Current Events > Man, Spider-Man (2002) is kinda... not great, in retrospect.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Rewatching it for the first time since middle-school cause I've been on a Spidey kick after Spiderverse.

But man... I know a lot of people like Tobey, but he's pretty awful in the first one IMO. He's just so... cringey. >_>

He and Mj's romance is dumb, his interactions with almost everyone is just painfully awkward, even as Spider-Man, the writing is honestly pretty cheesy in general. Spidey, barely quips, and when he does, they honestly aren't very good.

"It's you who's out Gobby. Out of your mind."

The only things that save this movie are Willem Dafoe and J.K. Simmons. I've just been waiting for them to come back on screen in between the lame Tobey breaks. They alone make this film worth the revisit.

Also the upside-down kiss in the rain scene is dumb. Yeah, I said it.

I do remember liking 2 a lot more even as a kid, so I think I will rewatch that next, but man. I just really don't like Tobey as Spidey in this first one. Dunst isn't a very good MJ either.

Didnt read topic

wrong

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/2/9/AABUaRAAEiqB.jpg

Its going to be an extremely unpopular opinion. But I dont think the second holds up as well either.

its still a great movie. But a lot of people call it one of if not the best super hero movie of all time.

Just wait until you rewatch 2 and realize how much of that movie's beloved reputation is based entirely on nostalgia and being the only big superhero movie at the time (other than the first couple X-Men movies, which in my opinion hold up SO MUCH better)

DrizztLink posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/2/9/AABUaRAAEiqB.jpg

I'll never not laugh at this lol

How come 2 gets a god tier YTP but 1 doesn't?

As a huge fan of the 90's cartoon, I always hated Tobey's Spidey and Kirsten's MJ. Felt like I was the lone sane man in a sea of fools, who all love their portrayals for some reason.

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone were WAY, WAY, WAAAAAY better as the leads in their movies than those two. Sadly, when it comes to the supporting casting and writers/directors, the Raimi movies are vastly superior, which leads to people thinking Tobey's SM is better than Andrew's.

lol, I forgot about the Nickelback end credit song.

Xerun posted...

Its going to be an extremely unpopular opinion. But I dont think the second holds up as well either.

its still a great movie. But a lot of people call it one of if not the best super hero movie of all time.

The second was never as good as the first. Its hilariously bad in parts and Ive never understood how people hold it in such high regard.

Glob posted...

The second was never as good as the first. Its hilariously bad in parts and Ive never understood how people hold it in such high regard.

Doc Ock was a better villain than Gollum DaFoe.

Oh no, the SUm 41 end credit song is even worse than the Nickelback song.

Lmao, at the very least this movie's a fun little time capsule for 2002 blockbusters.

DrizztLink posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/2/9/AABUaRAAEiqB.jpg

Yes, the wrestling fight scene was the best scene in the movie not containing Willem Dafoe.

Glob posted...

The second was never as good as the first. Its hilariously bad in parts and Ive never understood how people hold it in such high regard.

Like I said, nostalgia, and back in 2004 there wasn't a lot to choose from when it came to superhero movies, and most of what you did have was simply awful.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_DC_Comics_publications
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_based_on_Marvel_Comics_publications

You didn't even have the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy at that point. If Spider-Man 2 came out a few years later than it did, nobody would have given a shit about it. It was just a case of good timing.

I think 2 is the best of the original trilogy (3 has the best memes though), but I wouldn't call it the greatest or anything close. Spider-verse is way better than anything, even MCU Spider-Man.

the high school setting seems so dumb in retrospect when everyone looks like they're in their mid 20s

Spider-Man 2 is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time because it's a great movie, not just a great superhero movie.

Here's Roger Ebert's 4 out of 4 stars review: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spider-man-2-2004

Now this is what a superhero movie should be. "Spider-Man 2" believes in its story in the same way serious comic readers believe, when the adventures on the page express their own dreams and wishes. It's not camp and it's not nostalgia, it's not wall-to-wall special effects and it's not pickled in angst. It's simply and poignantly a realization that being Spider-Man is a burden that Peter Parker is not entirely willing to bear.

Finally, what a great credits song for the movie: https://youtu.be/7-4no0aMa8k

The cheesiness is part of the charm.

IceCreamOnStero posted...

The cheesiness is part of the charm.

I think cheesy sells the Raimi trilogy short. These movies were incredibly sincere with a clear style and direction from Raimi. These movies are only as cheesy as most comic books are cheesy from their premise.

