Spider-Man 2 (In Theaters)
Published August 05, 2004
I really want to love Spider-Man 2 whole-heartedly. To sing its praises without reservation. To recommend it to everyone I know. But I simply can't.
The story is great, and it takes just the right elements I remember from reading the comics years ago and sets up several new stories nicely. The villain for Spider-Man 3 is pretty obvious by the end of the film, but if they decide not to go that route to avoid confusion, another villain is also set up nicely for those who remember their comic history, and a couple of other characters that should eventually become villains make appearances as well. The special-effects budget for some of those would be interesting!
The characters are solid. The tension between Peter Parker and Mary Jane is nicely played, and while Aunt May isn't quite as strong as I remember from the comics, she still has surprising depth for a tertiary character in a "comic book movie." In fact, the characters and their development don't suggest a comic book movie at all; if not for the guy with four artificially-intelligent robotic arms and the dude in the red and blue spider-suit, it would be easy to see this as a dramatic film.
The effects are very nicely done. While some of the scenes are actually more over-the-top than in the first film (Spider-Man swinging though the gap between a truck's cab and trailer!), the technology or the skill of the team has advanced enough that things feel more real. A (hastily-added, probably) scene from the first film that landed Spider-Man on a flagpole looked awful, while a similar scene this time around looked almost right. I thought that Doctor Octopus could not really be represented well on-screen, but I was wrong. With a brilliant combination of wire-work and CGI, Doc Ock looks right.
The action is also fantastic. We see the limits of Spidey's abilities, and still marvel at what he can accomplish. Scenes where a virus keeps his superpowers from working as they should aren't really explained well for people who don't remember the comics, but that's a minor point. I'm a little surprised that the scene in which Doc Ock's arms "wake up" managed to survive in PG-13, but more is implied or observed in shadow than actually seen, and it is all bloodless.
After seeing the first movie, I went on record to decry the scene in which New Yorkers pelt the Green Goblin with garbage and shout patriotic slogans. I thought it was unrealistic and silly. This film contains a similar scene, but instead of being unrealistic and silly, I found it very believable and very moving. Instead of laughing out loud, as I did during the first film, I found a tear threatening to develop in my eye. I started to blame allergies, but finally let it roll down my cheek and embraced the moment. Very well written and very well played.
So what is my problem, then? Why can't I really recommend the film with gusto? I can't tell you.
- Spider-Man 2 (In Theaters)
- Published: August 05, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Action, Video: SF
- Writer: Phillip Winn
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i thought Spider-Man 2 was amazing, i gotta say. Raimi let loose and delivered something utterly astounding. And The Hulk was a masterpiece too, man.
For me, the Hulk was totally disappointing, Duke, so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on a couple points. I mean could there have possibly been a more fake CGI-looking Hulk?
I gave it a C+ grade which I thought was being kind.
I'm guessing that those who disliked the TV series Hulk liked the movie and vice versa.
Put me in the latter crowd because I happened to like the TV series with Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk and Bill Bixby as Dr. Banner. It was more human and real (well, except for the Ferrigno body suit) than the movie. The movie had a horrible ending (was there even an ending?). I realize the story goes on, but they didn't find a good seam for closure in the Hulk movie.
As I said in another thread, Hulk and Iron Man were my favorite comics as a kid so I wanted to like Hulk more than any of the comic adaptions to date. Unfortunately -- for me -- it just didn't work.
I am hoping Iron Man fares better than Hulk.
TDavid, i understand your reasoning, but i honestly thought the cinematography, the visual invention on display elevated it to some kind of wonderful plateau. I think Hulk not being the most realistic fella in the world added to the comic-book aesthetic and what not.
You might find this interesting;
The Duke On Ang Lee's Hulk Film
I actually thought the CGI in Spiderman 2 was aweful. It seemed like they used the same technology as part 1 but tried to do more with it. Like the scene where Doc Oc carries off MJ, it was so obvious to the point of making me cringe.
Phillip, here's another thing about Doc Oc that I noticed and want to add to your complaints. I don't know exactly, but gathering from just the film itself, I was under the impression that besides Doc Oc's 4 mechanical arms, the rest of his body was HUMAN. So following by that, wouldn't his body being thrown into a car or being punched repeatedly by Spiderman's superhuman strength cause some major pain in his human body?
Besides that, I was unnerved by the ending. The fact that Harry (his supposed best friend) knows about him, but yet he never bothers to go back and explain anything to Harry, what's up with that? I know this may be done in part 3, but part 2's ending looked like Peter just moved on with his life with MJ without ever talking to Harry.
That's enough of that for now I guess. Oh by the way, I actually liked Daredevil. I think most people that don't like it can't seem to get past the fact that Ben Affleck was in it, but who knows.
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I thought Spiderman-2 was entertaining but I liked the first one better. I sort of blame this to sequelitis that plagues all sequels. Not the over-the-top action scenes though that bothered me, the second one was a bit too sappy. Still, as far as action flicks go I'd put it up there among the best of the recent comic-to-theater translations.
Compare it to say Daredevil or Hulk and it's a masterpiece.