Two words, four syllables...wow.

Rating: 8/10 (7 July 2004)

I have to admit, I'm somewhat of a Spider-man freak, and I also have to admit that, as much as I did like the original Spidey flick in 2002, I really thought that the visual effects were just disappointing. That was not enough to weigh down the entire film, however, and now, Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco alongside Sam Raimi at the helm are back for Spider-Man 2. I went into this movie wanting to enjoy it. Wanting to eat it alive. When I left, I was positive that Raimi had delivered exactly what I wanted.
First off, Spider-Man 2 is much more than a simple comic-book-turned-action film...it is a real movie. The first entry had Peter Parker trying to deal with these newfound powers while at the same time combating the menacing Green Goblin. In this film, we have Peter Parker going through a complex of whether or not he really needs to be Spider-Man while also trying to reveal his love for Mary Jane, pay the bills in the crummy apartment that he lives in, try desperately to be on time for any job and make sure that does well in college...oh yeah, and there is a newly created baddie who goes by the name "Doc Ock" rummaging through the streets trying hard to finish his once prominent project surrounding nuclear fusion and four mechanical arms that are impervious to extreme heat or magnetism. There is just so much to work with in this film as opposed to the relatively two-dimensional plot of the first.
Spider-Man 2 doesn't rush the viewer into the Spidey-patented action. It eases the audience into this world where Peter Parker has become a real character with real problems (very faithful to the comics, if I may add). Peter Parker is experiencing a time when it feels like the world is crashing down around him. He feels that his love for Mary Jane and the relationship between them is waning and because of his split-responsibility as Spider-Man, he is late for everyone and everything that he needs to attend, including Mary Jane's starring role in a play. Meanwhile, through all of this stress, his Spidey powers begin to fail him and (I have to mention this) the audience is treated to one of the best scenes in the movie as Spidey is forced to take an elevator complete with the sarcasm of Hal Sparks from I Love the 80's.
Doc Ock is a great villain and is not as forced as the Green Goblin was in the last film. Everything about Spider-Man 2 is fluid and flows exceptionally well and I was really impressed to see how much better the villain works as a side story than as a major wedge in the main plot. I would applaud this with all six of my arms if I were Doc Ock, but I am not, so I will have to settle for a simple IMDb.com review.
9/10