|
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| Spider-Man
2 is a rarity--a sequel that is better than its predecessor. The success
of Spider-Man can be greatly attributed to the audience’s ability
to relate with the character. Peter Parker is just like all of us
… he is an everyman. |
(2004) Film Review |
| This
page was created on June 30, 2004
This page was last updated on
August 25, 2005
Dial up modems will take a few moments |
| CREDITS |
| Directed
by Sam Raimi
 Comic
book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Screen story by Michael Chabon, Miles Millar, Alfred
Gough
Cast
(in credits order)
Tobey Maguire .... Spider-Man/Peter Parker
Kirsten Dunst .... Mary Jane Watson
James Franco .... Harry Osborn
Alfred Molina .... Doc Ock/Dr. Otto Octavius
Rosemary Harris .... May Parker
J.K. Simmons .... J. Jonah Jameson
Donna Murphy .... Rosalie Octavius
Daniel Gillies .... John Jameson
Dylan Baker .... Dr. Curt Connors
Bill Nunn .... Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson
Vanessa Ferlito .... Louise
Aasif Mandvi .... Mr. Aziz
Willem Dafoe .... Green Goblin/Norman Osborn
Cliff Robertson .... Ben Parker
Ted Raimi .... Hoffman
Elizabeth Banks .... Miss Brant
Bruce Campbell .... Snooty Usher
Gregg Edelman .... Dr. Davis
Elya Baskin .... Mr. Ditkovich
Mageina Tovah .... Ursula
Daniel Dae Kim .... Raymond
Produced
by
Avi Arad .... producer
Joseph M. Caracciolo .... executive producer
Grant Curtis .... co-producer
Stan Lee .... executive producer
Laura Ziskin .... producer
Original Music by Danny Elfman
John Debney (additional music)
The Ataris (song "The Night the Lights Went Out in NYC")
Christopher Carrabba (song "Vindicated)
Kris Roe (song "The Night The Lights Went Out In NYC")
Cinematography by Bill Pope
Addional photography by Anette Haellmigk
Film Editing by Bob Murawski
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for stylized
action violence.
Runtime: 127 min
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM,
and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG
|
| TRAILERS
AND CLIPS |
| —Trailers,
Photos |
| CD |
Spider-Man
2 - Music From And Inspired By
Various Artists - Soundtracks - 2004
1. Vindicated - Dashboard Confessional
2. Ordinary - Train
3. Did You - Hoobastank
4. Hold On - Jet
5. Gifts And Curses - Yellowcard
6. Woman - Maroon 5
7. This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know) - Taking Back Sunday
8. Give It Up - Midtown
9. Lucky You - lostprophets
10. Who I Am - Smile Empty Soul
11. The Night That The Lights Went Out In NYC - The Ataris
12. We Are - Ana
13. Someone To Die For - Jimmy Gnecco featuring Brian May
14. Spidey Suite - Danny Elfman
15. Doc Ock Suite - Danny Elfman
|
| BOOK |
Spider-Man
2
by PETER DAVID
|
| POSTER |
|
| AVAILABILITY
ON VIDEO AND DVD |
CHECK
AVAILABILITY AND PRICING OF THIS MOVIE ON VIDEO OR DVD.
Just type in movie title and click go.
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Hot Videos
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100 Hot DVDs
|
|
| SYNOPSIS
|
| Columbia
Pictures’ Spider-Man 2 is the highly-anticipated latest installment
in the adventures of the legendary superhero, an exciting and fun-filled
adventure, which reunites the cast and filmmakers from the blockbuster
first film, including Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco,
Rosemary Harris and J.K. Simmons, under the leadership of director
Sam Raimi and producers Laura Ziskin and Marvel's Avi Arad.
In
Spider-Man 2, the web-slinging hero encounters a formidable new
adversary, the villainous "Doc Ock," played by Alfred
Molina. Also joining the ensemble are Daniel Gillies as John Jameson,
Vanessa Ferlito as Louise, Dylan Baker as Dr. Curt Connors and Donna
Murphy as Rosalie Octavius.
Two
years have passed since the mild-mannered Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire)
walked away from his longtime love Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst)
and decided to take the road to responsibility as Spider-Man. Peter
must face new challenges as he struggles to cope with "the
gift and the curse" of his powers while balancing his dual
identities as the elusive superhero Spider-Man and life as a college
student. The relationships Peter holds most dear are now in danger
of unraveling as he clashes with the powerful, multi-tentacled villain
Doctor Octopus aka “Doc Ock” (Alfred Molina).
