Right On

Rating: 10/10 (30 June 2004)

Great characters, plot, and polish. From the opening credits to the closing web-swinging we have a winner. GREAT FILM. Can't wait to see it again. Sam is a genius, and manages to inject more than a little of his personal style into the directing/editing. Check out the sequence where Doc's arms wake him up in the hospital emergency room. Pure Raimi. Definitely worth your two hours and your ten bucks. That's high praise from me.
***A Few Spoilers Ahead.***
The Alex Ross art in the opening credits summarizes the previous film almost better than the film itself. They are beautiful and emotionally effective and you could hear the audience react to them vocally (I love opening night crowds).
The abuse of Peter Parker by the world is relentless--true to the original material AND incredibly funny as portrayed by Maguire. Within twenty minutes, though Raimi need to do nothing but throw up Pete's face to get us behind him, the movie has earned our emotional involvement. Effortless characterization and honest expression of emotion. Plus, the film makers let you know they are aware of the situation with a deftness and self deprecation that provides still more humor. The Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head moment was a riot with the audience, who laughed out loud multiple times, cheered, clapped, and got quiet enough to hear a pin drop when Pete confesses to Aunt May.
The fight scenes between Spidey and Ock are incredible, and truly breathtaking, which is something I personally find to be rare as many movies as I watch and anticipate. They are quick and graceful, brutal and obviously showing off, but never superfluous. And the best part is, the climax is personal and emotional . . . not "ACTION/CGI!!! here I am look at what our CPUs can do!" There's plenty of flash, but always backed up by solid content.
For me, as a comics fan, the best parts were the campy screams, the fact they didn't back away from the cheesy dialogue, and most importantly that the cast and film makers believed in what they were doing enough to make the silly and absurd world I love plausible. That scene on the train when the crowd passes Spidey over their heads and agrees en masse not to reveal his secret . . . brilliant. The audience loved it. It's rare for a movie to be able to sell the audience on the honest expression of the more romantic emotions these days. Most of the time such scenes elicit groans and laughs. Not this time. Silence, anticipation, some "Awwws," and then applause.
Standing O. That's what I say. I love American movies.