Don't open the caviar!

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2020)

The cast of the original franchise-and by that I mean the only acceptable franchise-is so perfect. They could have kept making movie after movie, rather than passing their batons to two new casts in the last ten years. Unfortunately, if you love Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as Mary-Jane, James Franco as Harry Osborn, J.K. Simmons as J. Jameson, and Rosemary Harris as Aunt May, you've only got three movies to enjoy them. Still, three movies are better than none, and it's always a fun weekend to break out your boxed set and have a marathon.
In this one, Alfred Molina guest stars as the villain Dr. Octopus, and while his acting helps the movie along, his character isn't the most interesting of the villains. Following on the heels of the intriguing Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus would have been a major let-down had it not been for the fantastic special effects. It's not Alfred Molina's fault, and he does the best he can with the character.
Peter Parker still has an unrequited crush on Mary-Jane, and in this movie, she's actually engaged to his boss's son, Daniel Gillies. Peter's pal Harry is grieving over his father, so if you want to see the gorgeous face of James Franco pouting in nearly every scene, this will be your favorite of the three. And if you think he's cute in this one, you'll just love the third movie when he gets his smile back. Where was I? Oh yes, the plot. You don't really need one if you're in the middle of the trilogy; you're not going to turn back and leave the series hanging at this point.
What I love about comic book movies-the good ones, not the unnecessarily dark ones-is that they always have plenty of comic relief to remind audiences that it's all a fantasy. J.K. Simmons gets to deliver one of the funniest lines: "Call the caterer. Tell her not to open the caviar." He's hilarious in this movie, as he tries to turn Spider-Man into a menace through his newspaper. Rosemary Harris gets a meaningful monologue about how important it is to do the right thing even when everyone else is against you, and Elya Baskin makes his presence immortal with one word: "Rent?"
See-who needs plot when you've got memorable moments that make it nearly impossible to choose a favorite of the three movies? The first movie is my favorite because of the introduction to the story. The second one is my favorite because of the incredible scene when Tobey stops a crashing train. The third one is my favorite because James Franco and Kirsten Dunst make an omelet. Call me sentimental.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When Spider-Man flies, there are some swift camera movements that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"