tomr-28618 I've probably seen this film 50 times and it never gets old. It's easily the best Spiderman film and has no competition in my mind. This film expanded the story of the first one with Peter struggling to merge his life as Spiderman with his normal life. It really puts Peter down at every chance it gets which makes the audience really care for him as nothing seems to go right for him and he's only trying to do the right thing. That's why at the end, it feels so satisfying when he reveals himself to Mary Jane. Doctor Octopus was also a very good villain and probably better than the Green Goblin. He felt like a normal guy and not some generic boring villain we would come to see more in the other films after. Overall this film never has a dull moment, there are so many memorable scenes sprinkled throughout and the pace keeps going, making for a very entertaining film. This is just one of those rare super hero films that actually stands out as a good film and not just a superhero film.

TheBigSick This is a film that once you start watching it, you cannot stop. It is a surprisingly stunning film, both for its emotionally resonant melodrama and for its visually dazzling special effects. The protagonist struggles between being Spider-Man and being Peter Parker. Being a Spider-Man requires fighting against the villains and saving the civilians. Being Peter Parker demands a quiet life with Mary Jane. There are just tons of proverbs or mottos in the film: the screenplay, particularly the dialogue design, is simply amazing. The design of the villain is also fantastic, and is kind of unique in the history of superhero movies.

Prashast Singh SPIDER-MAN was a highly entertaining film with a serious tone for the most part. Since it was anyways an origin story, that was great. And then came SPIDER-MAN 2, which successfully outdid the first part and cemented itself as one of the best superhero films in the history of world cinema. It's a film which takes the origin story further to an all new level and the result is an intense, emotional, occasionally funny, action packed and highly entertaining superhero blockbuster.SPIDER-MAN 2 has much better humour than the first one. The film connects and resonates emotionally so well that you end up completely rooting for Peter Parker. His failure in personal as well as professional life proves to be touching and even at times, so heartbreaking that you wish to cry along with him. Tobey Maguire's performance is very natural and full of depth. He never stops impressing as Spidey, and portrays him as realistically as possible. Kirsten Dunst does a good job as in the first part, while James Franco impresses even more with a new layer added to his character. And then we have J.K. Simmons whose comic timing evokes loud laughter. But the man who leaves a remarkable impact is Alfred Molina, whose portrayal of Dr. Octopus is phenomenally groundbreaking and entertaining. What's also impressive is that not only Spider-Man, but Dr. Octopus too proves to be a highly entertaining and memorable character. Then we have world class visual effects for which it even won an Oscar, highly exhilarating action sequences, especially that train sequence, and a lot of crowd-pleasing moments sprinkled throughout the film. The message of great powers and great responsibilities continues to resonate throughout the film. And then we have the result: a highly entertaining action film which proves to be the epitome of superhero cinema.

Joshua Belyeu I saw this film on opening day in 2004, and in November of that year I purchased the Special Edition DVD. Ever since, it has remained one of my favorite superhero films of all time. The actors truly explore their characters, giving them even more life and attitude.Tobey Maguire does excellent work, playing each and every side of Peter's changing emotions with an effectiveness rarely matched. His confliction between honor and desire comes through perfectly. Kirsten Dunst brings more of a fierce backbone to Mary Jane, and James Franco brings a seething hatred to Harry Osborn...at times, you don't know whether to hate him back, or feel for him. J.K. Simmons again "eats the scenery" as J. Jonah Jameson, being extremely funny, yet never outright campy...and Alfred Molina makes a wonderful turn as a wrecked scientist seeking comfort, who then becomes a victim of his own twisted invention.The special effects have improved by leaps and bounds, yet they never aim to distract from the tale. So many films these days let the effects guide the story, rather than the other way around. The "stylized world" remains intact, and is given a grander, bigger feel. But the crowned jewel of this picture, in terms of effects, is really Dr. Octopus' tentacles. Created through a mix of brilliant puppetry and computer animation, they take on a life of their own.The music, reprised and expanded by Danny Elfman, soars to new heights while retaining much of the magic that made his original score so successful. Many of the themes found in "Spider-Man" are present here as well, and there's some new material to enjoy on top of it.As for the criticisms, I have fewer with this than I did with the original. The film still pushes boundaries, but it's more relaxed than last time around. Mary Jane gets soaked again, being at a riverside lair. Her dress is drenched, but the "Wet T-shirt" controversy from the first round is all but absent (the outline of her nipples is still partially visible at one point, but it's very brief). I give Raimi both credit and applause, for listening to those who complained about the similar moment from his 2002 effort.Like the franchise's first entry, this film holds very true to the superhero formula, featuring many battles of epic proportions, As before, citizens are still in peril, and the action sequences feature the familiar acrobatics of the first film. The biggest moment of violence occurs about halfway in, when an unconcscious Ock sleeps at a hospital, while his sentient tentacles kill the medical crew. It's chilling, but not gory. The language in this film is again at a minimum, with remarks present but not overly abrasive.This film gets a 9 out of 10, deducting a single point for violence and minor sexuality. The upright morality of its predecessor is furthered all the more, in the rare case of a sequel that's actually better than the original.