Spider:Man? 2 (Special Edition, Widescreen)

My 2 year old has been fascinated with the Toby Maguire Spider Man films. She probably spends most of her time watching the first one, but she finds this equally captivating. Really, this is one of the better super hero films out there. Spider Man is an interesting character because he is usually portrayed as a high school teen or a college age kid. What this means is that he doesn't have all the answers, so it's typical for Spidey to do something stupid like think he should deny himself time with the woman he truly loves. In Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man's denial of his love for Mary-Jane Watson manifests in a loss of powers. The first time I watched this film, I thought that plot device was just a gimmick, but after watching this film more than 100 times (because my 2 year old keeps calling for it), the power loss makes sense. Before Dr. Octavius goes bad, he has a line about how "you can't keep something as complicated as love bottled up inside" and that's clearly what Spidey's power loss is meant to represent. Rosemary Harris has the sequence of dialogue that the screenwriter was probably most happy with, and she does a good job delivering it as Aunt May. She has kind of a Morgan Freeman moment with her "I think there's a hero in all of us" speech, and the scene where she is rescued by Spidey is effective. The best part of this film is the revelation of Spidey's identity to Mary-Jane. This is the culmination of two films of heart-ache in the romance between Peter and Mary, and the release that is felt when Mary-Jane realizes the truth is palpable. Actually, that's one of the better screen moments that I can remember. Poor, foolish, noble Spidey has been trying to protect Mary-Jane...but it's true that something as powerful as love can destroy you if you try to bottle it up. The various action sequences are very good. Rami's camera mimics the acceleration and deceleration of a man swinging on a wire, which is probably the only way to shoot spider-man. This one is superior to the first in all aspects except for the lack of Williem Dafoe (he appears in one scene). A must-watch for all superhero fans.

Director Sam Raimi has raised the comics-to-cinema bar to new heights with SPIDERMAN 2, the highly-acclaimed sequel that has turned out to be a blockbuster in more ways than mere Box Office numbers. Tobey Maguire returns as Peter Parker/Spiderman, now scrambling more than ever to meet his engagements on time. And it's not just Work - his college courses are suffering, even a commitment to see long-time crush Mary Jane in one of her plays ... because someone ALWAYS gets into trouble on the way there. Torn between being 'Spider-man' and plain old Peter (his love for Mary Jane and that less rushed, more ordinary lifestyle), Pete faces a new challenge to his dichotomous identity: Is he any longer cut out to BE Spiderman? Throw into that existential crisis a much-publicized fission experiment gone terribly wrong, a newly potent, tentacled villian who can climb skyscrapers and hurl automobiles like soda cans, as well as a director with a respect both for the genre and for the origins of the story, and you have the makings for a smart and suprisingly well-crafted tale. Spidey-Two is one of those sequels that truly is better than the original. For one thing, on almost every level it is more complex than the first, handling and balancing those complexities as professionally as any movie of its kind. The story itself contains more intricately interrelated elements than did its predecessor. The pacing is careful. The character portraits - most notably that of Peter Parker - are deep and could rival everything else we've seen this year in cinema. Actually, in the two-plus hours that show us his hopes and struggles, Peter Parker became visibly more human than any other put-to-film superhero I've ever seen. And no other superfigure can best Spiderman for sense of moral direction. Also, the action-sequences and visual effects are equally, or more, stunning than in the original. Here we get a much better sense of Spiderman's speed, agility, and even his sheer strength. For a final image we have a hero who is both very much someone with whom we can identify and yet somehow larger than life. As for other cast members, everyone who was anyone in the first movie comes back for the second. Adding to that is the reality, as one critic has said, that those same actors/actresses take their roles with utmost seriousness, making their characters the more believable. Finally, Sam Raimi directs those persons and their crises through some very refreshing plot turns. Chaulked-full of DVD extras (including Commentary by Sam, Tobey, and producers; blooper reel; trivia track; a women-of-Spiderman featurette; 'Doc Ock'-umentary; and much more), SPIDERMAN 2 remains a motion-picture force to be reckoned with - one entirely worthy of the praise it received.

