Spider-Man film series

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The Spider-Man film series is a group of three serial films starring the title character, as played by Tobey Maguire. The series has been directed by Sam Raimi and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment. The films are each based on comic book stories featuring the title character, Spider-Man. Stan Lee, an executive producer for the film series, originally wrote Spider-Man for Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962). The series began with Spider-Man (2002), continued with Spider-Man 2 (2004) and will become a trilogy with the release of Spider-Man 3 (2007).

Contents 1 Serialized plot 1.1 Spider-Man 1.2 Spider-Man 2 1.3 Spider-Man 3 2 Recurring cast and major characters 3 Reception 4 References

[edit] Serialized plot

[edit] Spider-Man

Main article: Spider-Man (film)

The first film tells the story of Peter Parker being bitten by an artificially mutated spider, developing superpowers and deciding how to use them. At first, he attempted to use his powers for personal gain and earning money by winning a wrestling match, but was not given the maximum cash prize. The one who wouldn't pay him was robbed and an embittered Peter did nothing. On his way home, Peter found his uncle Ben shot and watched helplessly as he died. Peter confronted the suspected shooter only to realized it was the same criminal he could have stopped earlier. The terrified criminal accidentally falls out of a window to his death and Peter flees the scene, racked with guilt. About a month later, Peter graduates high school, and realizes what he feels he has to do with his powers. Peter tries to live by the words his uncle Ben told him: "with great power comes great responsibility," and emerges a superhero, Spider-Man. Peter's best friend Harry Osborn enters into a doomed relationship with Mary Jane Watson, a girl Peter has had romantic feeling for second childhood. To pay rent, Peter also becomes a photographer for the Daily Bugle, and the only one who can get the best pictures of Spider-Man. Norman Osborn, Harry's father, tests his own experiemental military gear and strength enhancers. The drugs create a homicidal, antagonistic alter ego which becomes the Green Goblin. As the Goblin, Norman kills his enemies and endangers countless lives. Spider-Man confronts the Goblin multiple times until the villain is fatally injured by his own high-tech glider during the film's final battle. Harry blames Spider-Man for Norman's death, and is determined to seek revenge against the hero.

[edit] Spider-Man 2

Main article: Spider-Man 2

The second film's story is set two years after the Spider-Man's finale, and features Peter facing several personal problems. Peter finds balancing his college studies and part-time jobs as Peter while protecting New York City as Spider-Man frustratingly hard. Harry, now working with his father's company, Oscorp, funds the experiments of Doctor Otto Octavius. One of Otto's more dangerous attempts backfires, fusing artificially intelligent mechanical arms to his spine. The arms, now free to act on their own, commit evil acts while driving Otto to do the same and convince Otto to try his experiment again. Dubbed "Doctor Octopus" and "Doc Ock" by Daily Bugle Chief J. Jonah Jameson, Otto becomes a criminal to fund his experiment. Peter has begun to feel as though he's losing his Spider powers. Fearing he is only endangering himself and others, Peter quits being Spider-Man for the time being. As a more relaxed and focused Peter Parker, he successfully lives a "normal life" and tries to reconnect with Mary Jane, who is now engaged to J. Jonah's son John Jameson. Though New York City is in peril without Spider-Man, Peter tries to ignore the city's cries for help. However, after a few conversations with his Aunt May, Peter realizes that the city's need for Spider-Man is more important than his personal life. Doc Ock and Harry make a deal where the former will gain the special element needed for his experiment if Spider-Man is captured and brought to the latter. Both parties fufill their ends of the bargain and Harry unmasks Peter. Harry, who was planning to knife Spider-Man right then and there, is too shocked to move. Peter then goes after Octavius and shows the man the error of his ways. Together, they stop his experiment, and Octavius falls into the sea. Mary Jane is saved, but also sees Peter unmasked. The next day, Mary Jane leaves her own wedding with John to be with Peter. Despite fearing for her safety and warning her of the danger she'd be in the night before, Peter happily accepts Mary Jane's love.

[edit] Spider-Man 3

Main article: Spider-Man 3

Peter basks in the spotlight with his public success as his superhero alter ego, Spider-Man. He tells his Aunt May that he's going to propose to Mary Jane.^[1] When the police tell Parker and his aunt that some new evidence shows an escaped criminal, Flint Marko, as being responsible for killing Uncle Ben, Parker decides to go after the man personally. As Spider-Man, he battles the criminal, who has become Sandman and is attacked by his former friend Harry Osborn, who has donned the mantle of the New Goblin.^[2][3] During this time, a symbiotic black liquid Peter has never seen before bonds with Peter's costume in his sleep. He awakes to find a strange new level of "power" and his behavior being influenced for the worse. At first, he likes it, but eventually Spider-Man has to fight the villain within, until he finally tears the symbiote from his body.^[4] Afterward, the symbiote bonds with Peter's rival, Eddie Brock, Junior, and the resulting merger creates Venom.^[5]

