Spider-Man 2 is a film considered by many to be not just the best Spider-Man film but also one of the best superhero films of all time. This is a film which like the first, keeps the characters as its focus, functioning as a drama about people just as much as a superhero film with action sequences. This time around Peter Parker is starting to feel the strain of life after school coupled with the demands of having an alter ego. When Otto Octavius fails in his experiment to create sustainable energy, Doctor Octopus is born, while Peter must also deal with his best friend Harry Osborn’s desire to make Spider-Man pay for killing his father.
This is a film which does what all sequels should do. It raises the stakes yet doesn’t feel as if it is for the sake of it, but instead is a legitimate extension of the conflicts, emotions and themes that were sewn in the first film. Spider-Man 2 feels like a continuation of Spider-Man and not merely another episodic installment in a franchise. With the origin story dealt with, these characters are now firmly established in the eyes and minds of the audience, with Doctor Octopus being the only addition to the cast of note. While this may on paper seem as if little has changed since the first film, it is exactly why this succeeds and Spider-Man 3 arguably didn’t. This isn’t a sequel that is desperate to add new things but rather keen to develop what it already has. The conclusion of this film promises an extension of this character development however unfortunately, not through lack of intention on Sam Raimi’s part, the third chapter in this trilogy would be the product of studio intervention and a muddled, disappointing conclusion to the hard work in these first two films. However Spider-Man 3 is for tomorrow, today...is all about Spider-Man 2.
Put simply, Spider-Man 2 is funnier and bigger than Spider-Man. The action sequences are much more impressive with this film evidence of Raimi clearly growing as a blockbuster director, while the effects and general presentation of the Spidey sequences are of a much higher level and standard than they were prior. Danny Elfman’s theme music continues to place you right into the tone of the piece, however when viewing Spider-Man 2 I realized it was not the only element of these original films that the reboot will struggle to beat. J.K. Simmons, is perfect as J. Jonah Jameson. All of his scenes in this film are legitimately funny and in one scene of his character are more laughs than in most comedies. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are once again fine in their roles, however out of the core three characters it is only really James Franco who is given another dimension to his role this time around. In this film, Harry Osborn is visibly a different person entirely from the one we saw in Spider-Man and once again it led me to think negatively of Spider-Man 3, a film that should have been all about Harry, it should have been his story of revenge, tying the trilogy back to the first film with the Green Goblin and resolving all of the issues between Peter, Harry and Harry’s father that permeated throughout the first two films.
It is worth noting that Spider-Man 2 is not perfect however, there are flaws in this film that became more evident this time around. While absolutely being a more mature film, it does still have moments of silliness which I excused in my review of Spider-Man and will continue to excuse here. Spider-Man is supposed to have that innocence to him and when he stops and saves two children in the middle of the road and tells them not to play on the streets, I didn’t sigh or roll my eyes, I smiled...that is your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. However those moments are perhaps a bit more jarring or recognizable in this film than they were in the first due to the mentioned maturity which is evident this time around.
The film however is rather slow at points and I wish there had been more development of Otto Octavius and the relationship between Mary Jane Watson and the son of J. Jonah Jameson. Cut the scenes with Peter Parker not paying rent to the Russian landlords and instead use that screen-time more effectively. Alfred Molina is a great addition to the cast and I do not think he was short changed in the slightest, however as he and his character is so good, the film could have benefited from showing a little more of him and really delving into the conflict that he is now a victim and a servant to a machine he created. Similarly while the relationship between Mary Jane and Peter is fully developed and explored in this film, I found it hard to understand why Mary Jane would so readily ditch Peter Parker and marry this other guy, as we never really see or get to know him. While it seems odd that a sixteen year old guy would demand more development or the construction of a love triangle in a Spider-Man movie, I felt there was an area of emotional conflict left unexplored and I felt you could have gotten to the point this film ultimately gets to with Mary Jane and Peter without having an underdeveloped wedding as the barrier.
However moving back to the strong elements of which there are many. The scene where Peter tells Aunt May why he is responsible for Uncle Ben’s death is heartbreaking and everything regarding Aunt May in this film really grounds it and keeps the film and the emotion palpable. Swinging around to the other side of the spectrum, the train sequence in this film is phenomenal, its intense, exciting, well directed and choreographed and comes to a great conclusion. The use of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head is great, along with the obligatory Bruce Campbell cameo, there will be a big Bruce Campbell shaped hole in The Amazing Spider-Man.
Ultimately Spider-Man 2 is no masterpiece however it is a visible step up from Spider-Man and as of now the best Spider-Man film. The action and humour is improved, while the character and emotion is continued. It does what many sequels should but don’t and is one of the few examples of a sequel which is a genuine improvement on its predecessor in nearly every aspect. Funnier, bigger and better, Spider-Man 2 eight years later, remains at the high-end of superhero movies.
