Toby Maguire Returns in Spider-Man 2 2004 Film
Sequel directed by Sam Raimi and Featuring New Villain Doc Ock
Aug 24, 2009
Two years have passed since Spider-Man defeated the Green Goblin (the villian in the first film), and Peter Parker (Toby Maguire reprising his role) is still struggling to cope with his duel identities. Parker is shown to be very unreliable at his job (delivering pizzas) and rarely attends his college classes. Still trying to follow the immortal words that “with great power comes great responsibility” Parker is torn between his desire for a normal life and his crime fighting duties.
Spider-Man 2's Plot and New York’s Newest Villain Doc Ock
His problems are further escalated by Harry Osborn’s (James Franco) growing obsession with Spider-Man who he blames from his father’s death, Norman Osborn was the Green Goblin. Love interest Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is also becoming increasingly disappointed with Parker’s unreliability, and has started a relationship with John Jameson (Daniel Gillies).
Spider-Man 2 really excels in showing that Parker cannot be both a superhero and a normal guy. He is introduced to Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), a brilliant scientist attempting to create energy by making an artificial sun. His experiment proves unstable resulting in four mechanical arms he designed to become fused to his spine. The arms have artificial intelligence and start manipulating his mind as he works to rebuild his destroyed experiment. The Doc Ock villain that emerges is a victim of what has happened, he is driven to accomplish his life’s work by the arms and crush anyone who gets in his way.
The problems for Parker and those around him don’t let up as the film progresses.
Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), Parker's mother figure, is facing eviction from her home. Harry Osborn, who is also Peter's best friend, becomes increasingly reckless, and Spider-Man also seems to be randomly losing his powers. It is at times overwhelming, but then that is the point. Raimi shows that being a superhero is not an easy life and ultimately even when trying to do the right thing good people will suffer.
The main and supporting cast from the first film all reprise their roles with Bruce Campbell also appearing once more in a cameo role. JK Simmons once again steal every scene with his portrayal of J Jonah Jameson, and is responsible for dubbing Otto Octavius: Doctor Octopus or “Doc Ock”.
Spider-Man 2 also introduces the possibility of other enemies from the Spider-Man comics making an appearance in later films. The main example of this being one of Peter's professors, Doctor Curt Connors aka the Lizard.
The Pros and Cons
Spider-Man 2 has plenty of web-slinging action. Maguire is still clearly at home playing the duel roles, and shows the strain of being forced to intervene every time a police car drives past. Then, later the burden of turning away from crimes after deciding he doesn’t wish to be Spider-Man if it means he loses everyone important to Peter Parker.
Spider-Man 2 does a lot of things right, unfortunately, it also does a few things wrong.
Most notable is the sequence in which Spider-Man has to stop an out of control train from crashing into the river. During his attempts he loses his mask, and a dozen or more people get a good look at his face. The scene just doesn’t sit right because secret identities are supposed to be, well, secret and may have worked better if the commuters perhaps had the chance to take off his mask but chose not to.
In addition Harry’s growing obsession with killing Spider-Man does make the audience wonder why Parker doesn’t just tell him the truth that Norman was the Green Goblin and died in his attempt to kill Spider-Man.
8/10
All in all Spider-Man 2 a good continuation of the Spider-Man franchise, and although it does have its flaws it is still a very entertaining film and well worth watching.
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