WEB fever came to Ipswich at the weekend and for once there was not a computer in sight.One of the summer's big movies, Spider-Man, opened in town with a plethora of previews spread across the weekend.

By Nick Richards

WEB fever came to Ipswich at the weekend and for once there was not a computer in sight.

One of the summer's big movies, Spider-Man, opened in town with a plethora of previews spread across the weekend.

The hit movie tipped to be the next box office success since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, officially opens this Friday, but advance screening started last Friday with a special 11.50pm late showing.

With screenings on Saturday and Sunday, plus all day this Thursday, cinema-goers will have had a total of 42 chances to catch Spiderman in all his web-slinging glory at the UGC in Cardinal Park by time the film officially opens.

At the UGC on Saturday, spider fans seemed to still be snuggled under their spider duvets as the first showing at 9.30am drew in a crowd of just five.

Staff at the cinema said with so many showings it was likely that attendances would be spread over the weekend.

The film has caused minor controversy due do its 12 rating – applied due to the strong violence it contains, which has cut off a large chunk of its possible audience.

But producers remain confident that the film, which stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Willem Dafoe, will give Star Wars a run for its money in the summer ratings war.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones opened last month and follows on from Lord of the Rings as one of 2002's blockbusters.

With another slice of Harry Potter expected to be served up later this year as well as big screen comebacks for James Bond and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator 3, this year promises to be one of the most memorable ever for fans of the silver screen.

And if you've seen Spider-Man by now and enjoyed it, you'll be pleased to know that filming for Spider-Man 2 started in May, and is planned for release in 2004.