One of the Best Comic Book Adaptations...

Rating: Null/10 (11 July 2004)

One of the aspects needed for ANY decent story is a sense of characters, motivation for them, and personal CONFLICT. This film hits all the right notes. From the quick summary of S1 with the credits, the viewer is quickly brought right up to date. This film underscores how important it is to have an ACTOR in a lead, despite 1/2 of it being in costume.
Like Michael Keaton did for Batman, Maguire gives Peter Parker a soul. He creates a character we feel so much empathy for. But...the film doesn't slight supporting characters in the least. This very worthy, superior sequel should be required viewing for any screenwriting course. Note the character nuances, the CONFLICT each faces, their MOTIVATION. There is far more here than a guy wearing a black hat who kicks puppies vs. the white hatted hero. These are BELIEVABLE characters, despite the SPFX. Dunst, Molina, Franco, and of course, the incomparable Rosemary Harris as aunt May, keep the story and characters grounded in humanity. This is the greatest conflict, not the CGI FX, although they are stunning.
Add this in with the LOTR trilogy and Harry Potter films. Hollywood hopefully will take note. RELATABLE CHARACTERS drive great films. Not explosions, wacky, inappropriately humorous one liners, but CHARACTERS, and only great actors can deliver these.