Spider-Man 2

Oh Boy. Where the fuck do I even begin with this review. Oh my actual fucking god, its genuinely an impossible task to even sum up my deep, deep, deep, deep, deep appreciation for this movie in just words. There is over 1 million words in the English language, around 171,000 in the Oxford dictionary, and there simply just isn’t enough words to really actually explain how important this movie is to my life.  The movie starts with Danny Elfman’s iconic score, so I guess thats where I will begin too. The most amazing score in the history of cinema in my opinion. It truly blends sweeping orchestral power with darker, almost haunting undertones, reflecting both Spider-Man’s exhilarating web-slinging and the weight of responsibility he carries. Elfman uses bold brass and soaring strings to evoke grandeur, while subtle choral elements add a mythic, almost tragic quality. It’s instantly memorable, emotionally rich, and elevates the film’s tone, making Spider-Man feel larger-than-life but still human. “She looks at me every day. Mary Jane Watson… Oh boy. If she only knew how I felt about her. But she can never know. I made a choice once to live a life of responsibility. A life she can never be a part of. Who am I? I’m Spider‑Man, given a job to do. And I’m Peter Parker, and I, too, have a job.”  Straight from the get-go we are introduced to the true human nature of this movie. Man the script is so excellent, it immediately frames the entire story around Peter’s internal conflict, not just as a superhero, but as a young man torn between love and duty. In a few sentences, it encapsulates Spider-Man’s core duality: the exhilarating power and crushing weight of responsibility, the longing for a normal life and the acceptance that he can’t have it.  Man that scene with the Pizza delivery is fucking excellent. Comedic, goofy, some amazing web slinging. Its truly excellent and the first great scene of this perfectly crafted film. And in the end, Peter faces his first massive hit in the movie, losing a job. All because he is struggling to find that true balance between being Peter. And thats whats so great about this movie, Raimi really makes sure to tear Peter Parker down to absolute pieces. Next he is late to Doctor Connors class, he is humiliated by J. Jonah. Jameson, he misses Mary Janes play, he is in conflict with his best friend, his aunt is in financial struggle and blames herself for Uncle Bens passing, and he knows deep down that he is more responsible than he lets off. Together, these moments show that responsibility defines every choice Peter makes and by extension, everything he loses which is why his eventual decision to “quit” being Spider-Man feels so earned later in the film. “Intelligence is not a privilege, it’s a gift. And you use it for the good of mankind.”And now we are introduced to Alfred Molina’s Doctor Otto Octavius. One of the most underrated villains in CBM history, he is often overshadowed by his predecessor with what a fantastic performance Willem Defoe portrayed as The Green Goblin. But Doc Ock really deserves to be spoken about more than he is. This quote establishes Otto as a moral compass and mentor figure, while also subtly foreshadowing his fall. In that moment, he’s everything Peter wants to be: brilliant, respected, in love, and seemingly balanced, yet that very belief in using gifts for good mirrors the lesson Uncle Ben taught Peter. When Otto later becomes Doc Ock and abandons this principle, the quote becomes tragic, showing how power can corrupt even the noblest ideals. It also reinforces the film’s central idea: great gifts demand responsibility, or they can destroy you. “The Power of the sun, in the palm of my hand”This scene is amazing because it’s the exact moment Otto’s ambition turns catastrophic. One of the most haunting scenes in comic book movie history. I used to have to skip that shit as a kid because it scared the living shit out of me. The sterile hospital environment, the beeping machines, and the hushed voices create a chilling atmosphere of fragility and impending doom. The tentacles coming at people and strangling them, the chainsaw going off. Its chaos, its horror, its Sam Raimi's natural filmmaking ability as a horror director coming to light.  One of the more significant events in this movie was Peter briefly losing his powers due to mental struggle. This mental struggle in my opinion is the main villain of this movie, because it’s an invisible, relentless force that undermines him at every turn. Unlike Doc Ock’s physical threat, Peter battles doubt, fear, and guilt, questions about whether he deserves his powers, whether he can protect the people he loves, and if his sacrifices are worth it. This internal conflict causes his powers to weaken and his confidence to shatter, making him vulnerable not just to external enemies but to giving up entirely. The movie brilliantly uses this psychological battle to deepen the story, showing that sometimes the hardest fight is within yourself.  This of course leads to Spider-Man quitting. One of the best scenes in this movie which I rarely see talked about is that scene with Peter and his uncle Ben in a car in that white background with the Danny Elfman score, and Peter having to break the news to Ben that he can’t do this anymore, he has to prioritise his life and what he loves. That scene of him throwing the suit into the trashcan, just wow. Straight out of the comic panel. Brilliant  That montage with “raindrops keep falling on my head”, in my opinion is the best montage in the history of cinema. I absolutely love it. The song is so catchy, seeing Peter Parker just as a regular guy doing regular guy things is fucking awesome. I must say by the way, Im a Peter Parker fan before im a Spider-Man fan, Peter Parker is what makes these films so amazing and other renditions not up to the standard. They are too spidermany and this is peterparkery and deeply grounded and human.  