After months of speculation among Spider-Man fans on the web—some of whom complained that the Green Goblin's costume was different or that Peter Parker's spider was genetically, not atomically altered or that his web slinging was organic rather than his own invention—the web is finally spun.

Despite years of legal battles and creative differences, fan complaints about the lead actor, and suits stolen from the studio, we finally get a superhero for the nerd in all of us!

Teen orphan Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) lives in Queens, New York with his aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson). He's nerdy, brilliant, and gets his kicks as photographer for the school paper. His favorite photo subject is hot red-haired Mary Jane Watson, the girl next door on whom he's been crushing since age six. Peter shares his lovelorn angst with best buddy Harry Osborn (James Franco). On a school trip to a lab, Peter is bitten by a genetically-altered spider.

As his body changes, he takes on more spider qualities like agility, strength, a buffed up bod, and keen ESP-like spider senses. Then comes that sticky, webby stuff he can swing around on. At first he's a total klutz but soon masters his powers and uses them, in the beginning, to make money for a new car since he's just seen Mary Jane dating a rich guy who has one. When he becomes instrumental in a crime and tragedy hits home, Peter vows to be a crime fighter. As his uncle Ben says, "With great power comes great responsibility."