College Downtime Movie Review
Written by Hollowman - March 7th, 2005

Spiderman 2 (2004)

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris
Director: Sam Raimi
Rated: PG-13
Rating: * * * *

Discuss this movie in our Forums!

“Spider-Man 2” is such and improvement of “Spider-Man” that it should be considered the all time best comic superhero movie. “Spider-Man” was such a hit as well as a terrific movie, that to make a sequel that could surpass it was something that didn’t seem too difficult to accomplish. However, director Sam Raimi does and makes it look like he did so with ease.

There is so much more going on in this sequel of the wall crawler. Peter Parker, once again played to perfection by Tobey Maguire, is deeper in his personal anguish of trying to balance his superhero duties with the desire he has to just live his life for himself. His world is falling apart as he tries to do so. Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) has fallen in love with him but is tried of waiting for nothing. So, she gets engaged to his boss’s son (big time fans of Spider-Man knows exactly where this subplot will lead for future sequels). Peter’s friendship with Harry Osborn is slowly fading. He is unable to tell him about the truth of his father (Norman/Green Goblin) and Harry still blames Spider-Man for the Norman’s death. Aunt May is also struggling as when Peter sees that she is being evicted.

Peter could easily solve these problems if he were just a normal person. But, as a superhero, he is ironically unable to save himself. Though he has his own physical battle to fight, the main struggle seems to be between Peter and Spider-Man. In a dream, he denies Uncle Ben’s call of duty for Spider-Man. “I am Spider-Man no more”, he declares and does away with his superhero side altogether.

But wait, it can’t end like this, can it? What about the city, the people, and protecting your girl Spidey? Oh, don’t worry kids, Spider-Man does return when the film’s villain comes calling. Last time it was the Green Goblin, but now, “Spider-Man 2” gives us Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina). Not that the Goblin was a bad choice for a villain in the original, but Molina is able to bring so much characterization and depth to Doc Oc that it’s an improvement. Attached to his spinal cord are four mechanical arms that go haywire during an accident in a science lab (that seems to happen a lot to the bad guys) and are able to “talk” to the doctor, which makes for great acting by Molina.

When Doc Oc kidnaps Mary-Jane in order to bring out Spider-Man, Parker sheds his carefree life and once again dons the suit and has his showdown with the doctor. This is another triumph of “Spider-Man 2”. There’s a fight sequence with the two on top of a speeding subway car. The visual effects are amazing and literally breath taking. Though much of it is digitized, Raimi’s genius of working a camera brilliantly captures the fast paced action and keeps us forever on the edge of our seats.

Not that “Spider-Man” was just a satisfactory movie (quite the opposite in fact), it’s just that “Spider-Man 2” is so much more. But, how couldn’t it be? There’s so much more in the story to play with. The film explores more of Parker’s struggle with who he really wants to be and want against what his duties are. The supporting characters are also given more to do and say (though Harry Osborn is constantly reminding of us of his alcoholism and his grudge against Spider-Man). “Spider-Man 2” has easily become a template for future superhero movies to live up to.



Discuss this movie in our Forums!



[ Back to Movie Reviews ]
[ Back to Front Page ]