Dissapointing

Rating: 7/10 (28 July 2004)

I wasn't a huge fan of the 1st Sam Raimi Spidey movie but after several of my friends singing the sequels praises I caved and went to see it.
Starting very well it was easy to get drawn in and it all seemed very respectful of the comic books. Enter Dr Otto Oktavius, and on come the brakes.
Dr Ock should absolutely not be ever portrayed as a misunderstood, slightly ecentric scientist. Otto is by far one of, if not, Spiderman's deadliest arch enemies and is and evil meglomaniac.
But okay this is forgivable as long as it's just one change and the rest is quite respectful, but noooo.
Peter Parker's whole character for the past thirty odd years has been motivated by his feeling of guilt for the death of Uncle Ben, but here he confesses to Aunt May that it was all his fault and Aunt May after a while forgives him, taking away any motivation for him to be spiderman.
The travesty continues when he loses his mask, or rather repeatedly takes it off. The comic books do reveal Spiderman's alter ego as being Peter Parker but when it is done it's so momentous that it takes an age for him to come to terms with. Here Peter whips off the mask when he's surrounded by people on a subway train and again in front of Doctor Octopus and Mary Jane and Harry Osbourne.
It seems to me that Sam Raimi does not understand Spiderman at all. Harry Osbourne on the other hand is perfect, he couldn't have nailed him better.
All in all the movie is stunning as a superhero movie to as a representation of the well established Spiderman it just plain stinks.