Can Spider-Man come out to play?

Spider-man

(2002)

Willem Dafoe owns this film, and is probably its most underrated element, even if his Goblin suit is crap – I especially love the Thanksgiving scene.

I also like the way Raimi constantly undercuts the sentiment by presenting Parker as a goofball or having the shit kicked out of him a la Bruce Campbell.

It's interesting that Nolan lifts several elements from here for the The Dark Knight finale; the hero has to make a choice as to who he'll save, and the people show their mettle in the face of the villain (admittedly its cheesy as hell here, but also not painfully drawn out like it is in TDK).

***1/2

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Now In Full Color, with a Happier Ending

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