I remember being taken to see this cinematic offering when it was released here in the UK some years past. My now ex-girlfriend, I recall, woke me rather violently after I had drifted off at some point during the previews.

I only wish she could have left me sleeping. Once awake I have to admit that I not impressed with what I witnessed on screen.

Both Maguire and Dunst are actors of reasonable quality when paired with the right cast and directors. Maguire put on reasonably good shows in both 'The Cider House Rules' and 'Plesantville' I have also seen Dunst do rather will in a number of differing roles 'Interview With A Vampire', 'The Virgin Suicides' and when working with Cameron Crow, she put on a spectacular performance in 'Elizabethtown'.

With Sam Raimi's help they have actually managed to participate in a film that was SO BAD I was actually angry when I left the theatre.

The lackadaisical narrative, the shallow characterisation, sketchy continuity (especially during that ridiculous sequence on the train where we all saw Spidey doff his mask whilst trying to stop the passenger train careering off the end of the track by leaning against the front of it, only to have said mask returned to him by two kids inside the train. How on earth they ever managed to find the thing is beyond me).

What all this boils down to is that perhaps this is one of the worst films Hollywood has ever produced. Apologies to all my friends who, for some reason, believe this This Thing to be the epitome of comic book movies. I'm sorry with no characters deeper than a specimen jar, no great narrative, no endearing features what so ever, aside perhaps from Ms Dunst (who was decorative more than functional in her role) this is utter tripe. Trite and tested tripe I grant you but tripe none the less.

Perhaps the true, die-hard fans of this Spidey sensation see something in it that I am missing, but while I still have an ounce of respect for my cinematic sensibilities I'll be giving it a big old thumbs down.