Best Comic Book Movie. Ever.

Rating: Null/10 (13 November 2004)

Not that Spider Man 2 has much competition for the above title, but rest assured that it will remain at the top of that list for a very, very long time. The film certainly does not represent Raimi's or Maguire's (or Dunst's even) finest moments, but they put together such a terrific package that it's impossible to dislike.
Spider Man 2 represents a great amalgamation of special effects, story, character, and feeling. It is everything the first Spider Man was not, namely exciting, thought-provoking, and moving.
Spider Man was a noticeably weak film, as most origin stories are, with an unbelievably weak villain (it's hard to believe that Willem Defoe as the Green Goblin could be so...dull). The movie was nicely diverting for the two hours you spend at the theaters but, when you left, you left without any residual effects. Spider Man left your mind as soon as you got outside the multiplex.
Spider Man 2 is different. Aside from its lackluster name (why wasn't its AKA Amazing Spider Man used?), there's nothing wrong with the film. The effects are fantastic and, unlike in the original, do not draw attention to themselves. The performances in Spider Man were adequate and here the central roles are solid. Maguire and Dunst do not "act better" necessarily, but they are required to show more depth and intricacy than in the original film. Alvin Sargent is a very capable screenwriter and brings to this screenplay a craftmanship missing from David Koepp's. Sargent has more experience writing emotional nuance; for Spider Man's character, emotional nuance is key. Capturing Peter Parker's torture and ambivalence is no easy task; it requires a deft pen and Sargent came through. I'm also sure Michael Chabon's involvement did not hurt.
What also separates Spider Man 2 from its predecessor is its humor. Spider Man lacked Raimi's typical gallows humor; the sequel, though certainly dark in tone, has moments of great slapstick humor. Raimi seems more in control of this picture, more assured in his ability to create a big-budget extravaganza.
This confidence, I think, made the movie better. Raimi, more willing to take chances, swung for the fences and made it.
Spider Man 2 is the best summer, popcorn movie I've seen since AI. It's also one of the few times a movie deserves its immense success. Though you should have seen this on the big screen (twice), I hope it will translate well to TV where everyone can enjoy it over and over.