“This, like any story worth telling, is all about a girl. That girl. The girl next door. Mary Jane Watson. The woman I've loved since before I even liked girls.”
In retrospect, after viewing the film, one might well be wary of these lines from Peter Parker than open the film. They are spoken in narration, from a point of time in the future, before Peter becomes the world famous Spider-Man. Is he being ironic? Mary Jane, of course, plays a big part in the story, but it is really a story all about a girl? And, if not, can Peter be trusted? Peter Parker is telling the story, but from his first words comes doubt. Is he reliable? Did the story happen like he says; like it is shown? Considering what it is come—what Peter is telling in retrospect—it is not beyond the pale to ask this question. Just how reliable is Peter Parker’s narrative?
“Sorry I'm late. Work was murder.”
Lending further fog to the clouded remembrance of Peter Parker is that the story’s primary mode of narrative is irony. It is, for the most part, a less than corrosive irony of the humorous sort such as manifested here. But what is also being manifested here is irony in the form of absolute sincerity. Norman Osborne’s work actually is murder. But being rich, of course, few suspect it.
Ring Announcer: "What's your name, kid?"
Peter Parker: "The Human Spider."
Ring Announcer: "The Human Spider? That's it? That's the best you've got?"
Peter Parker: "Yeah."
Ring Announcer: "Oh, that sucks." [Speaking into microphone] "The sum of three-thousand dollars will be paid to...the terrifying...the deadly...the amazing…Spider-Man!"
More irony. The famous—and infamous—superhero of the film receives his superhero name not from himself and not from his nemesis, but from the emcee at a wrestling event. If Peter Parker’s narrative is not considered reliable, this would certainly be evidence that at the very least he is honest. A conundrum. Who is this Peter Parker? This human spider?
“Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.”
Batman gruffly introduces himself with the menacing threat, “I’m Batman.” Spidey is a more conversational; at least to Mary Jane. This is an example of pastiche; the introduction is a throwback to the 1960s/1070s cartoon version of the hero. His introduction are lyrics from the theme song.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
This is, of course, the most famous quote associated with the film. Indeed, it is arguably the single most famous quote associated with any of the superhero movies which have defined the first two decades of the 21st century. It is a caution with two layers. One, don’t be willing to accept great power unless you understand that it is a responsibility. And the more immediately obvious—yet deceptively easy to underestimate—warning: don’t abuse power when you get it. Who could have known two decades later what seriously prescient advice was being offered in a goofy superhero movie?