[edit] Recurring cast and major characters

• Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker / Spider-Man: Peter Parker is a high school kid, who, on a class field trip, gets bitten by a genetically modified spider. The bite gives him the abilities of a spider and he uses them to become Spider-Man. He later becomes a photographer for the Daily Bugle and a science student.
• Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson: Mary Jane "MJ" Watson is the girl next door that Peter Parker has a crush on. She later becomes Peter's on-and-off love interest with aspirations to act. She is one of the few who knows that Parker is Spider-Man.
• James Franco as Harry Osborn / New Goblin: Harry Osborn is the son of Norman Osborn and once best friend to Peter Parker. Believing that Spider-Man murdered his father and learning Peter Parker is Spider-Man, Harry targets his former friend directly, seeking revenge.
• Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn / Green Goblin: Norman Osborn is the CEO of Oscorp; while testing a strength enhancer, goes insane and becomes the Green Goblin. He is later seen repeatedly by Harry, telling his son to avenge his death.
• Alfred Molina as Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus: An idol to Peter and the primary antagonist for the second film, Dr. Octavius is a gentle and brilliant nuclear physicist who is transformed into the megalomaniacal Doctor Octopus in an experimental accident that kills his wife, destroys his dream, and fuses mechanical appendages of his own design to his spine.
• Thomas Haden Church as Flint Marko / Sandman: Flint Marko is a small-time thug who has a wife and daughter.^[6] An accident gives him the ability to change his body into malleable sand, transforming him into Sandman.^[7] Due to new evidence, he is now believed to be the person responsible for Uncle Ben's death.^[1]
• Topher Grace as Eddie Brock/Venom: Eddie Brock, Jr. is a photographer at the Daily Bugle who has grown increasingly jealous toward Peter Parker, who beats Brock to photography gigs and has attracted the attention of Brock's girl, Gwen Stacy.^[7] The symbiote bonds with him to become Venom after Spider-man abandons it.
• Rosemary Harris as May Parker: May Parker is the aunt of Peter Parker and the widow of Ben Parker.
• J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson: J. Jonah Jameson is the chief editor of the Daily Bugle. He carries a personal vendetta against Spider-Man who he considers a criminal.
• Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy: The daughter of a police captain, Gwen Stacy competes with Mary Jane Watson for Peter Parker's love, despite Eddie Brock, Jr's feelings for her.
• Dylan Baker^[8] as Dr. Curt Connors: Dr. Curt Connors is a college professor under whom Peter Parker studied and with whom he has maintained a good friendship.
• Daniel Gillies^[9] as John Jameson: The son of J. Jonah Jameson, John Jameson is an astronaut who Mary Jane Watson chose not to marry on the day of their wedding ceremony. He later brings an alien life force back to earth.
• Cliff Robertson as Ben Parker: Ben Parker is the husband to May Parker and uncle of Peter Parker. He is killed during a struggle with a carjacker. Peter lives by his Uncle's words of wisdom, "With great power comes great responsibility."
• James Cromwell^[10] as Captain George Stacy: George Stacy is a police captain and father of Gwen Stacy. He shares the news with Peter and May Parker that new evidence indicates that Flint Marko killed Uncle Ben.^[1]
• Bill Nunn as Joseph "Robbie" Robertson: "Robbie" Robertson is an employee of the Daily Bugle, and friend to many of his coworkers. He believes in Spider-Man despite his boss's resentments about the vigilante superhero.
• Elizabeth Banks as Betty Brant: Betty Brant is the secretary to J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle.
• Ted Raimi as Hoffman: Hoffman is an employee of the Daily Bugle who is frequently harassed by his boss J. Jonah Jameson.
• Tim DeZarn as Philip Watson: Philip Watson is the drunk, abusive father of Mary Jane Watson.
• Michael Papajohn as Carjacker: Robs the wrestling manager who do not fully pay Peter, and later is suspected of killing Peter's uncle, Ben Parker.

[edit] Reception

The first film was largely successful and spurred Sony to make more.

Roger Ebert gave the first film a lukewarm review,^[11] but praised the second movie and gave it four stars. He went on to call it the "greatest super-hero movie since Superman.^[12]

Spider-Man 2 holds the record of highest-grossing box office for a film opening on a Wednesday. It currently has the second best opening weekend for a film opening in July. It has the best five-day gross for a film opening on a Wednesday. It is tied with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith as one of the fastest films to reach $200 million which is 8 days. ^[13]

Critics felt the second film had a dramatic power and emotional content that most summer blockbusters lack. Metacritic gave the film a collective rating of 83 out of 100 based on an average of 41 reviews.^[14] Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rating of 93%, based on 222 reviews.^[15]

[edit] References

v • d • e Spider-Man
Publications	Main continuity: Amazing Fantasy • The Amazing Spider-Man The Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2) • Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man • Astonishing Spider-Man • Spider-Man Family Other continuities: Ultimate Spider-Man • Marvel Adventures Spider-Man • Spider-Girl • Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Spider-Man: Reign
Television	Spider-Man (1967) • Spidey Super Stories (1974, live action) • Amazing Spider-Man (1978, live action) • Supaidāman (1978 - Japanese) • Spider-Man (1981) •Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) • Spider-Man (1994) •Spider-Man Unlimited (1999) • Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003) • The Amazing Spider-Man (2008)
Films	Spider-Man (2002) • Spider-Man 2 (2004) • Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Other topics
Fictional history of Spider-Man • Spider-Man supporting characters • Spider-Man villains • Spider-Man's powers and equipment • Video games • Alternate versions of Spider-Man • Spider-Man in other media