading man. Toby believably conveys Peter Parker's personality. Maguire, a Spidey novice, runs an emotional gamut with Peter's character arc! His Spider-Man is quippy, steadfast, resilient and selfless. In this film, I empathize with Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane Watson. Dunst implemented girl-next-door qualities and likeability into MJ. Kirsten's a majorly sublime leading lady. The venerable J.K. Simmons is thoroughly impeccable as J. Jonah Jameson. He is estimable as an uproariously cantankerous boor. However, via the writers and Simmons, Jonah's a man of standards. Cliff Robertson and Rosemary Harris are magnificent as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Robertson's an earnest, fatherly mentor, Harris is a warmhearted, nurturing maternal figure. They're an affectual onscreen couple. The role lobbying Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin is definitely one of favourite movie antagonists. Willem's Norman Osborn is a multifaceted portrayal of a comic character! He conveyed Norman's downward spiral and persona flip-flopping. Dafoe's unrelenting, calculating Goblin is engagingly psychopathic.

The informative screenplay's reminiscent of combined comic issues. It reinterprets events from issues of vitality. It has efficient bookend narration. Peter gradually evolves into Spidey. Simultaneously, Norman descends into being Gobby. The film spotlights requisite characters. It's monogamous in terms of primary antagonism. I appreciate the shortness of the running-time. There's exposition and foreshadowing. The movie's aceful at montaging and transitions. I extend a shoutout to the grittiness and brutality of the climax.

As a director, Sam Raimi was so inimitable. I laud Sam's scopeful direction. His fondness for the webhead is evident. Sam's enthusiasm elevated the film. Laura Ziskin and Ian Bryce produced the film aptly. It contains acute darkness, dramatics and corniness that engages. It's humorous, romantic and pathosed, too. The film manages to beguile me in 2021.

By the way: I dedicate this to the pandemic thwarting heroes