Oh, what we will do for a woman sometimes, eh guys? Our hero, in the sequel to Spider-Man, is torn between fulfilling his duties of great responsibility and the girl he loves, and thus Spider-Man 2 has a human dimension of not quite unrequited love. Tobey Maguire gets inside the spidey suit for a second go-round, but this time he is tormented by the fact that he cannot be with Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst). His jealousy almost overflows when she falls in love with an astronaut (Daniel Gillies). He has super powers and he can’t get it on with Kirsten Dunst, not because he doesn’t have a chance, but because the power of his suit compels him. It’s totally unfair, a lot like life, and that makes Spider-Man 2 perhaps the best superhero movie ever made.
Leaving aside the romantic disaster of his personal life, Spider-Man also must deal with ex-best buddy Harry Osborn, who still blames him for his father’s downfall, and the latest villain, Dr. Otto Octavius, played with sinister zeal by Alfred Molina. I won’t spoil the surprises as Spider-Man balances all these difficult assignments, but all this torment is starting to take its toll on the boy. So much so, that he ups and quits. But to call him a coward is misleading because he is under the spell of the beautiful girl next door and we all know there is know antidote for that kind of superpower!
What I like a lot about this film is its seamless transition between real scenes and computer generated effects. The first film, perhaps due to lack of imagination or the limitations of the technology, felt fake when Spider-Man was zipping though the city and leaping buildings with his web-swinging abilities. This film does a near-perfect job of amalgamating effects with filmmaking and will definitely set the standard for action movies that want to be both a spectacle and seem real (take note, makers of Troy). While screenwriting credits are divided among four individuals, anybody who is a fan of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon (Wonder Boys) will recognize his dialogue. A tremendous fan and student of comic books, Chabon’s wit and intelligence separates this sequel from its predecessor. Even adaptations of great books that end up dotting the Oscar landscape will be hard pressed to match the intelligent dialogue of this screenplay.
My one complaint is with Dr. Octavius. Not that Alfred Molina does anything wrong, it’s just that both Doc Ock and the Green Goblin seem comical in films that otherwise take themselves seriously. But fans of the comic book will understand that these villains are supposed to be larger than life and grotesque creations that really stand out. I should also note that J.K. Simmons steals every scene he is in. As editor of the Daily Bugle, who keeps the Spider-Man phenomenon alive in the media, his gruff talk and disdain for our heroes makes him a great human foil.
As for Maguire and Dunst, they were born for these roles. Shirking the Oscar nominations they could garner from roles in challenging dramas and original independent films, these two have found a bankable and excellent franchise to ride out their twenties. The award roles will come, but for now, as long as they are in the capable hands of director Sam Raimi and some talented screenwriters, expect the Spider-Man series to exceed expectations and hold up very well in the future.
A fantastic summer film, Spider-Man 2 is a much-improved sequel and that is saying a lot because the first one wasn’t exactly bad.
Does a near-perfect job of amalgamating effects with filmmaking and will definitely set the standard for action movies that want to be both a spectacle and seem real.- Jamie Gillies
