Exceptional Super-Sequel Crimefighting Superhero Adventure Love-Story Drama

Rating: 7/10 (12 May 2007)

Peter Parker is having trouble reconciling his aspirations with his alter-ego role as crime-busting superhero Spiderman. Meanwhile, an experiment in fusion-generated power by Dr Otto Octavius goes horribly wrong, warping him into the villainous eight-limbed Dr Octopus. Can Spiderman shake off his malaise and tackle this new threat ?
This sequel to the smash hit Spider-Man is another tremendous adventure, which for me is arguably even better than the original. Raimi expertly balances his eye-popping action scenes with tender drama and focuses in on his hero's inner conflict. Can Peter escape his destiny ? Does he want to ? What are the consequences if he does ? By accentuating Peter's human frailties, particularly through goofy moments (a troublesome broom-closet, problems getting hors d'oeuvres at a classy party, the lovably nutty Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head sequence), it makes his heroism and self-sacrifice all the more exciting and admirable. And Doc Ock is a fantastic villain like no other, stomping around the city, tossing cars about, scrambling over and around buildings - there's a fight/chase scene between the two on an elevated railway which is an eye-popping highlight. If the movie has a weak point it's the Mary Jane and Harry characters, Peter's friends, whom we relate to him through, but who slow up the narrative a bit too much, particularly since the film is filled with great kooky supporting characters - Simmons (who is perfect) as the cigar-chewing editor J. Jonah Jameson, Banks and Tovah as nice girls who bat their eyes at Peter, Raimi's old pal Campbell as an amusingly officious usher, and his brother Ted as Jonah's yes-man. Danny Elfman's terrific score is crucial to the flow of the picture, racing triumphantly as Spidey glides through the streets, and subtly charming us through all the tender and tragic moments. And as with the previous picture, John Dykstra's visual effects and Neil Spisak's production design are top-notch. Perhaps this movie could use a little trimming (say, Aunt May's eviction subplot), but it's a wonderfully honest, open-hearted film - it goes for broke in making its superhero human and its drama universal, and explores its theme - our instinctive need for heroes to look up to - with wit and eloquence. A great blockbuster action adventure from a truly great director.