THE SUMMER blockbuster season is here. After all the hype, last summer's blockbusters like Tomb Raider and Planet of the Apes ended with crushing results, but this year promises to be better.

Leading the charge is Spider Man, and already it seems that this year's films are going to be much, much better.

When nerdy high school photographer, Peter Parker, is bitten by a genetically altered spider, his physical form improves.

However, he also changes and he gains the senses of a spider and the ability to crawl up walls and spin his own webs. He uses his new abilities to become a superhero crime fighter and ends up taking on the Green Goblin while also trying to win the love of Mary Jane.

Spider Man's onset problems were well reported in the media, making expectations seem poor. However, the film has put a new meaning into the word blockbuster and all the success it has achieved at the American box office is well deserved.

Apart from his annoying voice, Tobey Maguire is superb as Spider Man/Peter Parker. He surprisingly goes through a series of different emotions and triumphs. Also, his co-stars, William Dafoe and Kirsten Dunst, are both excellent.

One of the things all the actors should be credited well on is their victory over the bad script. Cheesy lines such as "Who am I? I'm Spider Man" and, "When I look into your eyes, the world changes," are unforgivable despite the fact it's a comic book adaptation.

Sam Raimi, in the director's chair, may have seemed the wrong choice to some. But his direction is brilliant all the way, using machine gun style editing and wonderful establishing shots.

The only thing he hasn't done is demanded enough of his CGI artists. While the special effects are good, they don't seem real enough and you can imagine some bloke designing each shot on a computer screen.

Danny Elfman's score isn't of the highest standard as it sounds exactly the same as every other of his superhero film scores like Batman, which makes the film fall into cliche.

Apart from that though, the film has a basic narrative all the way, and it thrills you all the way too. It looks as if a Spider Man franchise is on the cards.