The Movie Review

Spider-Man 2

Review by David Stratton

The story continues…

"It's good to have you back, Spider-Man", exclaims a little boy towards the end of this breathtaking sequel to Sam Raimi's hit of two years ago. And indeed it's a pleasure to enjoy the further adventures of Peter Parker, Tobey Maguire, the sensitive, accident-prone, working-class, hard-working hero who - as a result of a bite from a genetically modified lab spider in the first film, has become an heroic figure with amazing powers.

Two years later, Peter is struggling to maintain his life as a student, paying his way delivering pizzas, and as a secret super-hero; it's already affected his relationship with his Mary Jane, Kirsten Dunst, who has moved on and is involved with another man. But now Spider-Man has a new enemy, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), or Doc Ock, who, as a result of a failed experiment, has turned into an amazing — and formidable — creature.

Maybe it has something to do with Sam Raimi's skills as a director, or with Tobey Maguire's very human central performance, but the Spider-Man films are by far the best of the superhero genre. They're set in a real, albeit heightened, city, they are well written, and they manage to be both touching - as they delve into the world of Peter and his unrequited love, but also his relationship with his aunt, Rosemary Harris, and also rich in humour. And the special effects are beyond amazing.

Bibliography: http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1137483.htm