The critics — all of them — agree: “Spiderman 2” is one bitchin’ movie. It says here that this high-flying summer stunner surpasses the original, which in turn makes the sequel the best comic book flick of all time. Yeah, baby, it’s THAT good. If you’re Spider-senses aren’t tingling throughout this film, well, you might want to consult a physician. After a spectacular opening sequence in which he employs his other worldly powers to ensure a prompt pizza delivery, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire, the ONLY actor for this role) does just that — sees a doctor — who suggests the cause of some web-impotence he’s been experiencing may be a heart problem … as in, his heart isn’t in it anymore. Seems all his life-saving, crime-stopping heroics have really cut into Spidey’s “me time,” at the expense of his studies at Columbia and his continuing efforts to get the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane (the delicious Kirsten Dunst). Racked with self-doubt, our bespectacled arachno-freak does the unthinkable and hangs up (trashes, actually) his form-fitting suit, leaving the unsuspecting denizens of New York City to fend for themselves against the forces of evil. And what a force Alfred Molina is as Dr. Otto Octavious, a brilliant scientist whose failed experiment with atom-splitting transforms him into Doc Ock, a madman with four giant snakelike limbs grafted into his spine and a hankering to conquer the world. With all due respect to the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe, who has a cameo here), the brawny Doc Ock is a far superior menace, with comedic chops that rank with Gene Hackman’s Lex Luther. his turn in S1, James Franco returns as Harry Osborne, who in the wake of his father’s death has become an even bigger head-case than his best buddy, Parker. In what amounts to an extended set-up for the eventual third installment, the perpetually soused Harry has vowed to avenge his old man by killing Spiderman, and repeatedly presses Pete for information on the webbed one’s whereabouts … as if the guy doesn’t have enough on his mind. J.K Simmons (“Oz”) is a scene-stealer yet again as J. Jonah Jameson, the tightwad, Spidey-hatin’ editor of the Daily Bugle. The love story drives both character development and the plot to great effect, complimented — not overwhelmed by — scintillating special effects. What director Sam Raimi has wrought, working off a stellar script from veteran Alvin Sargent (“Unfaithful,” “Ordinary People”), simply outclasses any of this summer’s big-budget pretenders. “Spiderman 2” was supposed to be the popcorn movie event of the season, and it lives up to the hype.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 2, 2004. Read the original PDF.