Triple bill featuring the first three movies from the hugely popular ‘Spider-Man’ franchise. In ‘Spider-Man’ (2002) high school student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a genetically-altered spider while on a visit to a scientific institute, and he soon begins to experience unusual side effects such as increased strength, enhanced wall-climbing skills and the ability to spin webs out of his wrists. Peter first attempts to make use of these skills to impress girl-next-door Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), but after his Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) is killed in an armed robbery, he is compelled to work for the greater good and reinvents himself as Spider-Man, the enemy of criminals everywhere. Meanwhile, arms manufacturer Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) transforms himself into the Green Goblin, begins to terrorise the city, and lays down the gauntlet to Spider-Man by abducting his beloved Mary Jane. In ‘Spider-Man 2’ (2004) two years have passed since the events of the first film, and the mild-mannered Peter Parker faces new challenges as he struggles with trying to balance his dual identities as the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man and his life as a college student. Tormented by his secrets, Peter finds that his relationships with all those he holds dear are in danger of unravelling. His life-long yearning for Mary Jane becomes even stronger as he fights the impulse to reveal his secret life and declare his love. His friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) is complicated by the young Osborn’s bitterness over his father’s death and his growing vendetta against Spider-Man. In ‘Spider-Man 3’ (2007) Peter Parker and Mary Jane are on the cusp of contentment – but not for long, as Peter’s former friend Harry Osborn, son of the Green Goblin, becomes the New Goblin in his desire for revenge against Spider-Man. Fugitive Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), killer of Peter’s Uncle Ben, has been transformed into the shape-shifting Sandman, possibly Spider-Man’s toughest foe so far. To complicate matters further, a parasitic alien symbiote has attached itself to Peter’s suit, giving him even greater powers but also bringing out the evil side of his personality. He has to struggle not only against two major adversaries but also against himself.
The first Spider-man introduces us to Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), and covers the genesis of the infamous superhero. Set against Willem Dafoes Green Goblin, its a deft, impressive and entertaining blockbuster, albeit one that takes a little longer than youd like to get motoring.
Spider-man 2 is the business, though. This is the one with Alfred Molinas stunning Doctor Octopus, although he has to share the screen with the title character contending with his dual life, and the effect on his relationship with Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst). It could have gone wrong, but its so tightly put together that its one of the very best blockbusters of recent times.
Spider-man 3, inevitably, cant quite match the standard set, but you cant fault it for ambitious. Mixing in Topher Grace as Venom, Thomas Haden Church as Sandman and James Franco as the new Green Goblin, its a lot to fit into one film, and thats what bogs things down. However, when it does hit its stride, Spider-man 3 is a rip-roaring ride in its own right. –Jon Foster
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.