If crime could be fought this way...

Rating: 5/10 (28 July 2004)

These movies are rich in terms of images, action and movement thanks to computer tricks but usually poor indeed in terms of ideas and sentiments which is something computers are not yet able to create. Spider-Man 2 also abides by this rule since it has got good and original ideas but the good ones are not original and the original ones are not good. In what refers to sentiments it's not above cheap pink novels level except in the dialogues where Parker's aunt takes part which are very moving sometimes. The old story of the crazy scientist that wants to create new powerful energy sources in order to be able to become master of the world or something like that ultimately, is already worn and weary. And in this movie you never come to understand very well how and why the mechanical arms that he invents come to dominate his brains and seem to proceed by thinking for him. The story of the hero who renounces love to fight crime is also a bit worn and weary. Moreover if crime -- which has got social roots like everybody knows -- could be efficiently fought by any comic strips hero or the like, the problem would have been solved long ago. This being the case, what is left of this movie in positive terms besides the amazing cybernetic images? The rare moments of emotion in the above mentioned dialogues, a very powerful and excellent musical sound track and a few successful situation or visual gags which exploit the naïveté and awkwardness of the Pete Parker character in his normal life, i. e. out of the moments when he personifies Spider-Man. It's very little indeed.