Film of the Year! Best comic book movie ever!

Rating: 10/10 (8 July 2004)

Spiderman on a world scale is arguably the most popular comic book character there is. Many polls have been taken and most of the time Spidey sits proudly, perched above Superman and Batman as the comic book character everyone loves. Generally in England we prefer Batman because Bruce Wayne has a kind of British sensibility and aura about him, probably because he is posh and well spoken, how us Brits are stereotypically perceived. In terms of film translations from the comics I thought the first film was definitely one of the best, alongside X Men 2, The Crow, Superman and Batman. It was a great film, full of action, drama, thrills and al made so effective because of the characters in it. Raimi has made the characters and their journeys the important thing of the two movies and it makes them not just good action films but good films. Spiderman was a great film and while the sequel could easily have gone the typical sequel suit and up all the action and make everything more spectacular and forget about characters to focus on spectacle, this goes the route of the first film. Simply put, Spiderman 2 is a film of pure brilliance and can now easily be named as the best comic book film ever made.
Poor old Peter Parker went through hell in the last movie and this picks up pretty much near where the last one left off, with Peter unable to live the life he wants because of responsibility. He has several jobs to hold down, his studies at College and all this combined with the responsibility to the public as the cities vigilante crime-fighter. All of this while the one thing he really wants, Mary-Jane, is un-obtainable. The whole movie has you aching for Parker because you feel for him so much. The poor guy goes through hell and the character has real depth, the likes of which action films never ever have. He is a real person, and relatable, that is what made the character so popular to everyone since he first appeared eons ago. His best friend Harry is growing somewhat distant to him and Harry is driven by his hatred for Spidey and need for revenge. This tears at Parker so much as well. Harry also resents Parker because he makes money from taking pictures of Spiderman. Mary Jane has also been pining for Peter. She needs confirmation that he really loves her and she needs to know she can rely on him but when she can't she decides to get married. All this in conjunction with Dr Octavious who in the typical accident in his attempts to create a new super energy through fusion, ends up disfigured with 4 titanium arms welded to his spine and which control him. He is driven by the desire not to cause destruction and kill, but to finish his research but his maniacal state blinds him from the fact that this energy source could actually destroy half the city and in his attempts to get the resources needed he will rob banks, destroy buildings and kill. Parker through his stress and loss of enthusiasm for his job as city protector begins to lose his powers. He then calls it quits as Spidey and this causes a 75% rise in crime figures. This is all great stuff and soon Parker must try to regain his powers as he must save Mary-Jane from Doc Oc. There is a brilliant scene with Parker as a mere mortal. He spots a burning building and there is a child inside. The fire department can't do much but Parker runs into the building, he manages after a struggle and nearly killing himself, to rescue the child. It's an act of selfless bravery and he is commended for it by the firemen only to be told that someone was on the floor above and didn't get out alive. It dawns on Parker how special his gift was giving him an advantage over mortal men and women, he must use his advantages top help people and he knows he just can't sit by and let things like this happen, he could have saved both people from the burning building if he was still Spidey.
The cast once again are superb. Toby Maguire was born to play Spidey, he is Superb. He gives a sensitivity and likeability to the role that perhaps casting more of a poster boy star would not have had. He's a great actor and that adds to the power of the film. Similarly Kirsten Dunst is excellent again as Mary-Jane. She brings warmth and natural beauty to the part. I was also really impressed with James Franco as Harry. His role is significantly extended in this film in terms of depth. Franco brings out the inner torture brilliantly, we see the first signs of a future insanity. Rosemary Harris is just excellent as Aunt May. She has nailed the role, plain and simple. Also to those who though that JK Simmons was excellent as Jonah Jameson and wanted more well you get it and his role is just as funny and much bigger. If you also thought that Willem Defoe was superbly villainous as the Green Goblin then you will love Alfred Molina as Dr Octopus. The cast really do add class to this. Also look out for Bruce Campbell as a snooty usher.
The action is brilliant. The scenes are spectacular and as you would expect the effects are first rate. Raimi is a genius with effects. He really knows how to use them, he doesn't just put them in willy nilly and try to go for the coolest shots possible. He knows how to use them and combine them with the camera movement in a way that other effects geniuses like Peter Jackson and Jim Cameron can do. If you have also thought that Raimi has lost his raw edge and wackiness that he had in the Evil Deads and longed for full on Raimi style then you get it. This is Raimi unleashed. There are great references to Darkman and Evil Dead in this with P.O.V. shots and a lot more of Raimi's quirky style and humour. This film is not only dramatic and thrilling but it's also really funny and borders on slap-stick at times. Remember how well that blending worked in Evil Dead 2, well it's a combo that works superbly here. Also as ever Danny Elfman is the comic book score king. This is a great score.
Overall this is almost certainly is and will remain the film of the year, easily. It's in the same ball park as how good the Rings trilogy was, it really is that good. Also look out for Stan Lee's cameo, it's priceless and had me jumping off my seat in applause. *****