Writing Credits: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Chabon, based on characters created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Directed by: Sam Raimi.
Running Time: 127 minutes.
Rated: PG-13.
TORONTO, Digital Journal — The life of a college student isn’t easy. You’ve got to juggle your school work while holding down a job so you can pay those tuition fees and the rent for your dingy apartment. What little social life you have is filled with complaints from your girlfriend about never seeing you. The problem is, you can’t really explain that you’re always late because you put on a costume and quickly fight crime in your spare time, can you?
Welcome to the life of Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man (Tobey Maquire). Faced with tons of pressures in his life, things get even worse after an accident changes brilliant scientist Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) into psychotic super villain Doctor Octopus, complete with indestructible metal arms and a giant chip on his shoulder. You can hardly blame ol’ Spidey for considering retirement, but hey, that superhero business just gets into your veins, doesn’t it?
Spider-Man 2 defines the very nature of a “Summer Blockbuster,” and believe me, it does not disappoint. While there is no doubt that the first part of the series was a smash hit, Spider-Man 2 is better in almost every way. The fight scenes are better, framing the action more clearly and making every punch count, and every near miss feel like it almost took your ear off. One particular fight scene, a free-for-all between Spider-Man and Doc Ock on a subway train, is bound to make you talk when you come out of the theatre.
However, it’s not just the thrills that are improved. With better pacing from the script, there is more time for the actors to work with their characters, and overall their performances are more engaging. Although a few lines fall flat, characters that just sort of appeared in the first movie are now more developed and interesting. Harry Osborn (James Franco) has demons aplenty, while Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) demonstrates some newfound wisdom, even though she does still need the occasional rescue. Even the comedy characters get more time to shine. J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons), in particular, is dead-on.
As for our new bad guy, Doc Ock rules the screen. Though he starts off as a pudgy, non-threatening guy, he rapidly becomes one of the most impressive super villains ever seen on the big screen. His initial rampage is actually scary. The best part is, Alfred Molina really manages to hold his own amongst the special effects to deliver his dialogue with wit and charisma.
Complaints about Spider-Man 2? Nothing serious. There are few developments in the story that fall out of focus, ones that you wouldn’t think the characters would let go of so easily. Others might find some situations a little over the top, even for a comic book movie. But hey, this is a Sam “Evil Dead” Raimi movie. Oh, and Spider-Man may be the most careless super hero ever when it comes to his secret identity.
Comic fans will spot Spider-Man and Marvel references aplenty, including the mandatory Stan Lee cameo. The movie isn’t afraid to rib itself, daring to speculate on what happens when a superhero does his laundry, and the odds of a man named “Octavius” becoming Doctor Octopus. Hell, there’s just so much going on in this movie that they’ve even nicely set up the next sequel, or three.
Spider-Man 2 won’t disappoint fans of the comic, or those that just want a good movie thrill ride. A lot of people are saying, “Best comic book movie ever” about this one, and they have a strong case. Needless to say, I am already reserving a spot for Spider-Man 2 in my DVD collection.
