Of course we’re all very excited for Phase 6 of Marvel and the return of Tom Holland as Spider-Man. We also were big fans of the lovely Andrew Garfield putting on that Spidey suit, flicking his web riddled wrists and plunging out of skyscrapers in pursuit of Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey. But before there was Tom Holland and Zendaya, and before there was Andrew Garfield, there was Tobey Maguire and that trilogy of movies filled to the brim with early noughties goodness – and now you’ve got a chance to see them on the big screen again.
The Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy is returning to Cineworld at the end of this month on the 26th, 27th, and 28th of September. Book in three back-to-back nights at the cinema and get your spidey senses around some of Tobey Maguire’s best Spider-Man scenes in the meantime.
Peter Parker discovers the extent of his new powers
There are so many incredible scenes in the first Spider-Man movie with Tobey Maguire, especially when you consider this was the first time it was ever adapted to screen and comic book fans were seeing it beyond the page. Of course, the scene in which Peter Parker takes on cool kid Flash at school wouldn’t be possible without the scene in which Peter first gets bitten, but from a visual point of view it is incredible to see the way in which Sam Raimi chose to convey his powers.
Discovering his web wielding abilities, Peter accidentally sends a tray of food in the cafeteria sailing towards Flash, aggravating the school bully. This culminates in a tussle in the school hallway that sees Peter able to predetermine Flash’s every move before it happens. Every punch and move is slowed down while Peter moves around it in real time before delivering his own blows that show his strength as Flash flies across the room from the impact.
Even leading up to the moment of the fight, the lack of glasses worn by Peter is a clever wardrobe choice that shows his improved eye sight, while being able to catch Mary Jane when she slips on spilt juice and is able to catch her tray and every food item highlights his slick new reflexes.
The kiss in the rain between Spider-Man and Mary Jane
Spare a moment for the hopeless romantic. The scene in which Spider-Man is hanging upside down, having just saved Mary Jane again, this time from a gang of thugs, and Mary Jane pulls down his mask just enough to reveal his mouth and share a steamy kiss is everything. It’s the stuff of every ridiculous romantic daydream. It’s pouring with rain, there is still so much mystery between the pair, the damsel in distress has been saved, feminism be damned for just a moment.
While many other scenes throughout Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movies, particularly the first, play out in the later versions of Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland, this is a scene that is completely unique to the 2002 film. In fact, it’s one of few scenes that wasn’t taken from the original comics, and is fresh and unique, only performed by Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane.
Spider-Man’s first showdown
No matter how much directors and creators attempt to reinvent superhero movies, there will always be a big fight in the final act, and, in the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy, it is his final clash with the Green Goblin that has to go down in history as one of the best fight sequences.
Spider-Man’s mask is half melted off and William Dafoe’s Green Goblin is suitably villainous. While there’s little fanfare where special effects and the like are concerned, the good old fashioned fist fight is choreographed into a really enjoyable spectacle.
Highlights include Peter using his web to pull down a wall on top of the Green Goblin, while the climax of the fight deserves an award of its own. Norman Osborn reveals his true identity beneath the Green Goblin mask and attempts to speak to his character and show him mercy. Meanwhile, he activates his glider in order to double cross Peter and kill him. However, Peter’s spidey senses kick in, able to back flip out of the way just in time, sending the glider straight to Norman who’s comical “Oh” is expertly delivered before he is impaled at his own hand.
Peter Parker stops a runaway train in Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 (2004) sees Peter Parker wrangle with the late Uncle Ben’s haunting words, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The realities of balancing his personal life with the pressures of being a superhero weigh heavily in this movie, with Peter Parker choosing to turn his back on his alias.
However, that can’t last for long as this movie’s villain is a tentacle ravaged nuclear scientist, Otto Octavius, who is instructed to bring Harry Osborn Spider-Man so he might avenge his father’s death.
Octavius kidnaps Mary Jane and the villain and Spider-Man find themselves battling it out on the top of a New York subway train. While Peter’s powers had dwindled in the time he’d taken away from being Spider-Man, we see them back in full force as Octavius sabotages the track and Spider-Man must stop the runaway train from plummeting into the harbour.
With that trademark superhero movie humour, Spider-Man is heckled by people on the train has he attempts different ways to stop the train, ultimately attaching multiple webs to the buildings either side of the track and holding on pretty damn tight, stopping the train in its, well, tracks.
In an emotional turn of events, the sheer strength it takes sees Spider-Man fall unconscious and almost fall forwards into the water. But the civilians on the train reach through the window to hold him back, drawing him into the carriage and passing him through to safety. Considering the bad press Spider-Man has got throughout the movie, criticising where he has fallen short, this potentially sees a turn in public opinion. As he comes around, he realises he hasn't been wearing his mask the entire time, though the carriage of people agree they won't reveal his true identity.
Harry Osborn’s death in Spider-Man 3
There are a lot of heartbreaking deaths that take place across Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy (it’s been more than 20 years and we still can’t’ talk about Uncle Ben’s, to be honest), but Harry Osborn’s death feels particularly poignant given the journey he and Peter Parker have been through.
Starting out as best friends in the first movie, unknowingly having a father for a villain certainly complicates things, especially when Harry didn’t know the true events that led to his father’s death. Spending the second movie attempting to avenge this blaming Spider-Man, their friendship is further complicated still when Spider-Man reveals he is Peter and Harry discovers his father’s wrongdoing, but still goes on to use his father’s Green Goblin technology to take on Spider-Man.
In the scene, Harry dies from his injuries having sacrificed himself in a battle between Spider-Man, Sandman, and Venom upon learning Spider-Man did not kill his father. Harry lies in Mary Jane’s arms and he and Peter reconcile with each other, calling the other their best friend before he ultimately slips away.
Book your tickets for Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man trilogy as it returns to Cineworld this month. Spider-Man (2002) will show on the 26th September, with a special director's cut of Spider-Man 2 (2004) showing on 27th September. The billing will then end with Spider-Man 3 (2007) on 28th September.
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