Spider-Man 2

I will always say this, this is my favorite movie ever. I love this movie. Everything was improved from the first movie, creating a timeless movie that defines the genre it’s in. Seeing the conflict Peter Parker is in, trying to balance his personal life and his life as Spider-Man is amazingly portrayed. Peter’s dynamics with Aunt May, Harry, and Mary Jane are all great in their own ways. They each eat at him as he struggles to successfully find a solution to the conflict presented to him. Every scene with Aunt May and Peter are so great in this movie, Rosemary Harris is phenomenal in the whole trilogy but here she shines. Her speech about how there’s a hero in everyone was my favorite and having Peter save a child without his powers hammers home the scene’s message.  Alfred Molina as Doc Ock was a great casting. He was both sympathetic and intimidating, his tragedy was upsetting. The scene where he is alone with his thoughts, only being able to talk to his arms made me feel bad for him the most. His dream only caused him misfortune, where he gave it his all to lose everything in the end.  The score, cinematography, and direction are phenomenal, being improved from the first movie. Danny Elfman’s score is so iconic, gives me goosebumps each time I hear it. The cinematography looks more cinematic than the first, having better lighting and dramatic scenes being heightened as we feel close and personal with characters, seeing their emotions. Raimi’s direction is great, how he’s able to blend humor, thrill, and heartfelt moments into this movie without it feeling forced. The tone is consistent and fits well for the trilogy as a whole. Again, what makes this movie so good for me how it prioritizes the human side of Spider-Man. It’s about Peter’s journey of learning what it truly means to be a hero, “sacrificing the things he wants the most to be steady.” Nothing is guaranteed but I know Spider-Man 2 will always stay with me as one of my favorite movies.