'Spider-Man 2' continues the story of Peter Parker, a young man that has been gifted, and cursed, by having been bit by a genetically altered spider. The spider bite infected Parker with magnificent powers, and at the same time, made Peter make a difficult choice on how to best use those powers. In the first movie, the audience watched as Peter gained his powers, accepted his responsibility, and made tough choices on how to run his life. In the sequel, Parker, played by Tobey Maguire, still hasn't learned how to make his life as Peter Parker the student, photographer, and nephew coexist with his life as Spider-Man the super hero. While he excels at being Spider-Man, he doesn't do such a good job being Peter. He has fallen behind in paying his rent, has lost contact with his best friend, the millionaire Harry Osborn (who is convinced Spider-Man killed his father), if failing in college despite being exceptionally smart, and has put a relationship with the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson (played by Kirsten Dunst) on hold. To make matters worse, a new super villain has emerged. Much like the Green Goblin from the original 'Spider-Man,' Doctor Octupus gains his abilities through an accident while pursuing an otherwise admirable goal. Doc Ock, played by Alfred Molina, in some respects, is a very sympathetic villain. In addition, Spider-Man finds that his powers are frequently failing him. So, he makes a choice: whether or not to be Spider-Man any longer.... This movie is an exceptional story. Like its predecessor, it remains true to the spirit of the comics thanks to the direction of Sam Rami. I did not care for the angle of Spider-Man losing his powers because of self doubt and discomfort with his role in life as it was never an angle explored in the comic, but it was a great plot device to explore the dual life of Peter Parker. Some of the actors were better than others. Personally, I really like Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. Kirsten Dunst does a fine job acting, but just doesn't strike me as the knock out that Mary Jane was portrayed as in the comics. I'm not sure who I would have replaced her with. Alfred Molina was a truly excellent choice for Dr. Octupus. His performance as the brilliant scientist and loving husband turned eight limbed super villain is first rate. However, perhaps the best performance is that of J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, the Editor of the Paper that Parker sells pictures of Spider-Man to. The role could not have been cast better and Simons has JJ down to a T. The action scenes were first rate. The battles between Spider-Man and Doc Ock easily eclipsed those between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. Raimi and the writers of the film developed some truly creative ways for both the hero and the villain to employ their powers. The FX department did a wonderful job bringing the action to life and making Doc Ock move as one would expect. In addition to the plot line of Spider-Man fumbling with his powers, my other gripe is how Spider-Man's identity was handled. Quite a few people seem to know who Spider-Man is now. Parker's alter ego was always a closely guarded secret in the comics, and it just seems to be discarded too carelessly in the films. I highly recommend this film. Spider-Man and comic book fans will enjoy it for its true to spirit adaptation of the comic (although not 100% faithful to the comic book). Next to 'X-Men 2,' it is one of the best translations ever. Action fans are in for a treat as well. Besides the violence, parents don't need to be overly concerned about what their children are seeing as there is no sex and hardly any language. The movie excellently blends action, story, character development, and humor. DVD enthusiats will be thrilled with the generous amount of extras. I highly recommend this film.

