Spider-Man 2 Reviews

Outstanding superhero sequel

It's not easy being a superhero. When you have to juggle your life-saving antics with holding down the day-job and trying to make the grade at school, life can be tough. It's made even harder for Peter Parker(Tobey Maguire) by the fact that his friend Harry(James Franco) wants Spider-Man dead and the love of his life Mary-Jane is about to tie the knot.

No wonder Spidey's webs aren't firing as they used to, and Peter soon thinks it's time to call it a day. He dumps his suit claiming 'I am Spider-Man, no more', and starts to get on with the rest of his life. Unfortunately there's a new villain on the scene in the shape of Dr Octopus(Alfred Molina).

Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' was a fine stab at the comic-book genre, and admirably attempted to focus as much on the characters and relationships as the explosions, but never really took off. It suffered from a weak villain and action sequences that weren't really worth the wait.

No such worries this time around, Raimi's sequel is a magnificent achievement. The effects are as spectacular and slick as you'd expect, but Raimi never loses sight of the fact that the heart and soul of the film lies with the rich characterisation. Tobey Maguire gives a wonderful performance as Parker, and an extended sequence after he gives up his superhero role is beautifully judged.

There's also a worthy adversary this time around thanks to Molina's Dr Octopus. A dazzling mix of innovative effects and great acting, he manages to convince as an essentially decent man driven mad by science. The battles between the two characters are gripping, and a sequence set on a speeding train is a breathtaking show-stopper.

'Spider-Man 2' is a glorious reminder that the terms 'summer entertainment' and 'quality' are not mutually exclusive. It so eclipses the rest of the brain-dead, cynical rubbish passed off as blockbuster entertainment, that it seems almost indecent to mention them in the same breath.

Is this a great 'summer film'? No. It's a great film, simple as that.

ULtimate crap

Never before have i seen so much s**t.It never gives up showing you cheesey low-budget clips.This is one of the most stupid plots i have ever seen.It has no structior what so ever.Its like making a house without bricks. My little sister could come up with better plots than that and she's 9 years old!! I must admit that the first Spiderman was pretty cool, but the sequal just scrapes the bottom of the barrel, it really does!DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT BUYING THIS! If you are a hugh spidy fan maybe consider renting it, BUT THAT IS ALL!!I give this outrage to tv 1 and a half stars but since i cant i give it 1.You would be better sitting in a pitch black room for a couple of hours than watch this.

[Highly rated reviewer]

This film will remind you how good the cinema was when you were a kid. I came out with a big grin with the same feeling i had when I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark back in the eighties.

The biggest improvement from the first film is the fact that the main bad guy doesn't resemble a power ranger. doc oct steals the show; or rather his tentacles do. And you can never see too much Bruce Campbell. The man is a god. Grooovy.

[Highly rated reviewer]

superb..................

this dvd is superb. my son Joseph loved this film. Peter Parker (Tobey McGuire) is having a hard time balancing his priorities. Thanks to his secret identity as Spider-man, he's lost his job, his grades are failing, he's lost his best friend Harry (James Franco), and he lost the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst).

While he still sees these friends occasionally, Harry is obsessed by his desire for revenge on Spider-man and Mary Jane has a new boyfriend.

Things are even a struggle for Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), who can't seem to pay her mortgage.

All this is enough to make Peter rethink his superhero ambitions. And, since he seems to be losing his superpowers, maybe he can put everything behind him.

All this couldn't come at a worse time, however. The brilliant Dr. Octavius (Alfred Molina) is conducting a dangerous experiment with fusion.

When it goes wrong, he ends up with appendages wired into his nervous system, giving him four extra arms. The arms also begin to control his actions, and the newly named Doc Ock soon becomes a danger to the city. Can Peter pull himself together, to stop him?

you will have to watch it to find out, as I am not going to spoil it for you.

well worth renting out.

Good Film

Enjoyed this film. Spiderman's stunts are fab. Not too much romance to detract from the 'adventure' of the story. Looking forward to seeing the next Spiderman film.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Spidey v Doc Ock

I?ve waited a long time to see this sequel and although it was an adequate follow up, I believe there is better to come in the next sequel in 2007. I still feel that Tobey McGuire is not the right actor to play Superman and at times appears totally unrealistic out of his muscle padded spidey suit. Kirsten is the ideal heroine even if she seems to be in a permanent state of bad hair day, although I prefer her lighter colour hair in this movie.

Spiderman never actually ever kills anybody so how the baddie will be dealt with is always a mystery unless you?ve read the comic books, which the movies seem to portray very accurately. Doc Ock exceptionally played by Alfred Molina, was an excellent character and the change between mechanical puppet arms and CGI arms was almost seamless.

(Spoiler beware) I never like it when the superhero lose their powers etc it happens so often in the superman movies/TV and now to see it happen to spidey always makes me cringe.

The train scene was incredible and well worth a view. If only viewers knew what went into making these scenes they would probably appreciate them more. The special effects team were certainly well worth their 2004 Oscar for Best achievement in visual effects

It was nice to see visits from the grave from the excellent Cliff Robertson and Willem Defoe. Probably one of the biggest improvements from the first movie was the acting of James Franco as Harry Osborn he is certainly a star for the future. Stan Lee as in Hulk, Daredevil and X men makes his small cameo appearance ?dodging debris?; next lookout for him as the mailman in Fantastic Four.

To wrap it up Spiderman 2 was a movie mainly for the comic book readers. Although highly entertaining in parts these seemed to be few and far between. I rated this movie not on its weak story but for some notable performances and the excellent puppetry and CGI effects that were extraordinary and credit must also go to the directing of Sam Raimi. A mention must also go to the poor stunt guys, geez that must have hurt after spidey thinks ?he?s back?.

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Does Whatever The First One Did

Maybe I am becoming too cynical. Perhaps, as age advances, but the demographics stay the same, different kinds of movies will appeal to me.

Spider-Man 2 is nothing less than you would expect from a major motion picture, which is destined to become one of the top grossing movies of all time. Its slick, high on effects and 'wow' moments, and because in one or two scenes there's some tears, we're led to believe that there is some character development too.

But, it just seems a little contrived, a little too unbelievable. Yes, its a comic book movie, and yes, its impossible to have Spider-Man swinging through the streets of downtown New York without some kinds of special effects, but when watching Spider-Man 2, all I could think was 'this isn't as good as it could be'.

There are many that wikl enjoy it, but, for me, it wasn't so hot.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAD...

This film is dire beyond words. It made no sense! The pathetic 'love' saga between Spidey and the woman was atrociously ungripping. His lack of 'Spiderpowers' put down to the fact that his mind was clouded was just pointless. The whole story was a complete waste of time, which I would have rather spent at work!

Yes there were some good effects, but that really isn't enough in this day and age to make a film worth seeing.

Even worse than the original, which is some achievement. Do yourself a favour and rent something else.... Or I'd be amazed if you don't regret it. There should be negative numbers to rate films this bad.

Better than the first one!

I only watched the first Spiderman film because one night there was nothing else to watch. I loved it, even my wife (who normally falls asleep) sat and watched it. The second film has a weaker storyline but the action is better and of course you have the added spice of will they or won't they find out who Spiderman is!!

Light entertainment at its best.

Rubbish

The first one was bad enough but this blows. Toby whatever, what a wiener. The only highlight is the amazing Bruce Campbell and his short appearance. In short this sucks.