Spider-Man 2 on DVD (2004)

Outstanding superhero sequel

Philip Concannon from London , 25/09/2004

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.

Read all reviews

ULtimate crap

Rob McKenzie from Inverness, in a pile of crap , 16/03/2005

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.

Read all reviews

trotsuk from LONDON , 28/09/2004

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.

Read all reviews

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

williamsgwynfa [Highly rated reviewer] , 04/07/2007

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.

Read all reviews

..hmmmm.. one for the fan boys I think..

Mike Conyard from Gosport, Hampshire [Highly rated reviewer] , 09/06/2005

This is what the geek press have been banging on about for ages.. a true superhero film with all the 'internal turmoil' you favourite early twenties modern man with super powers can muster.. the key word is 'dark'.. unfortunately for the rest of us it's just not very exciting.. best super hero film ever made? well it?s better than the Hulk?

Read all highest rated reviews

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAD...

daveV6 from Herts , 27/04/2005

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.

Read all highest rated reviews