I believe there's a hero in all of us.

Rating: Null/10 (23 September 2004)

Before I launch into my review of this movie, I'd like you (the reader) to know a few things: 1. I have never read a Spiderman comic book before. 2. I'm NOT a fan of action/superhero movies. 3. I'm NOT an immature thirteen-year-old who watched this movie for the pure purpose of seeing Tobey Maguire shirtless. But, I wouldn't mind. Hehe. 4. I have a brain. A working one.
Okay, so, getting on with this review...I saw the first Spiderman movie and I could not believe how amazing it was! So, naturally, I was quite excited when I found out about Spiderman 2.
The basic synopsis is this: it's two years after Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) gained his superhuman powers after getting bitten by a radioactive spider. He's failing college, his Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) isn't doing too well, his best friend, Harry Osbourn (James Franco), is obsessed with finding Spiderman to avenge his father, and of course, Parker can't tell the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), that he's Spiderman.
Alas, woe is Peter. Tobey Maguire's acting has this special little spark that makes you really empathize with him. Of course, Parker's life will probably never happen to me. But, there was something about the way Tobey played Peter that made me really connect with his character. James Franco plays brilliantly as his character, Harry Osbourn, slowly goes insane with his crazy obsession over Spiderman. Kirsten Dunst is delicious as Mary Jane Watson. Even though she becomes engaged, you can tell that she knows that Peter is the one that she loves and she's trying to cover it up. Kirsten Dunst wonderfully portrays that angst within, which is quite a challenge for even the best actresses out there. Rosemary Harris was probably the most inspirational character in this movie. She delivers this inspiring and heart-touching speech where she tells Peter about heroes and what it means to be one.
Ah, but who can forget about the infamous villain? Alfred Molina plays Dr. Otto Octavius. However, the villain is just as complex as the superhero. After his mechanical arms are permanently welded onto his body, he says, "These monsters should be at the bottom of the river. Along with me." He isn't necessarily evil. He's just like Spiderman. They're both motivated by a single purpose, which leads them to do what they do.
In Spiderman 2, Spiderman is much less of a comic book figure and more of an actual human with superhuman powers. The effects and fight scenes are mind-blowing and breath-taking. I was cutting off my brother's circulation in his arm during the intense fight scenes. There was so much chemistry between the actors, especially Mary Jane and Peter Parker, you could almost see bubbles rising and popping.
All in all, Spiderman 2 was an inspirational film. At the end, the movie made me feel so wonderful and whole. It was more than just a film. It's an inspiration for people who've hit rock bottom and need to realize that the only way left is up.