Spider-Man 2ward the next Golden Age

Rating: Null/10 (30 June 2004)

Spider-Man 2 is a bigger, better, and faster movie than the first. The story is continued by the opening credits summing up the last movie. The cast is all growing older and even the storytelling is getting wiser, this seems to be a trend set by the new Harry Potter, LOTR movies. Long gone are the days with sequels with different actors in the main parts (like the Batman movies). The serial type feel is reminiscent of the Golden Age of Hollywood. An Age where the studios had the money and held great control over their employees. Is this all too familiar Golden Age( that fell in the 60s and 70s) reemerging? And if so, how would an independent filmmaker feel about participating in it?
What has been evident in both of the Spiderman movies has been it's uncanny ability to borrow from other films. The first Spiderman movie included the infamous Matrix move in slow motion, the Superman striped shirt move to change costumes, the Mission Impossible sweat dripping off the forehead replaced by blood suspense scene, the Batman disappearing in mid conversation technique, and the many cliché superhero scenes including babies in burning buildings and such. The New Spiderman Movie continues to use these well-known cinematic devices. From the stomping thunderous noise of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park, and a multi tentacle operating scene gone wrong found in Independence Day, Sam Raimi continues to use the films we all know and love in his movie. He borrows or makes reference to all the big budget films that we have already paid to see again and again... But why?
The major difference between the first Spiderman and the second is Sam's constant reminder that it's just a comic book movie we are watching. These constant reminders are expressed through exaggerated characters and a sort of satirical tone to keep the adults laughing and the kids watching. The acting is more of a symbolic act to convey the story to an audience of all ages. These tongue in cheek scenes found in the first movie are not as prominent in the second film. This was my major problem with the first movie. The movie never took itself seriously and instead of being afraid of the Green Goblin when he's going mad, like I was in Batman with the Joker, I was laughing.
At the same time Sam Raimi's reminders work at making the film satirical it also (especially in Spiderman 2) works at making the film smarter and more artistic like Godard did in Breathless. Sam Raimi uses not only other Big Budget movies but his own Big Budget movie Spiderman to make references with in Spiderman 2. It?s in his juxtaposition of his first Spiderman movie to his second Spiderman movie that the film?s most interesting aspects lie. We relive moments from the first film and are able to compare and contrast are heroes progress with the second film (similar to the end of Back to the Future 2).
We find ourselves in the burning building, his uncle's murder scene, and the rooftop where he made his first jump. This time Peter is facing new problems. The major problem being himself. The film conducts a very fresh and interesting study on Peter's condition. A type of soul searching goes on in the story that is more mature and interesting than anything found in the first movie. I believe the film is most interesting when placed in juxtaposition with the first movie in a way Coppola introduced with Godfather Part 2.
The Superhero movies of today have become our modern monster movies. Heroes or romantic villains take on their traits of symbolic meaning. It?s not hard to believe those monster movies where also part of Hollywood 's Golden Age. And now with the many Blockbuster Summer movies aimed at are pocket books with clichés and all too familiar scenes, jokes and characters we seem to be entering another Golden Age. So how would an indie filmmaker feel about this "show BUSINESS"?
Now I?m not sure if it was Raimi or the screenwriters? idea to include the film references; But if a major production company was going to entrust an indie filmmaker to make a big budget film what better a way to ensure the crowds and stick it to them with your own artistic rebellion at the same time than by showcasing the over formulized films that everyone already likes in a light that shows their plastic and artless form that has become our modern pop culture. Because this idea would give Raimi more of a reason than the screenwriters I tend to give him the credit.
On an emotional appeal Spiderman 2 makes you laugh, bite your nails, and feel overly sympathetic toward our friendly neighborhood Spiderman.
Overall, watch for Raimi's many film references/influences and the juxtaposition not only between Spiderman and Spiderman 2 but Peter Parker and Doc Octopus. James Franco gives an incredible performance considering the world the acting is taking place in. And watch for how quickly he can muster pain, tears and charisma. One of the greatest scenes takes place in an elevator between Spidey and one of his neighborhood friends. The scene conveys in the truest sense Raimi?s take on Spiderman. Raimi's ideas expressed here and Spielberg's expressed in the Terminal could start the first American New Wave of intellectual and highly marketable films that represent the times as well as the artist and culture.Enjoy.