I bought the “Deluxe Edition” 3-disc version of this movie whenever it was released, seems like ages ago now, and till now, I just haven’t got the chance to watch it. I first saw the movie as a pretty decent quality (I think, probably a DVD screener or something) download, and then again when my brother rented it on DVD: though that time, I can’t remember if I watched the movie or just the movie with commentary; I didn’t then and still haven’t checked out the other extras on the disc(s), though I have to admit they seem pretty good and time-consuming (not sure I’ll be doing the “make your own commentary” thing though lol: I do actually want to make some commentaries one day, but there’s at least 100 movies I’d rather spend the time on over this).

Anyway, that introduction is meant to be saying, this felt to me like the first time I had properly seen the movie. It never really stuck in my memory before, except for certain key scenes. But watching it today reminded me of the awkward arc of feelings I felt on one or both previous viewings. For so long, the movie is a masterpiece, through setting up Peter Parker as the everykid, his attraction to MJ, his feelings of inadequacy, through his becoming what he becomes, his hiding it, his enjoying it, that enjoyment leading to the event that drives him for the rest of his life as a superhero, it’s simply perfect in its simplicity. There’s a point around halfway, though, that the movie loses its footing, and it’s never regained. The Green Goblin has a lot to do with it, that stupid laugh, the far-too-comic-book “We’ll meet again, Spider-Man!”-type lines, the soap opera-ish plot turns. Even on a second or third viewing, knowing that it’s coming, it’s a still a painful letdown.

It does pick up again in the end for a fantastic finale and a final shot, or series of shots, that give me goosebumps to go out on.

I’m anxious now to see Spider-Man 2 again. My viewing experience with that movie so far has taken the same course as that described above for the first, and since this movie has risen greatly in my lists on a first “Official” viewing, I expect, in fact, I’m sure, to find myself wanting to see Oscar nominations for the sequel.

I didn’t find a place to fit this in during this write-up, but I can’t not mention it: Kirsten Dunst is simply stunning here, perhaps the one thing I’ll finally end up liking more in the first movie than the second. I love the budding actress of MJ in the first movie; she’s kind of boring once she’s pretty much gained her dream in the sequel (but hey, I’m not saying that’s my final answer till I “Officially” watch the sequel again). What can I say, she reminds me of someone close to my heart, in many many ways, some beautiful, some painful. The DVD image on this disc makes Dunst look more beautiful than I’ve ever seen her, and I’m finally convinced she might be able to do better than (still) her best performance so far, which I think was as Claudia in Interview with the Vampire.