Perfect

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2004)

I have been a fan of Peter Parker's for over 30 years. I know this character. I have been there for his loves and his losses, his triumphs and his defeats. I know him to be a hero, even the truest of heroes, because he continues to be heroic regardless of the personal cost. And there has been great personal cost. Even sacrifice.
Sam Raimi understands this. He knows that the important character here is Peter Parker, who just happens to be Spider-man. An important distinction, though perhaps subtle to many, is that whereas Peter Parker is Spider-man, Spider-man is not Peter Parker. The spider does not define the man -- the man defines the spider. Parker's story is a human story, based upon his place in the world, his perceptions of it, and his interactions with his family and friends. This makes Parker's story a drama with action, and not the other way around. Because of this, these secondary characters are more than just props. They have lives and feelings of their own. Raimi does them just as much justice as he does Parker by developing them into more than convenient plot devices. Any fan should thank god for Sam Raimi.
And Tobey Maguire finally understands Parker. In the first film, I had the impression that Tobey didn't really understand Parker. He had never read the comics, hadn't had time to appreciate who Parker is. But now he gets it. You could see it in his eyes as Parker continually endures to his limits and beyond. When I saw Maguire in Pleasantville, I thought he would make a good Parker. In this film, he proves me correct.
The rest of the cast is superb. The regulars were given much more complex characters to work with in this film, and they stepped up their performances admirably. Newcomer Molina IS Otto Octavius. I loved Raimi's interpretation of this character. I hope to see him reprise this role, especially because Doc Ock is my second-favorite Spidey villain.
This film delivers all things to all audiences. It is perfect.