The Best Comic Book Movie I Have Ever Seen...Until 2006 Comes Around

Rating: Null/10 (8 July 2004)

*-Catch it on TV **-Worth a Rental ***-Buy it Used/On Sale ****-Buy it New/Top Dollar *****-Worthy of a Blind Buy
In the year 2000 Bryan Singer brought us "X-Men." A great movie that was upstaged just two years later with Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man." Just last year "X2: X-Men United" became the best comic book movie I had ever seen, until now. "Spider-Man 2" can be summed up in one word...huge. Picking up two years after the events of the first film, "Spider-Man 2" continues telling the story of Peter Parker. Peter is, like every other college student, juggling the responsibilities of school, work, and also protecting New York City with spider-like superpowers. This time around Spidey does battle with Doctor Octopus, who is working at getting, "the power of the sun in the palm of his hand."
I was in awe by the opening credits. Alex Ross provided drawings to recap the events of the first film during the opening credits. The pictures are breathtaking and very detailed. Little things from the first film that irritated me, like Spider-Man's corny one-liners while he was fighting the Green Goblin, were no where to be found in the sequel. The special effects were greatly improved and the shots of Spider-Man swinging around the city were much more realistic. The script was a lot wittier this time around as well. There is a scene in particular with Spider-Man riding the elevator that was hysterical as well as Bruce Campbell's cameo.

Tobey Maguire was, once again, great as the troubled Peter Parker. If the franchise goes the same way as Batman and the Bond films by changing the cast every few films, then it will be difficult to find a suitable replacement for Maguire. Kirsten Dunst's performance was a step up from the original but she still could have been a little better. James Franco played Harry Osborn very well, however it was a much different Harry than the one we knew in the first film. Over the last two years Harry became a high-level executive at his father's company and still hates Spider-Man after the events of the original movie. This plays in very well with the story and gives James Franco the chance to really shine in his role. J.K. Simmons had a bigger role in the film and provided comic relief with expert timing.

The "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" movies are the two biggest comic book franchises today. With "X-Men 3" set to come out in 2006 and "Spider-Man 3" slated for release a year later it will make for an interesting couple of years. I don't see how Bryan Singer could possible top Sam Raimi's work this time around as "Spider-Man 2" is now the greatest comic book movie I have ever seen. I give it *****. It is definitely worthy of a blind buy, especially if you are a fan of the first film.