I think the MCU has spent an enormous amount of effort developing ironic distance from its own content through their writing, dialogue and direction. And from that, modern superhero movies are always needing to be "in on the joke", with the joke being comic books. Therefore it's easy to look back on movies like the Raimi films and feel they're "cheesy" for not apologizing for what they are.

It took until Endgame for a superhero movie fight more spectacular than the clock tower and train Doc Ock fight.

The punches connect satisfyingly, the soundtrack is fittingly epic, the special effects still hold well, the editing is superb, and the cinematography is the icing on the cake.

Spidey has to use the webbing to catch and throw the clock hands right at Doc because he can't hold back with a villain that dangerous. That takes more than a superficial understanding of what makes Spider-Man well.....amazing.

The SILENCE while they grapple falling in midair is a masterwork of establishing appropriate mood and gravitas.

It was the first time since Batman 1989 that a movie really understood how to make a comic book adaptation. I can't explain it better than that.

https://youtu.be/GkzEXTMK5Hs

JKwaffle posted...

Rewatching it for the first time since middle-school cause I've been on a Spidey kick after Spiderverse.

But man... I know a lot of people like Tobey, but he's pretty awful in the first one IMO. He's just so... cringey. >_>

He and Mj's romance is dumb, his interactions with almost everyone is just painfully awkward, even as Spider-Man, the writing is honestly pretty cheesy in general. Spidey, barely quips, and when he does, they honestly aren't very good.

"It's you who's out Gobby. Out of your mind."

The only things that save this movie are Willem Dafoe and J.K. Simmons. I've just been waiting for them to come back on screen in between the lame Tobey breaks. They alone make this film worth the revisit.

Also the upside-down kiss in the rain scene is dumb. Yeah, I said it.

Most of what you've said is basically the point of the movie... It was intentionally done. Peter was a cringey, awkward high school nerd. Then the powers gave him confidence overtime. That was like, the first plot arc lol.

Spider-Man's lines were cheesy? Well, it's Spider-Man lmao. He's always cheesy.

008Zulu posted...

Doc Ock was a better villain than Gollum DaFoe.

I disagree.

I thought Doc Ock was more contrived and ridiculous. But hey, we all like different things.

Doe posted...

I think cheesy sells the Raimi trilogy short. These movies were incredibly sincere with a clear style and direction from Raimi. These movies are only as cheesy as most comic books are cheesy from their premise.

I think the MCU has spent an enormous amount of effort developing ironic distance from its own content through their writing, dialogue and direction. And from that, modern superhero movies are always needing to be "in on the joke", with the joke being comic books. Therefore it's easy to look back on movies like the Raimi films and feel they're "cheesy" for not apologizing for what they are.

Yeah, I should've elaborated, but I didn't mean cheesy as a criticism. I'm aware its by design.

The Raimi films are the most honest comic book movies around. They're not movies based on a comic, they're comics turned into movies

Vindicated
I am selfish I am wrong
am I right? I swear Im right
swear I knew it all along

Comic book movies are...cheesy???
wtf

Anyways, dunno how anyone can watch Spiderverse with that kinda FPS.

IceCreamOnStero posted...

they're comics turned into movies

Easily the best way to describe the Raimi Trilogy

Still better than Spider-Man 2, which, while still a good movie, is suuuuper overrated.

rexcrk posted...

Still better than Spider-Man 2, which, while still a good movie, is suuuuper overrated.

So when you say overrated you mean other people like it more than you

I never really got into the 2000s Spiderman movies, like they were fine but I always found Peter Parker pretty annoying

For a while I thought I just disliked Spiderman, since I was not really a fan of the Spiderman cartoons I saw either. But that was proven wrong when I started reading the comics, and saw Homecoming. Spiderman is actually awesome and it was just the movies were not good

Idk, 2002 Spider-Man has a hokey and awkward charm that makes it a very fun watch.

If anything, I feel like Spider-Man 2 is the one that tends to get overrated. It definitely benefited from being the best superhero movie out at the time (and the only good one besides X2)

I never realized how much MJ screams in these movies until recently.

Tobey is the only Peter Parker that actually feels like how an awkward person actually is. Every other Peter feels like what a person thinks an awkward person is and it's more quirky than awkward. He's the most authentic of the bunch.

And as mentioned, I liked that the original trilogy didn't feel the need to feel ashamed of its source material.

Phantom_Nook posted...

I never realized how much MJ screams in these movies until recently.

I noticed this too on my last rewatch, it's pretty hilarious once you can't stop noticing it

PiOverlord posted...

Tobey is the only Peter Parker that actually feels like how an awkward person actually is. Every other Peter feels like what a person thinks an awkward person is and it's more quirky than awkward. He's the most authentic of the bunch.

