Back in 2002 I was a mere 8 years old and was going to see my first superhero movie in theaters - Spider-Man. I was obsessive about the character at the time. I had watched every episode of 90s Spider-Man show (the best superhero cartoon ever imo) as well as the original 1967 series. I read any Spider-Man comic I could get my hands on (I particularly loved anything that featured Electro or the Sinister Six) and even dressed as Spider-Man on several Halloweens. And then the movie came, to my surprise my dad took me on opening day right after school (it has since become a tradition to see every Spider-Man movie on opening day with my dad, myself, and now my younger brother) and saw the film.
The reaction I had to watching it for the first time is still so distinct in my mind. The theme, the origin, the death of Uncle Ben, the fight with the Goblin, and that ending - oh that ending.
Even to this day I get the same feelings and reactions as I did to watching it all those years ago. From the goosebumps I get every time Spider-Man swung through the city to getting teary eyed over Peter crouching near a dying Uncle Ben.
To me the movie captured everything Spider-Man was so perfectly. Raimi and Co. understood the character and the universe, and their affection for that universe translated on screen seamlessly. It was funny, it was genuinely emotional, and of course epic.
And while better superhero movies have come along since, nothing can replace that feeling I had watching Spider-Man on the big screen for the first time alongside my dad. Nothing has come even close.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to share any thoughts or similar accounts in the comments.