Product: Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Rating: 5.0
A movie that respects a forty-year legacy
For those of us old enough to recall the comic strip's beginnings and various later incarnations, "Spiderman 2" is the perfect tribute to Stan Lee's creation. Straying little from its origins, the movie vividly brings to life one of the most unique characters to ever come out of comicdom. Like its predecessor, this film skillfully balances the superhero antics of Spiderman with his struggle to be the very human Peter Parker, making for an engaging story of a man's struggle with his dual nature.Much of the credit does go to the director Sam Raimi, screenwriter Alvin Sargent, the special effects technicians, and composer Danny Elfman.However, the actors chosen to represent the various inhabitants of this MARVELous world seem to jump straight from the mag's pages. Besides Maguire's brilliantly understated performance as the title character and Kirsten Dunst as love interest "Mary Jane", there's Rosemary Harris's truly believable "Aunt May", J.K. Simmons' flawless "J. Jonah Jameson", James Franco exorcising his own "demons" as "Harry Osborn", and Bill Nunn as Spidey supporter "Robbie Robinson".Alfred Molina has a "field day" as the film's villain, "Dr. Ock", a role that he must've relished every scene in which he appeared.To "borrow" from those other reviewers, I give this one TWO THUMBS and TEN TOES UP!