Is this movie strong? Listen, bud...

Rating: 10/10 (24 June 2004)

Review of SPIDER-MAN 2
by STEVEN BAILEY
There are some "popcorn movies" that transcend their origins and
just become great movies--"North by Northwest," "Raiders of the
Lost Ark."
Add "Spider-Man 2" to the list.
There's no good reason that a film about a guy with the dubious
talent for traveling by web should be one of the most touching
movies around. But darned if I wasn't near tears by movie's end.
For that, kudos to director Sam Raimi, who found the same
"realistic" tone in the first "Spider-Man" and extends it here. The
characters seem like clichés--the clumsy kid turned super-hero,
the erstwhile girlfriend, the doting aunt. But thanks to heartfelt
encore performances from Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and
Rosemary Harris, they're more believable than those in more
"earthbound" movies I've seen this year.
Of course, some viewers don't go to "Spider-Man" movies for
character depth, and action fans won't be disappointed here either.
Alfred Molina, whom I've always found hammy, here has perfect
pitch as Dr. Octavius--at first friendly and caring to Peter Parker
(Spidey's daily alter-ego), then downright operatic in his revenge
when his planned scientific breakthrough goes wrong and turns
him into a kind of octopus-robot.
But the movie spends an unusual amount of time letting us get to
know its characters, so that viewers truly have a stake in the
high-powered action scenes. (Warning: Those scenes might be
very tough sledding for younger viewers. But if you've seen
"Spider-Man 1," you know what you're in for anyway.)
Out of a flawless cast, I end by singling out thoroughly winning
Kirsten Dunst as M.J., Peter/Spidey's love interest. Her dreamy,
sunny face grounds the story in happy normalcy. And her final
scene tops even "S1's" much-ballyhooed kiss.
This movie has it all. Go.