Dir.
Sam Raimi, 2004, USA, 127 mins
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe
For those who get it right, comic book to film adaptations can be a lucrative venture, but for every X-men hit there is a Daredevil sized flop. Capturing the essence of a costumed hero and translating it from the Geekverse to the mainstream is a complex task. Thankfully, with Spider-man 2 Sam Raimi has given us the greatest comic book adaptation since Richard Donner's 1978 release, Superman. He pleases the comic book crowd by sticking closely to the original source material while adding believability and context for a mainstream audience unfamiliar with the ins and outs of Spiderman's complex mythology.
Based on a storyline from Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's original Marvel series, The Amazing Spiderman, Peter Parker must make the hardest decision of his life so far; continue to fight evil as Spiderman or quit and live a normal life with the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunce). It is with the threatened destruction of New York City by the maniacal Doctor Otto Octavius aka Doctor Octopus (superbly played by London thesp, Alfreda Molina) that Peter Parker finally faces up to his destiny.
In true summer sequel fashion, Spider-man 2 delivers bigger, louder and faster thrills. However, Raimi isn't satisfied with simply amping everything up to eleven. This time around he gets much more out of his talented cast but we are left to wonder why Spiderman didn't just let Mary Jane fall to her death in the first film. To call Dunst's performance wooden would be an insult to fine furniture everywhere.
The original Spider-man was the perfect combination of teenage coming of age drama and superhero myth. In Spider-man 2 Peter Parker has adapted into a stronger and more agile Spiderman who confidently wields his amazing powers. Unfortunately, Peter Parker the man is as down on his luck as ever. His grades have taken a tumble, his friendship with Harry Osbourne (James Franco) is under severe strain, his Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) is destitute and still grieving the death of Uncle Ben, and worst of all, MJ is going to marry somebody else. Tobey Maguire is evidently far more comfortable in the title role, believably portraying the heavily conflicted Peter Parker while still maintaining his geeky charm. The tremendous sense of melancholy that runs throughout the film's plot makes Spider-man 2 stand out from the rest of the superhero movie pack. It's like Superman on Prozac, but in a good way.
With the phenomenal success of Spider-man, Sam Raimi has gained the studio's trust and it is with Spider-man 2 that he finally gets to indulge the audience in many of his trademark directorial flourishes. Raimi isn't afraid to utilise many of the lessons he has learned during nearly 20 years of filmmaking. The schlock and awe of Doc Ock's horrifying hospital scene is an eerie reminder of Evil Dead - there is even a rampaging chainsaw. Meanwhile, Peter's moving confessional with his Aunt May is reminiscent of Raimi's more subtle work in A Simple Plan .
What sets Spider-man 2 apart from its comic film rivals is its emotional resonance. You will care about Peter Parker, who is beset by obstacles and bad luck throughout the film, reinforcing Spiderman's everyman appeal. The recurring themes of destiny and sacrifice provide Maguire and his co-stars with every opportunity to chew up the scenery, and these dramatic scenes are often the most memorable. Maguire's performance provides the film with its heart and soul. Without him the summer's biggest blockbuster would've felt very flat indeed. Nobody else plays tortured and gifted teens better than Tobey Maguire.
Jerome Mazandarani
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