Spider-Man 2
The Greatest Spiderman Film Ever
Simply can’t put into words how much I adore every single aspect of this movie.
It is Spider-Man through and through.
It handles all of its central characters incredibly well and without a doubt cements Molinas Doc Ock as one of the greatest supervillains ever on screen.
The surgery scene alone has more sauce than the entirety of the MCU’s trilogy. Callbacks to Evil Dead and Campbell in one film? I offer my soul to you Sam Raimi.
It’s uniqueness and unbelievable capturing of how a comic book makes you feel is certainly once again at the hands of Raimis fantastic editing style.
Not to discredit Spiderverse, which achieves a similar thing without a doubt and undeniably changed the landscape of modern animation… but Spider-Man 2 does a similar thing but without the animation. Maybe not as unique but Spider-Man 2 manages to grasp the essence of comic books… in live action. I don’t think it gets the flowers it deserves tbh.
The transition in the reflection of Doc Ocks glasses? Insanity.
Some drop dead gorgeous shots throughout this entire film. I understand the CGI isn’t exactly TASM levels but it somehow works just as well to me personally. Train sequence, Doc Ock mourning, Doc Ock sinking the reactor with his arms (callback to having the power of the sun in the palm of his hands), Spider-Man suit and regular suit next to one another… blah blah blah I could go on.
An integral part of this movie and essentially why it works so well, is the way in which Raimi displays its messaging throughout. You of course know what this movie is saying but you feel it down to your core. Not the most nuanced but certainly one of the most impactful iterations of realising that to achieve balance in life may lead to sacrificing one’s dreams and that’s okay.
Balances the human and superhuman so incredibly, referencing struggles with both sides.
Even at Peters lowest, with his aunt, crush and best friend resenting him, Ursula proves hope and humanity still exists. No matter how low you may be, they’ll be someone looking out for you, even with the smallest gestures of offering a glass of milk.
Love the soundtrack and sound effects in this, specifically moments of Peters spider-sense being activated and moments of tension offer such fulfilment in its absence of music (like the surgery scene). Spider-Mans theme is one of the greatest superhero themes I have ever had the pleasure to listen to.
This film is quotable to near death across its many perfectly handled tones. It’s of course had its fair share of internet humour across the years but it is genuinely funny when it wants to be. I don’t think a single joke doesn’t land.
“Boss your wife’s on the line, she said she lost her checkbook”
“Thanks for the good news!”
Simmons is gold yet again, he’s top 5 funniest characters in superhero film history.
I remember people complaining about MJ in this film and I really don’t see that perspective. You have to understand, Peter is constantly playing with her emotions whilst she’s trying to move on and get MARRIED. Peter is just as bad as MJ but it’s understandable and pretty realistic I think. Yeah she does abandon the alter on her wedding day (not great) to be with a guy she said was the “biggest jerk” to her fiancé only a few days prior.
MJ and Peter are both flawed in their own right but that’s what makes their relationship so great across this trilogy.
Every character is beautifully crafted in this film, every single cast member gives their all and I can’t imagine this film without a single one of them. Tobey is excellent I can’t praise his portrayal of Peter enough. The best to ever do it.
I even really enjoy Franco’s performance as Harry.
What’s he up to these days?
There’s a few nit picks I have but genuinely not that many at all. I without a doubt think this is a near perfect film and captures everything that is needed in a Spider-Man film.
I forgot how beautiful that suit is.
“Sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want most, even our dreams”