PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
tomr-28618
I've probably seen this film 50 times and it never gets old. It's easily the best Spiderman film and has no competition in my mind. This film expanded the story of the first one with Peter struggling to merge his life as Spiderman with his normal life. It really puts Peter down at every chance it gets which makes the audience really care for him as nothing seems to go right for him and he's only trying to do the right thing. That's why at the end, it feels so satisfying when he reveals himself to Mary Jane. Doctor Octopus was also a very good villain and probably better than the Green Goblin. He felt like a normal guy and not some generic boring villain we would come to see more in the other films after. Overall this film never has a dull moment, there are so many memorable scenes sprinkled throughout and the pace keeps going, making for a very entertaining film. This is just one of those rare super hero films that actually stands out as a good film and not just a superhero film.
shubhamsrivastavalu
A hero fight the evildoer but a superhero fights toe evil while reforming the evildoer- this is what is expressed in the movie. The spider-man series always has a philosophical elements attached to it. Spider-man needs love and affection to unleash his powers; he knows to fight want not to harm. He manages to counsel Dr Octopus in the end and make him stop the experiment. The fight sequence and revelation of his true identity in front of Mary Jane are interesting.
Joshua Belyeu
I saw this film on opening day in 2004, and in November of that year I purchased the Special Edition DVD. Ever since, it has remained one of my favorite superhero films of all time. The actors truly explore their characters, giving them even more life and attitude.Tobey Maguire does excellent work, playing each and every side of Peter's changing emotions with an effectiveness rarely matched. His confliction between honor and desire comes through perfectly. Kirsten Dunst brings more of a fierce backbone to Mary Jane, and James Franco brings a seething hatred to Harry Osborn...at times, you don't know whether to hate him back, or feel for him. J.K. Simmons again "eats the scenery" as J. Jonah Jameson, being extremely funny, yet never outright campy...and Alfred Molina makes a wonderful turn as a wrecked scientist seeking comfort, who then becomes a victim of his own twisted invention.The special effects have improved by leaps and bounds, yet they never aim to distract from the tale. So many films these days let the effects guide the story, rather than the other way around. The "stylized world" remains intact, and is given a grander, bigger feel. But the crowned jewel of this picture, in terms of effects, is really Dr. Octopus' tentacles. Created through a mix of brilliant puppetry and computer animation, they take on a life of their own.The music, reprised and expanded by Danny Elfman, soars to new heights while retaining much of the magic that made his original score so successful. Many of the themes found in "Spider-Man" are present here as well, and there's some new material to enjoy on top of it.As for the criticisms, I have fewer with this than I did with the original. The film still pushes boundaries, but it's more relaxed than last time around. Mary Jane gets soaked again, being at a riverside lair. Her dress is drenched, but the "Wet T-shirt" controversy from the first round is all but absent (the outline of her nipples is still partially visible at one point, but it's very brief). I give Raimi both credit and applause, for listening to those who complained about the similar moment from his 2002 effort.Like the franchise's first entry, this film holds very true to the superhero formula, featuring many battles of epic proportions, As before, citizens are still in peril, and the action sequences feature the familiar acrobatics of the first film. The biggest moment of violence occurs about halfway in, when an unconcscious Ock sleeps at a hospital, while his sentient tentacles kill the medical crew. It's chilling, but not gory. The language in this film is again at a minimum, with remarks present but not overly abrasive.This film gets a 9 out of 10, deducting a single point for violence and minor sexuality. The upright morality of its predecessor is furthered all the more, in the rare case of a sequel that's actually better than the original.
Pjtaylor-96-138044
It's hard to decide whether or not I prefer this film to the first, as it tells - in some ways - a more mature, nuanced and layered tale, but what isn't hard to decide is that 'Spider-Man 2 (2004)' is a fantastic movie and easily one of the best sequels of all time. The villain is wonderfully rounded, his motivations constantly clear and his character arc drawn in full before the credits roll, and presents both a physical and psychological challenge for our hero. The story expertly balances the phenomenally fun yet still emotionally resonant web-slinging sequences (a high-speed train in danger provides one of the feature's nicest character moments whereas the whole 'bank' section is amazingly accomplished and thunderously entertaining) with the relatable central dilemma of our very human protagonist. Raimi's directing seems to be stepped up a little, too, as he leans further into his own quirky style - evident in the renowned 'surgery' scene which is one of the best in the entire film. The entire piece just gels together to make a cohesive, complex and rare example of the superhero genre at some of its very best. 9/10