Peter’s
life-long yearning for M.J. becomes even stronger as he fights the
impulse to abandon his secret life and declare his love. In the
meantime, M.J. has moved on with her life. She has embarked on an
acting career and has a new man in her life. Peter’s relationship
with his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco) has been overshadowed
by Harry’s growing vendetta against Spider-Man, whom he holds
responsible for his father’s death.
Peter's
life becomes even more complicated when he is pitted against a powerful
new nemesis, Dr. Otto Octavius (Molina) -- “Doc Ock.”
Peter must now learn to accept his fate and harness all his superhero
talents in order to stop this diabolical madman in his octagonal
tracks.
|
 Review by MARK EZRA STOKES
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...
Review continued here |
|
 Review
by MELINDA LEDMAN
Spiderman
2 and the IH Syndrome
(IH =Isolated Hero)
 Despite
the truly terrible stunt doubles (who actually got full-face shots
even though they looked nothing like the main actors) and the sometimes
overdone computer animation, this movie won my heart because it
didn’t pin its hero into eternal isolation.
Review
continued here |
| |
 Review
by MIKE FURCHES
In a summer filled with discord
and conflict, we needed a hero to bring us all back into focus.
And just when we thought he had left us and wouldn’t return,
we get a new and better dose of heroism from none other than Spider-Man.
 While
our young hero may be going through some difficult times of self-searching,
the lessons he learns are lessons that will benefit us all. Not
only are we exhilarated by the movie experience of the summer, but
we come away feeling good and finding answers about the struggles
we go through in our own lives -- we realize they have value and
help us become the very person we need to be to help the planet
we live on.
Review
continued here |
| |
 Review
by BENN BECKER
Benn has an undergradute
degree in Finance from the University of Nebraska and is working
towards a masters in both Business and English. He owns some farmland
and is currently writing a novel. He lives in Lincoln, NE. |
 Spider-Man
2 is a rarity--a sequel that is better than its predecessor.
The success of Spider-Man can be greatly attributed to the audience’s
ability to relate with the character. Peter Parker (TOBEY MAGUIRE)
is just like all of us … he is an everyman. In this installment
of the series, Peter is learning how to utilize his gift while balancing
real world responsibilities and desires. He’s been given a
gift that, at times, seems like a curse and a burden. We learned
in the first Spider-Man film that “with great power comes
great responsibility”. In this film we witness the struggle
with responsibility.
 It’s
also easier to relate to the villain of this film.
Alfred Molina plays Otto Octavius who eventually becomes Doctor
Octopus. Octavius is trying to capture the power of fusion to
provide a cheaper and cleaner energy source through the help of
OSCORP which is now being run by Harry Osborn. Octavius’
intentions are genuine, yet Osborn sees dollar signs and prestige.
Octavius designs tentacles to handle the materials during testing
that react to his brain impulses, however an accident leaves the
chip that controls the tentacles damaged and the appendages now
have partial control over Octavius. There’s a not so subtle
argument against messing with nature.
Peter
is torn between his unspoken love for Mary Jane Watson
(KIRSTEN DUNST) and his implied duties as Spider-Man. He is struggling
financially and with his school work and the pressure builds even
more when Aunt May gets behind in her mortgage. He has no time
for his friends as well and the stress has taken its toll on his
powers--we learn the mental often affects the physical. Peter
doubts who he is and who he’s called to be. Is being Spider-Man
worth it or does it come at too high of a personal toll?
There
is a very powerful scene where Spider-Man saves a train full of
people and has removed his mask. His dual-nature
is revealed and he is physically exhausted from the effort required
to save all aboard. The crowd joins its effort to pass him back
along the train in a very savior-like symbolic moment. We all
need each other!
Another
powerful moment comes when Aunt May is talking to Peter and
states “there’s a hero in all
of us. Sometimes we have to give up the thing we want the most
… even our dreams.” Everyone can relate--sometimes
we have to sacrifice a promotion to have time at home, move closer
to aging parents to care for them, or face up to the fact that
OUR wishes may not be the most important thing.
 Without
giving too much away, Spider-Man 2 is one of the best overall
films I’ve seen this year. It manages to
find great balance between character development and action sequences.
There are a lot of laugh out loud moments as well … quite
a few more than the first film. The character of Peter Parker
is one we can all relate to. Each of us have our gifts and at
times they feel like burdens, but our job on Earth is to utilize
them as best we can. Sometimes responsibilities will take their
toll. We may be torn between our own selfish desires and what
we know is right in our hearts. No matter what we are all in this
together whether we know it or not. Go
see Spider-Man 2!
9.5/10
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