By Movie Parliament Prime Minister,
Michael Dalton
Give us all your Spider-Man 2 thoughts in the Your Say section, discuss the films in our forum and vote in the polls below.
This is a film which does what all sequels should do. It raises the stakes yet doesn’t feel as if it is for the sake of it, but instead is a legitimate extension of the conflicts, emotions and themes that were sewn in the first film. Spider-Man 2 feels like a continuation of Spider-Man and not merely another episodic installment in a franchise. With the origin story dealt with, these characters are now firmly established in the eyes and minds of the audience, with Doctor Octopus being the only addition to the cast of note. While this may on paper seem as if little has changed since the first film, it is exactly why this succeeds and Spider-Man 3 arguably didn’t. This isn’t a sequel that is desperate to add new things but rather keen to develop what it already has. The conclusion of this film promises an extension of this character development however unfortunately, not through lack of intention on Sam Raimi’s part, the third chapter in this trilogy would be the product of studio intervention and a muddled, disappointing conclusion to the hard work in these first two films. However Spider-Man 3 is for tomorrow, today...is all about Spider-Man 2.
Put simply, Spider-Man 2 is funnier and bigger than Spider-Man. The action sequences are much more impressive with this film evidence of Raimi clearly growing as a blockbuster director, while the effects and general presentation of the Spidey sequences are of a much higher level and standard than they were prior. Danny Elfman’s theme music continues to place you right into the tone of the piece, however when viewing Spider-Man 2 I realized it was not the only element of these original films that the reboot will struggle to beat. J.K. Simmons, is perfect as J. Jonah Jameson. All of his scenes in this film are legitimately funny and in one scene of his character are more laughs than in most comedies. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are once again fine in their roles, however out of the core three characters it is only really James Franco who is given another dimension to his role this time around. In this film, Harry Osborn is visibly a different person entirely from the one we saw in Spider-Man and once again it led me to think negatively of Spider-Man 3, a film that should have been all about Harry, it should have been his story of revenge, tying the trilogy back to the first film with the Green Goblin and resolving all of the issues between Peter, Harry and Harry’s father that permeated throughout the first two films.
It is worth noting that Spider-Man 2 is not perfect however, there are flaws in this film that became more evident this time around. While absolutely being a more mature film, it does still have moments of silliness which I excused in my review of Spider-Man and will continue to excuse here. Spider-Man is supposed to have that innocence to him and when he stops and saves two children in the middle of the road and tells them not to play on the streets, I didn’t sigh or roll my eyes, I smiled...that is your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. However those moments are perhaps a bit more jarring or recognizable in this film than they were in the first due to the mentioned maturity which is evident this time around.
The film however is rather slow at points and I wish there had been more development of Otto Octavius and the relationship between Mary Jane Watson and the son of J. Jonah Jameson. Cut the scenes with Peter Parker not paying rent to the Russian landlords and instead use that screen-time more effectively. Alfred Molina is a great addition to the cast and I do not think he was short changed in the slightest, however as he and his character is so good, the film could have benefited from showing a little more of him and really delving into the conflict that he is now a victim and a servant to a machine he created. Similarly while the relationship between Mary Jane and Peter is fully developed and explored in this film, I found it hard to understand why Mary Jane would so readily ditch Peter Parker and marry this other guy, as we never really see or get to know him. While it seems odd that a sixteen year old guy would demand more development or the construction of a love triangle in a Spider-Man movie, I felt there was an area of emotional conflict left unexplored and I felt you could have gotten to the point this film ultimately gets to with Mary Jane and Peter without having an underdeveloped wedding as the barrier.
However moving back to the strong elements of which there are many. The scene where Peter tells Aunt May why he is responsible for Uncle Ben’s death is heartbreaking and everything regarding Aunt May in this film really grounds it and keeps the film and the emotion palpable. Swinging around to the other side of the spectrum, the train sequence in this film is phenomenal, its intense, exciting, well directed and choreographed and comes to a great conclusion. The use of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head is great, along with the obligatory Bruce Campbell cameo, there will be a big Bruce Campbell shaped hole in The Amazing Spider-Man.
Ultimately Spider-Man 2 is no masterpiece however it is a visible step up from Spider-Man and as of now the best Spider-Man film. The action and humour is improved, while the character and emotion is continued. It does what many sequels should but don’t and is one of the few examples of a sequel which is a genuine improvement on its predecessor in nearly every aspect. Funnier, bigger and better, Spider-Man 2 eight years later, remains at the high-end of superhero movies.
By Movie Parliament Prime Minister,
Michael Dalton
Give us all your Spider-Man 2 thoughts in the Your Say section, discuss the films in our forum and vote in the polls below.
