Essentials: Spider-Man 2

Year: 2004 (USA)
Genre: Action/Superhero Film
Directed: Sam Raimi
Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, Donna Murphy, Dylan Baker, Daniel Gillies, Aasif Mandvi, Willem Dafoe
Production: Columbia Pictures


What makes a truly great superhero movie? Is it the large spectacle of incredibly mind-blowing special effects? Is it about the character and their amazing gifts and abilities to overcome overwhelming odds? How about the implementation of a tangible love story, the introduction of a particularly nasty villain or the mythology formed from generations of stories told through a multitude of media.

How about slightly fascistic overtones?

If "all the above" is what you had in mind then you must conclude that Spider-Man 2 (2004) is the golden standard for superhero movie sequels and the modern gold standard for superhero movies in general. The movie has everything one would need to enjoy from a film genre that embraces popcorny-ness. It's sleek, stylish and has a tremendous villain in the form of Doctor Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina). Furthermore, the fact that Spider-Man 2 is a sequel, the story has the ability to open and expand the world of Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire), our forlorn hero.

The film opens with Peter Parker trying to balance his personal and professional life with that of his secret life as the web-slinging wall-crawler. Late on his rent, fired from his job delivering pizzas, discovering the woman he loves (Kirsten Dunst) is about to be married to someone else, and slipping in his academics, the downtrodden Peter can't even catch a break on his Birthday. To top it all off his best friend Harry (James Franco) wants Peter's alter ego Spider-Man dead for killing his father and dear Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) is foreclosing on the house. How can things get any worse you ask? In comes Otto Octavius, a brilliant scientist who after a scientific breakthrough goes wrong gets four large mechanical arms with a mind of their own. Add to that Peter's web-slinging just isn't what it used to be.

The film asks many questions about Peter's fidelity to his masked persona. Life is hard enough without having to deal with every whack job, natural disaster and heavily armed bank robber in New York. Half way through the movie Peter eventually just says to hell with it and walks away from his supposed great responsibility for as we all know he has great power for.

Spider-Man 2 differs from its prequel and from most superhero films in that it has a very strong and apparent emotional core. The majority of the movie is spent with Peter Parker out of his Spidey-outfit just trying to keep his head above water. We have an emotional connection to his character to the point where we actually care and want to see him and Mary Jane get together and be happy.

What do you mean? Spider-Man 3 was great!

My only major gripe about Spider-Man 2 is its setup of Spider-Man 3 (2007). While there is a lot of controversy about whether the Sam Raimi directed trilogy (2002-2007) is better than the new Amazing Spider Man (2012) (You can read my thoughts here), we can all agree Raimi's third installment wasn't very good. Still by the end of Spider-Man 2 both Mary Jane, Harry and even Aunt May knew Spider-Man and Peter were one and the same. Add to that the fan boy crowd screamed at the top of their lungs for Venom so Sam Raimi kind of painted himself into a corner.

Ages ago Christopher Reeve dawned the cape of the Man of Steel which first planted the seed for a viewing public ready for breathtaking action and noble sacrifice. Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy gave way to the darker more brooding superhero films which expounded on larger themes about a hero's relationship with society and the greater good. In between those two moments, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy laid the groundwork for superhero films loaded with modern special effects and old-school story-telling. Without the bankability of Spider-Man 2, there would be no Avengers (2012), Fantastic Four (2005) or Kick-Ass (2010). Additionally there'd be no standard to reach for or exceed.

Well maybe just a slightly lower standard

Final Grade: A