Please note that I've never read any Spider-Man comics and am simply judging this and any other Spider-Man film on their merits as films in a superhero film series. Thank you for your understanding. We've all seen superhero film sequels that fell flat or outright bombed (i.e. Batman and Robin, Superman IV.) This film did no such thing. It continued an interesting story, introducing new characters and plots while building on what the first film had left us with. It also gave me my favorite Spider-Man villain ever: Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus, played by Alfred Molina, whose performance can be called nothing short of "humanizing" for this character. Seriously, this incarnation of Dr. Otto Octavius is Spider-Man's equivalent of Mr. Freeze, but with a bit more humor, and that makes him so great to watch over and over again. It was also nice that this film didn't go the way of other superhero sequels by trying to cram more villains into its plot. Sure, Harry Osborn was rather evil, but he's been around in the previous film, so his story ark was merely continuing rather than just beginning. This film also did something I can't recall any other superhero film doing...it showed us Peter Parker's struggles with keeping up with his double life. Sure, there have been films, including this movie's predecessor, that showed such problems to a certain extent, but here, we truely can see and identify with his trials and sacrifices, and that only adds to his character and the plot. We surely have Toby McGuire's acting to thank for that as well as the great writing. I never really got the part about him just losing his powers and then getting them back, but otherwise, I loved this film. Mary Jane Watson was unfortunetly just as bland as in the previous film, taking the role of the female lead in superhero films back to the days before Margot Kidder played Lois Lane in the first Superman film. Nevertheless, I feel quite comfortable labeling Spider-Man 2 as my favorite in this series...I'd give it six stars if I could. Enjoy.

I'm going to risk getting a bunch of "Unhelpful" votes now by saying this- "Spider-Man 2" is slightly overrated. This is an entertaining and sometimes moving film, but it's not without its flaws. Those who are saying this is the best comic book film ever have likely not seen many comic book films. I found "Spider-Man 2" to be somewhat below such films as "Supermans I and II" (In fact, this film borrows some themes from "Superman II"), "Hulk" (for those who haven't read my previous reviews, I was one of the few that loved that film), and even the second "X-Men" film. However, this is still a very good movie, and it will probably end up in my year's Top 10 list (out of the 50 or so films I see a year). Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst continue to be an appealing couple. Really, there couldn't be a better Spider-Man than Maguire. My personal favorite of the acting jobs is JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, who gives the film all of its funniest momemts. I honestly believe he should be up for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Another stand-out is Alfred Molina, who makes Dr. Octopus equally sympathetic and dangerous. The sole sore here is James Franco as Harry Osbourne. I sensed that we were supposed to sympathize with him as well, but from the beginning of the film he's too angry and hateful. The action in "Spider-Man 2" is almost spectacular. In this area, "Spider-Man 2" improves on the first one in almost every way. My only complaint is that there's not enough of it. The film feels about 20 minutes too long, and I honestly think that it could have done with fewer of Peter Parker's "agonizing over what to do" moments. Don't get me wrong, the movie did need some of these scenes. There are just too many of them, and things occasionally bog down. However, the film corrects itself at the climax, which works both on an action-filled and an emotional level. Needless to say, we can't wait for "Spider-Man 3". On the whole, I would say that "Spider-Man 2" is a huge improvement over the first film, which I was slightly disappointed with. The acting is even better, the villain is perfect, and the climax is rousing. While I won't say "Spider-Man 2" is the best comic book film out there, it's a good way to kill a couple hours, and to give yourself an adrenaline boost.

Spiderman is back and better than ever in this highly-charged, thrilling sequel to the original. Tobey Maguire reprises his role as Peter Parker and the web-slinging superhero. A normal, but somewhat geeky college student, Parker springs into action as Spiderman at the first sign of danger. Kirsten Dunst is back as Mary Jane Watson. At the end of Spidey one, Mary Jane and Peter told each other that they were in love, but Peter said that he could never be with Mary Jane. She is now a highly successful Broadway actress who has fallen in love with an astronaut who happens to be the son of J. Jonah Jameson, the editor of the Daily Bugle. James Franco stars as Harry Osborn. He has taken over contol of his father's business after his death in the first movie. (His father was the Green Goblin in Spidey 1). Harry blames his father's death on Spiderman and vows to avenge his father by destroying Spiderman. His company has developed a way to improve the fusion process, and with the cooperation of Dr. Otto Octavius, played by Alfred Molina, they have developed a strange set of titanium tentacles that can be controlled by the brain of the person wearing them. However, something goes terribly wrong during a demonstration, and Dr. Octavius is forever changed as a result. Somehow, the arms seem to have taken control of Dr. Octavius, and he is now under their power. Determined to complete his research, Dr. Octavius turns to crime and becomes known as Doc Ock, due to his similarity to an octupus. Soon, Doc Ock and Spiderman are fighting it out, waging battles in banks and on top of speeding commuter trains. Ock realizes that he needs money to complete his research, so he visits Harry and makes a deal; Ock will kill Spiderman and Harry's company will give Ock the funding he needs to finish his research. Will Ock succed in his devious plan to finish his fusion research and possibly destroy New York City in the process? Will Spiderman stop him before its too late? Will Peter and Mary Jane get together? Will Harry succeed in his bid to destroy Spiderman? I thought Spidey 2 was much better than the original. The actors, especially Alfred Molina, give excellent performances, and the action and thrills are non-stop. The ending of the movie is left wide-open for a possible Spidey 3. I highly recommend this fun and action-packed movie. Watch closely and keep an eye out for your friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