And as mentioned, I liked that the original trilogy didn't feel the need to feel ashamed of its source material.

Do the other spiderman movies give you that vibe? I don't pick up on that at all.

R.I.P. Man kinda not great Spider shot up to 2002 retrospects

codey posted...

Do the other spiderman movies give you that vibe? I don't pick up on that at all.

Eh, not really, so I won't hold that against the new movies.

I did like the unique editing of the original though.

Phantom_Nook posted...

I never realized how much MJ screams in these movies until recently.

I was going to make this post 20 posts earlier but forgot about this topic until just now.

MJ/Kirsten Dunst was really given nothing to do in this movie huh... I love Spidey 1 and 2 and pie scene from 3, but this particular point is probably the only thing that I really don't like as an adult.

Otherwise, it's absolutely great. I fucking die every time that Gobby line is said, really is a perfect screenplay. And that head slap Goblin does to Spiderman when he has him tied up, absolute favorite of mine.

They really were great silver age spiderman movies and their tone wasn't suited for the producers wanting to shove venom in there

Doe posted...

Spider-Man 2 is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time because it's a great movie, not just a great superhero movie.

Here's Roger Ebert's 4 out of 4 stars review: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spider-man-2-2004

Finally, what a great credits song for the movie: https://youtu.be/7-4no0aMa8k

Spiderman 2 is the greatest superhero movie of all time and I will die on this hill

The MCU movies and MCU spiderman movies trounce the Rami movies tenfold in terms of best superhero movies.

Giving Defoe an emotionless mask was mistake. His scenes as crazy Norman were so much better then as the masked Green Goblin.

Tobey Maguire is a good actor but I hated that he was casted as Spider-Man. I cant say it wasnt exciting when the films were hyped up when first released in theater but I dont care to rewatch them. Didnt like Kirsten Dunst as MJ, either.

All of them were pretty crappy until Tom Holland showed up.

Bump.

TMOG posted...

Just wait until you rewatch 2 and realize how much of that movie's beloved reputation is based entirely on nostalgia and being the only big superhero movie at the time (other than the first couple X-Men movies, which in my opinion hold up SO MUCH better)

Its been a decade, but I rewatched Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 around the time the phase 1 MCU movies were coming out, and they held up in everything other than visuals. The Spider-Man movies arent without flaws, but I cant even throw shade at them. Out of all superhero comic book movies, Spider-Man and Spider-Man are better than at least 50% of genre, if not 75% of the genre.

Tom Holland is a better Spider-Man, but his movies are just meh (better than Andrew Garfields movies at least).

Nok_Su_Kow posted...

The MCU movies and MCU spiderman movies trounce the Rami movies tenfold in terms of best superhero movies.

If only Raimi had the entire MCU to coast on, he could've skipped the origin story too.
Respect where it's due regardless. No Blade: No Spider-Man: No Iron Man.
And the rest is history.

Isn't Peter Parker supposed to be cringey? I feel like it is a way better representation of the character than all the iterations that came after. Basically after this series Peter Parker has just been the hot cool guy who they try to pass off as a nerd.

When you are a socially awkward cringey nerd all your interactions are awkward.

Dakimakura posted...

Isn't Peter Parker supposed to be cringey? I feel like it is a way better representation of the character than all the iterations that came after. Basically after this series Peter Parker has just been the hot cool guy who they try to pass off as a nerd.

When you are a socially awkward cringey nerd all your interactions are awkward.

Well Peter is actually not supposed to be as submissive as Toby. Knew when to banter back to his classmates who were bullying him. Also bold enough to ask a girl out on a date infront of his peers. Took Toby 3 movies to become close to og Peter but needed black suit to become that way.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/2/AAZsuhAAEks2.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/3/AAZsuhAAEks3.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/4/AAZsuhAAEks4.jpg

Glob posted...

The second was never as good as the first. Its hilariously bad in parts and Ive never understood how people hold it in such high regard.

Because even though these weren't that great compared to movies now, other superhero movies at the time were even worse.

I might be wrong though. I don't really care to defend any super hero movies lol.

Ratchetrockon posted...

Well Peter is actually not supposed to be as submissive as Toby. Knew when to banter back to his classmates who were bullying him. Also bold enough to ask girls out on dates. Took Toby 3 movies to become close to og Peter but needed black suit to become that way.

But he wasn't a submissive person.

aren't there dozens of continuities of Spider-Man? Pretty sure they don't all follow one blueprint of how Peter Parker is "supposed" to be. Also Tobey Peter literally does stand up to Flash