In a downpour, a group of muggers approach their potential victim as a shadowy figure lingers from a building above. This silent observer then chooses to strike, shooting a weblike substance upon the assailants to whisk them away from the frightened woman. An array of punches, flips and kicks later, the muggers lay on the floor with the hero known as Spider-Man receiving a kiss from his damsel in distress.

This scene from the motion picture “Spider-Man,” directed by Sam Raimi, is exactly why it lives up to its animated hero blockbuster hype. With various action sequences, dizzying aerial special effects and some sexual tension added, even the most casual viewer would enjoy “Spider-Man.” Yet what sets “Spider-Man” apart is its attention to detail of the man behind the mask.

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Starring as Spider-Man and his alias Peter Parker is Tobey Maguire of “The Cider House Rules” fame. Many would criticize Maguire as being too wimpy to play the role of the costume vigilante, but Parker, orphaned at an early age, is your run of the mill nerd who falls in love with the girl next door, Mary Jane Watson. To Peter all that consists in his life, in addition to Watson, is his aunt and uncle who raised him, and science. So he is made fun of and is the rag doll of all the high school bullies.

Mary Jane is played by Kirsten Dunst, who has to deal with her verbally abusive father. Even though friends are hard to come by, Peter is befriended by the troubled rich boy Harry Osborn, James Franco, who ends up going out with Mary Jane.

Sounds like your average teen movie? Now comes the superhero twist. While on a school field trip Peter is bitten by a genetically altered spider. Combine an hour of discovery and action later, you have determined Peter fighting an evil villain and developed a love triangle to carry you through to the finish.

The attention to detail can be seen in the language used in the movie that reflects its comic book roots. Spider-Man phrases such as “webhead,” “your neighborhood Spider-Man” and “tiger” are planted during various times. Even the cigar-smoking editor of The Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson, J.K. Simmons, is mimicked to a T.

Willem Dafoe plays Norman Osborn, the schizophrenic father of Harry, who changes into the murderous Green Goblin. Dafoe pulls off the off-centered Osborn so well it is as if he had a vendetta against Spider-Man. Even though pulling off the character of Spider-Man is important, enough attention is shown to other characters in Peter’s universe so that the movie is believable.

But believable to a point. This is still is a comic book movie with intentional humor. For example, the pro wrestler Randy “Macho Man” Savage makes a cameo as Bone Saw McGraw. It makes you feel like you died and went to Hulk Hogan purgatory. You can just see him turn into his Macho Man persona and scream his trademark “Oh yeaaaah!” into the crowd.

Another classic is the conversation between Dafoe as Osborn and Dafoe as the voice of the Green Goblin. It fits the plot seamlessly but watching Dafoe use his skills as an actor to parade around in a goofy mask is just hilarious.

One suggestion for the next movie: Please let Peter do better with the ladies. Yes, it is necessary to sell the love story of “Spider-Man” at various times but at least don’t make him seem like such a dork.

Even though I was not totally won over by the first previews of “Spider-Man” or the rambling of a superhero in love, the true comic details and overall appeal of the movie changed my mind.

“Spider-Man” seems to achieve action and adventure without sacrificing plot, which separates Spider-Man as the superhero movie champion.