Spider-Man isn't a daring new approach to comic adaptations, like Tim Burton's failed Batman. Rather, by sticking close to the source, it succeeds with flying colors.

Spider-Man begins so promisingly that it looks less like a comic book movie than an off-beat comedy on metamorphosis.

The movie counts as a modest success simply because it remains largely true to its roots, and the story that Lee and Ditko develop has a human side to it that's as strong -- if not stronger -- than its superhuman side.

I was never a fan of Tobey Maguire in this role but this is a great movie. My six year old and I watched this together and he loved it as well.