That lead’s brilliantly into my favourite monologue of all time. Aunt May speaking to her nephew Peter. Oh boy its my second favourite scene of the entire movie.  “He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero—courageous, self-sacrificing people setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them…cheer them…scream their names. And years later, they’ll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them to hold on a second longer. I believe there’s a hero in all of us…that keeps us honest…gives us strength…makes us noble…and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most – even our dreams. Spider-Man did that for Henry and he wonders where he’s gone. He needs him.“Man, Alvin Sargent. You need more attention man seriously. This, in my opinion is the best script ever written. Seriously. The dialogue in this movie is unlike anything I have ever seen before. It’s genuinely so human and so amazing. The script is so fucking well written its unbelievable. it perfectly balances character drama, thematic weight, and spectacle. For Peter, this moment functions as a turning point. He’s in the middle of abandoning his identity as Spider-Man, worn down by personal loss and responsibility. Aunt May’s words, though she doesn’t realize she’s speaking directly to Spider-Man, reaffirm why he became a hero in the first place: not for himself, but for others who look to him for hope. Her line about “giving up the thing we want the most, even our dreams” directly mirrors Peter’s internal struggle over his love for Mary Jane versus his duty to the city. One of my favourite scenes in this movie is for sure the scene where a powerless, vulnerable Peter Parker runs into a burning building to save a child. Really just portraying his pure mentality of heroism. He doesn’t need to be Spider-Man to be a hero, he already is a hero. Being Spider-Man just makes him a better hero, as we see that he simply doesn’t have the physical attribute to save that one more person from the burning building, he realises now, he has to be Spider-Man. He must put his troubles aside, and think about the greater good. Especially with that lunatic on the loose.  “He’s… just a kid. No older than my son.”The train scene is absolutely one of the most iconic scenes, and in my opinion the very best scene in film history. arguably the emotional and thematic centrepiece of the entire Raimi trilogy — it distills everything about Peter Parker’s heroism into one sequence. Peter puts every ounce of himself into stopping the runaway train, literally tearing his body apart to save strangers. This isn’t about glory or recognition, most of the passengers don’t even know who he is, it’s about doing the right thing, even if it kills him. Unlike many modern superhero set pieces, this isn’t just spectacle, it’s personal. Raimi lingers on faces in the crowd, the hands reaching out to hold Peter up, the small human moments that ground the fantastical action. It’s not about destruction; it’s about community and empathy. The train scene positions Peter’s selflessness directly against Otto’s selfishness, heightening their eventual confrontation. Blah blah blah, man my fingers are hurting from writing but I need to write more. Harry finds out Peter is Spider-Man, oh shit. Cant wait to get to the third movie, the most underrated movie of all time, and see that truly unfold.  “I will not die a monster.”  That final battle scene is phenomenal. From the start, Otto is framed as a man of brilliance and good intentions, someone Peter admires. His descent isn’t due to pure malice but the corrupting influence of the AI tentacles amplifying his ego and grief. The climax pays off this tragedy. Peter reaches the man buried beneath the villain, appealing to his humanity rather than defeating him through brute force. When Peter unmasks himself and says, “Sometimes, to do what’s right, we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most,” it mirrors Aunt May’s earlier speech and confirms Peter’s acceptance of his responsibility. Unlike most superhero finales, this isn’t about who punches harder. It’s about reaching someone’s heart. Raimi stages the climax in a quiet, intimate way. No huge crowd, no collapsing city, just two men, both flawed, trying to do right. That emotional intimacy is what makes it resonate decades later. “I think I always knew… all this time… who you really were.”  When MJ learns Peter’s secret, the central barrier between them, Peter hiding behind lies to protect her, collapses. She now understands all his absences, sacrifices, and sacrifices even more deeply now. Their future is forever changed. The runaway bride scene (her leaving John Jameson at the altar) is significant because it’s the first time MJ actively chooses Peter and the life that comes with him, fully aware of the dangers. In the first two films, Peter is the one constantly sacrificing for her; now, MJ sacrifices her safety and potential stability for him. It flips the “damsel” trope Raimi had leaned into, she isn’t passively waiting for Peter, she’s running toward him. Her line at the window, “Go get ’em, tiger,” cements her role as a partner rather than someone to be protected from afar. Anyways time for my rating :) Theme - 10000000/10 Characters - 1000000000/10 Score - 10000000000000000/10 Story - 1000000000000000/10 Acting - 10000000/10 Impact - 1000000000000000000000/10 Writing - 100000000000000000/10 This is the greatest film of all time. Thank you Sam Raimi, Thank you Sony. Thank you Tobey Maguire. Thank you Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Todd McFarlane, every comic book artist and writer. Thank you to my dad for buying me this trilogy on dvd when i was 3 years old :) Thank you guys so much. I love Spider-Man