This movie does what a lot of special effects/action movie sequels forget to do....It spends time developing the characters beyond what we saw in the first film. This was the main problem I had with movies such as "Men in Black 2." In that movie, we didn't learn more about what the M.I.B. do when they're not on duty or even exactly where they live and how they deal with society while off the clock. This movie, though, we see how Peter Parker has to deal with being an average guy while not out fighting crime. We see how difficult it is for him trying to juggle being a responsible superhero who puts others' lives ahead of his own and then on the other hand being considered an irrespoinsible slacker while just being himself. They could have went the simple way with this movie and just said "Okay, part 2, we already know who the characters are so let's just give it more action and more special effects!" I'm glad they didn't do this, the director actually said that this movie pretty much has about the same amount of action sequences as the first, and while this does seem true, it doesn't take away from the movie at all. Because now since we have more character development, we care more now for each character involved in the story. Whereas we knew who Aunt May was in the first "Spider-man", we now care more about her and how she's gonna get through life without Uncle Ben. And now we even care more about Peter Parker. In the first film, we cared about how he was going to adjust to his superpowers and get good enough to use them to help save New York and those he cared about. In this film, though, we not only care about how he's gonna save the city and those he loves, but how he's going to even save himself. The reason we feel this way this time around is because we see how vulnerable Peter Parker is. Yes, as Spider-man he has the ability to pick up some of the heaviest of objects and is agile enough to dodge many of the things that are thrown at him, but we know that he's still only human. And we know that his worries about his own personal life can interfere with his ability to fight supervillians. I saw this movie 5 times while it was in theaters and I highly recommend it.

I know mine is not a popular opinion, but I do not understand why Spider-man 2 is praised as being one of, if not the best comic book movie ever made. Spider-man 2's plot is profoundly flawed. The worst of these flaws is the "spider-man no more" premise borrowed from the comics. I found the idea that Peter's mysterious loss of his power was a physical manifestation of his psychologically desire and that his power's could be completely nullified by his will alone to be "very thin" (To quote Riggs from Lethal Weapon). It would have been more meaningful (and believable) if Peter simply made a conscience decision to be spider-man no more with powers intact. Another flaw is the movie version of Doc Ock. I think it is sad the writers decided to use the tired and overused idea of "evil A.I.," reducing Doc Ock to a victim technology, instead of a truly menacing villain like Willem Defoe's Green Goblin. Alfred Molina is a gifted actor who deserved better. It would have been better to have Doc Ock driven into madness by the death of his wife and swear vengeance on Spider-man, who he blames for her death. Doc Ock could then regain his sanity by coming to terms with his role in his wife's death. The last flaw I will discuss here is the fact that Spider-man appears unmasked in the presence of every major character in the movie, not to mention half the city of New York (unconvincingly portrayed by the city of Chicago). The reactions of the New Yorkers who filled the train car as they peer on an unmasked Spider-man are more unbelievable than a teenage boy being bitten by a genetically altered spider and receiving super powers from it. Thankfully, it is clear that the actors have comfortably grown into their roles for the sophomore film. Additionally, the visual FX in this film have trumped its predecessor. Lastly, the film does a decent job of continuing the character relationships of the previous film.