Sam Raimi's superhero trilogy began in 2002 with Spider-Man, and it is undeniable that it changed the landscape of superhero cinema forever. This movie, and the following two sequels released in 2004 and 2007, were hugely influential to the behemoth that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Raimi's trilogy featured several action set pieces that were not only impressive in their use of CGI and practical effects but also integral to plot and character. Whether it be an exciting scene in a widely-disliked movie, or the often-considered best action set piece ever in a superhero movie, Raimi's trilogy spawned some incredible sequences.
Peter Parker & Harry Osborn Fight - Spider-Man 3 (2007)
In the much-maligned threequel, Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker succumbs to an alien symbiote that alters his Spidey suit and his personality, making him almost insufferable to the other characters and arguably to many viewers. His drastic personality change, while often mocked, in fact, makes for some inventive action set pieces.
The fight is tense and dramatic as it is a long time coming, considering Harry's lengthy vendetta. Since Peter tends to be morally good, his pummeling of Harry, and scarring him with a pumpkin bomb, is surprising. Spider-Man 3 may not have executed its ideas all that well, but this scene shows how promising the 'Evil Peter' arc can be.
Spider-Man Fights Venom and Sandman - Spider-Man 3 (2007)
In the conclusion of Maguire's third outing as Spider-Man, he fights Sandman and Venom with the help of his reformed best friend, Harry. It is a commonly-held criticism of the movie that it incorporates too many villains, so to see Harry (or New Goblin), assisting Peter is a refreshing change.
Seeing Spidey team up with another superpowered character had not been done before in a Spider-Man movie. This cooperation, alongside intermittent humorous dialogue from J. Jonah Jameson, allows the scene to be both light and entertaining, while still maintaining dramatic elements. Ultimately, the action set pieces such as this one are an example of what Spider-Man 3 got right.
Green Goblin Attacks The Festival - Spider-Man (2002)
Willem Dafoe's Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, is considered by many to be one of the greatest supervillains of all time. His committed performance elevates the role, allowing any scene involving him to be wildly entertaining. The first-ever appearance of Norman as the Green Goblin is in his assault on the festival in 2002's Spider-Man.
Bolstering impressive CGI (for the time) and excellent practical effects, alongside decent fight choreography, this action set-piece showcases why Green Goblin is so terrifying. Green Goblin's motivations in this movie are almost exclusively about causing chaos and inflicting torment on those who have wronged him, with no regard for what innocent lives may be lost in the process.
Final Fight Against Doctor Octopus - Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Otto Octavius, a.k.a. Doc Ock, is portrayed by Alfred Molina with impeccable depth and complexity. Doc Ock is not a villainous character by nature, instead, he is a brilliant man who is corrupted by his own extreme ambitions. When the arms are in full control, he does not pull his punches with Spider-Man, prompting a brutal fight between the two in the climactic scene.
Otto soon regains control, but it is a struggle. This scene showcases the complexities of Doc Ock as a villain, something that is sorely missed in many movies within the genre. Molina's return in Spider-Man 2 as the best in the trilogy.
Spider-Man Makes A Decision - Spider-Man (2002)
In the first movie of the trilogy, Peter Parker suffers loss and heartbreak in his journey to becoming Spider-Man. Alongside his struggle to become a hero, he is frequently tormented by Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin. One particularly effective action set-piece sees Green Goblin forcing Peter to make a fatal decision- decide to save MJ or several innocent children.
This proves why the Green Goblin is often considered the greatest villain in Spider-Man's rogue's gallery. It is an action that targets Spider-Man at his core due to his desire to protect his neighborhood. The visual image of seeing MJ and the cart full of children in the reflection of Spider-Man's eyes is incredibly effective, and seeing Peter save both parties against the odds is exactly what the character stands for as a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Spider-Man Saves Gwen Stacy - Spider-Man 3 (2007)
In a movie that is widely considered the worst of the series, there are some excellent action set pieces. A scene sees Bryce Dallas Howard's, Gwen Stacy, falling from a building after a crane collides with it and is caught by Spider-Man. Spider-Man swings through debris in slow motion and ultimately catches her before the impact.
Scenes such as this make the threequel an enjoyable entry to the franchise, despite its poorer elements. The blend of CGI and practical effects is done with greater precision than the previous two movies, and the choice to stop the non-diegetic music as Gwen falls is inspired as it allows the sounds of Spider-Man's movements and actions to be focused on, heightening the intensity of the scene.
The Bank Heist - Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The first time Spider-Man meets Doc Ock as a villain is when Peter and Aunt May are accosted by him and his attempt to rob the bank. Peter quickly puts on his Spidey suit and tries to thwart the crime, leading to a confrontation that takes place on the side of a building.
Doc Ock captures Aunt May and places her in a potentially fatal situation, allowing the scene to have emotional weight as Peter desperately tries to protect his only parental figure. Aside from the impressive use of CGI, it is both heartwarming and exciting to see Aunt May, while in peril, actually save Spider-Man's life by attacking Doc Ock with her umbrella.
Final Fight Against Green Goblin - Spider-Man (2002)
A very common theme in superhero cinema is a monumental, world-ending final action sequence, but in 2002's Spider-Man, the final confrontation between hero and villain is minimal in its stakes. It is part of the reason why the first movie is so beloved, as it is such a rare aspect of the genre.
An element of action set-pieces that is hard to come by in superhero cinema, is impactful violence. The sheer brutality of the final action sequence in Spider-Man sees Spider-Man being brutally pummelled by Green Goblin, proving how powerful he is. The injuries sustained by the pair feel real, and the conclusion that sees Norman being impaled by his own glider is truly horrific.
Doctor Octopus Awakens - Spider-Man 2 (2004)
One of the best action set pieces to ever be included in a Spider-Man movie, is one that does not even feature the eponymous hero. After Otto Octavius' failed experiment, he finds himself in a hospital bed, about to have his mechanical limbs extracted from his body.
Doc Ock awakes under the control of the limbs, and murders every single member of the hospital staff. Sam Raimi implements his horror background to craft a truly terrifying sequence, one that proves how dangerous Doc Ock can be. It is undeniably an intense scene, one that ends with Otto wailing in regret, proving why he is one of Spider-Man's most tragic villains.
The Train Sequence - Spider-Man 2 (2004)
In what is often considered the best movie in Raimi's trilogy, Spider-Man 2, Spidey and Doc Ock's confrontation sees them atop a moving train, as Doc Ock becomes aware of Peter's weakness and assaults the engers aboard the train, knowing that he will do anything in his power to save them.
It is arguably the quintessential Spider-Man action sequence. It has Spidey using his powers cleverly as he protects the civilians that Doc Ock throws off of the train by using webs to create a landing for them. The character protecting the of his neighborhood, regardless of how much pain he is in, evokes exactly what Spider-Man represents.
