The near-impossible task of adapting to film a comic book character whose persona is so ingrained in the minds of the generations weaned on Marvel superheros, is truly a daunting endeavor. Unlike the Man of Steel or the Dark Knight of Gotham, whose stunning interpretation by Michael Keaton raised the bar for all subsequent films of this genre, "Spiderman," directed by Sam Raimi ("The Gift"), seems doomed to failure from the beginning. The requisite detail of the now archetypal action scenes, depicting the embittered battle between good and evil blended so eloquently with the human tragedies of geeky Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire of "Cider House Rules"), creates an added level of expectation on the filmmakers. The live-action movie about Stan Lee's classic superhero, however, enjoys all of the campy humor and fantastic detail institutionalized by the comic book.The film opens with the story of the origin of Spiderman from the humble beginnings of social pariah, Peter Parker . The film is most successful in depicting Parker's affections for his childhood crush, Mary Jane Watson, played by Kirsten Dunst ("Get Over It"). The depiction of Parker's inability to approach her, especially in the midst of a personal betrayal by friend Harry Osborn (James Franco of television's "Freaks and Geeks,") whose later relationship with Mary Jane is kept secret from Parker, does travel a little beyond the realm of plausibility.

When Peter tells Mary Jane he wants to be friends because, "that's all I have to give," Maguire's portrayal of Peter Parker's social paralysis makes no mention of the hero secretly embodied in his alter-ego. Spiderman is supposed to get the girl in the end so we can all go home happy with our faith still intact.

Directorial highlights of the film include the subtle modernization of a genetically mutated spider, created through the experimentation of recombinant DNA, whose bite confers Spiderman's power to hapless Parker. This effectively removes the early political bias of the comic book's cold war era beginnings showcasing a "superspider" that was created through exposure to high levels of nuclear radiation. Also, in an industry revolutionized by digital special effects inspired by films such as "The Matrix" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Spiderman's daring leaps from building to building and continuous battle against his nemesis, the Green Goblin (William Dafoe of "American Psycho"), are especially significant in their technical detail.

This, however, seems a bit overly produced, as Spiderman's rooftop bounds seem less grounded in physical possibility, leaving an almost video game aspect to his character. While the opposing personalities of the Norman Osborn/Green Goblin character is stunningly interpreted by Dafoe, it seems that his interaction with the hero takes a back seat to the chief plot surrounding the growth of Peter Parker's character. Spiderman's daring feats, most notably his jump off the Brooklyn Bridge to save both Mary Jane and a tourist group of children, are glossed over. Their relationships transitions seamlessly from one to the next, showing a complete disregard for the emotional tensions of each situation.

The film is ultimately saved by the strength of its cast whose performances should appease even comic book purists. Maguire effectively captures Peter Parker's dorky, yet noble, character. The Jekyll and Hyde inner struggle typified by Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin add to the strength of Dafoe's performance, and even Dunst's interpretation of Mary Jane is successful as she leaves the viewer virtually unable to decipher her exact level of interest in Parker. Much credit is deserved, as well, for the casting of wrestling great Randy Savage in the role of Bonesaw.

In the difficulty of adapting the legendary comic to the silver screen, Raimi's "Spiderman" surmounts many small drawbacks, making for a light-hearted, enjoyable - if not a little campy - moviegoing experience. At the risk of becoming as clich as "Superman," as long as the filmmakers don't attempt to draw to much from a single well, the reputation of the superhero will remain intact.