2002, 1 hr 55 min., Rated PG-13 for stylized violence and action. Dir: Sam Raimi. Cast: Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man/Peter Parker), Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin/Norman Osborn), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson), Macho Man Randy Savage (Bone Saw), Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), Cliff Robertson (Uncle Ben Parker).

I never read the comic book, but that's never stopped me from enjoying other comics turned into motion pictures. From the opening credits you can tell that the style they're going for is the first Batman by director Tim Burton.

It starts with the music by Danny Elfman (who did music for both) to the combination of dark undertones underneath a colorful outer shell, so that you don't forget you're watching a comic-inspired flick. A credit goes to director Sam Raimi for that.

With this comic book veneer, the characters and places are still all so familiar that you can't help but believe in it. This is all a good thing, and it worked well. In sum, I was entertained by this crowd-pleaser.

Tobey Maguire makes for a likable everyday kind of guy-turned-super hero as Peter Parker. I like that Peter is having such fun through it, as any 18-year-old should; some great scenes of him discovering his powers. Maguire always has a look of anticipation, to be aware of every situation, whether it's swinging Tarzan-like across Manhattan or the love story between he and Mary Jane, or MJ (Kirsten Dunst).

Naturally, this is all about a girl, the girl next door, literally, energetically played by a red-headed Dunst, who can flip the switch from scorned to bubbly faster than Rosie O'Donnell inhales a buffet at Piccadilly.

One complaint: Willem Dafoe has a face full of character, yet they hide it under his mask as the Green Goblin. Poor move. But Dafoe himself is worth it all the more, with his delicious villainy.

As Harry, Peter's best friend, actor James Franco, a Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) look-alike is ensured a sequel, although I'm not sure yet he deserves one. We'll see next time out.

I always love the fiery newspaper editor, in Spider-Man it's J. Jonah Jameson. He's given all kinds of easy material, yet J.K. Simmons (the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" shrink) still puts a lot of oomph and humor into it.

As always, everyone is entirely clueless as to the identity of the masked hero, even though in this game of "Where's Waldo," Waldo wouldn't be any less apparent if he wore a pink boa and a glittering hat that flashed "I'm Spider-Man."

My Jeff-Sense tells me this film will be huge. Sure, it's no Spider-Sense, but I'll be he can't do some things I have a knack for, such as always getting the cart with a bad wheel or supporting the golfer sure to finish 8-over-par. Then again, Spidey gets to snog Kirsten Dunst, so I won't even try to match that. Does nuzzling Dad and Danielle's Yorkshire Terrier, Vicky, count?