Spider-man 2

—Overview
—Review by Melinda Ledman
—Review by Benn Becker
—Review by Mike Furches
—Best Posters
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections
—Forum

Then along came a spider ... again

In 1940, someone at Republic Pictures realized the similarities between comic books and cinema, and Captain Marvel was rebirthed on the silver screen.

Though Captain America, Batman and Superman soon followed suit with their own serials, the low budgets and lack of technology made convincing adaptations impossible. Though the Batman television series of the ’60s was highly entertaining, its campiness turned it into something altogether different from the original text. Our current decade brings another comic-to-screen revival, though a majority of the films have either strayed too far from the original sources or have become too shallow to enjoy. Thankfully, Spider-Man 2 swung in the midst of the commercial hoopla and saved the day for superhero films everywhere.

The movie picks up two years from where Spider-Man left off. In it, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) becomes increasingly burnt-out by his thankless heroic lifestyle and its devastating impact on the rest of his life. His old love interest, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) has recently become engaged, his schooling and jobs are being affected by his late hours and his superpowers sporadically quit working. Things are falling in all around him, so he finally decides to forsake his call and chunk his heroic persona. When the emotionally unstable Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) threatens New York City and those closest to Parker, he is forced to choose between personal convenience and social responsibility.

Fans of the first film’s special effects will not be let down, as the CGI animation is crisper and more intense. We also see some cool new web-shooting tricks Spidey has learned since adjusting to his powers. As in other Marvel films, Spider-Man 2 has its share of cameos, inside jokes and allusions to other comic book characters without making non-fanatics feel alienated.

What really sets this sequel apart from other comic book adaptations, though, is the believability of all its characters. Admittedly, a metallic-tentacle-wearing evil scientist would be pretty hard to swallow in any film. When that mad scientist is given plausible goals and understandable emotions, though, he becomes a real person, even when given the cheesy moniker “Doctor Octopus.” This level of character depth is used effectively for all of the film’s main characters, and it does so without changing the comic book’s original intentions. That is a miracle in itself–one expertly initiated by Alvin Sargent, the 73-year-old screenwriting veteran known for other character-driven scripts (two of which won him Oscars).

One of the riskiest, yet most effective, elements of the film is Sargent’s decision to show more of Parker than his alter ego, Spider-Man. As in the comic book, this emphasizes the vulnerability of Parker, an awkward Everyman who daily struggles to balance between his two identities. He’s a perfectly-accessible superhero: more human than Superman, less brooding than Batman and wittier than The Hulk.

In this film, Spider-Man’s role is deepened as he becomes an obvious Christ figure. To avoid spoiling the film, I’ll only say to look for a scene in which Spider-Man stretches his arms as if being crucified, “dies” and revives with a new resurrected body. That’s all I can tell you, but you’ll know it when you see it. It’s this scene that really drives home the selflessness of sacrificing one’s life for a flawed human race.

As is the case in many of Marvel’s back-issue comic books, Spider-Man 2 is jam-packed with valuable life lessons–without seeming too contrived or preachy. These lessons include responsibility, the power of true love, the daily giving up of oneself for the good of humanity and following one’s dreams. Though the movie’s overall themes are incredibly positive, it’s rated PG-13 for stylized action violence and probably a bit too intense for younger children.
The rest of the family, though, should immediately hop in the minivan, hit the video store and watch an action-packed, character-driven film that’s an impressive balance of adventure, sci-fi, romance, comedy and drama. Your chances of seeing another comic book character being treated with such depth and respect are slimmer than Alley McBeal’s waistline.

—Overview
—Review by Melinda Ledman
—Review by Benn Becker
—Review by Mike Furches
—Best Posters
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections