One of the greatest superhero movies of all time! - Spider-Man 2 Reviews

"Spider-Man 2" is every bit what I imagined from that magnificent theatrical trailer- the greatest trailer ever in my book! This is a movie so jam-packed with emotion, character and thrills you'll need multiple viewings just to take it all in. It really has everything- even a mild horror sequence involving Doctor Octopus's tentacles! And see, I'm not an avid "Spider-Man: fan. In fact, I thought the first "Spider-Man" was sort of weak. The villian wasn't menacing enough- and definitely pales in comparison to this film's- and the ending sucked tremendously. But there was plenty of that first movie I admired and enjoyed enough to give the film a solid ***-star ranking, or an A-...whichever grading system to choose. I liked the first film's overall energy, and its style. I also LIKED the characters of Peter Parker, Mary Jane and Harry Osborne (the three main ones, but the list goes on), I just didn't think the movie dealt with them the way I feel they should have. And I don't read the comics so I wouldn't know how it really does, if they changed it at all...it just felt wrong. With this sequel, I won't ever hesitiate toput anything other than ****-stars, A+, THUMBS WAY UP, next to my review- because it isn't just an awesome moviegoing experience that everyone should have, but it's a genuinely GREAT film that if it got rid of the action sequences it would still be exhilerating to watch. I loved this movie from the first frame, how it used the medium Spider Man was born in, comic books, and catched us up on the events of the first film with comic book drawing around the webbings and the credits. That was brilliant right there. Original and fresh, and it really gets you ready for what you are put into. What really makes this film, is the minor moments...the soft spoken dialouge scenes between characters. I actually feel like some audience members may get a bit weary of all the talking in this movie (which I'd estimate to be around 60%)...but the action is so mind-boggling and awesome that you just don't care. And that's only if all you want out of this movie is exciting action, if you hope to see a really great movie then this movie will REALLY succeed. The CGI in the first movie was sort of weak, it looked a bit cartoony, but I still enjoyed it. It went along with the light-hearted, fluffy feel of the movie. This film is decidely more dark and menacing, and the CGI is bolder and snazzier because of it. Starting with the villian, whom in the first movie was wonderfully played by Willem Dafoe, although the outfit was just silly. There wasn't anything scary about it...it was goofy looking, especially when he carried on conversations with Spider-Man. There is a key to perfect villians and that is that they should always actually feel like they could win against the hero. Doctor Octopus really brings that to the table. More so than any other scene, the subway fight scene. That whole fight will blow you away, it's tough and well-done. The CGI seemlessly blends together with the real cast stunts...it's the best action sequence. The CGI isn't the only part stepping up its game considerably for this sequel, the cast does as well. I was impressed by Tobey Maguire in the first film...he was really good as Peter Parker. He is equally impressive this time around. Same goes for James Franco as Harry Osbourne, I like how this time, however, he is less stiff and depressed acting (at least in the first half). When it shows him around the office, and actually throughout the whole movie, it feels like he is really evolving as a character. We see the path Harry is headed, and the ending really points it out. But really, the person who really does more with their character this time around is Kirsten Dunst. In the first movie, Mary Jane was more a secondary figure, just sort of "there" to be a love interest and damsel in distress- in this movie she is WAY more. In this movie she is more complex, she is dealing with her own issues and it makes for a more rounded character we can like more and root for more. And Alfred Molina one-up's Willem Dafoe big time here. Doc Ock is a more menacing, scarier, more interesting villian to watch. I liked how the film set up Octavious as a real good man early on, before he becomes Doc Ock. The first film did this for Norman Osbourne too...but he turned into a more one-dimensional villian, Doc Ock has more substance. He poses a way bigger threat to Spider-Man, he is more interesting...he's better. I also loved how the tentacles had a mind of their own, they get angry and pull back and almost hiss at things that go against them, are negative towards them. They are almost the true villains of the movie, Molina is just the face we can get to know that talks amongst the characters. Even still, he is still one of the best superhero villians, no- movie villians of all time. "Spider-Man 2" is better than the original in every way. The ending is A WHOLE LOT BETTER! This movie ends happily while still setting up another potential sequel, and it works how they set it up, it isn't just thrown in there for insurance reasons. They could go that way for the next movie, or hold it off for another sequel...either way, I can't wait. "Spider-Man 2" is the second greatest superhero movie I've ever seen behind "Batman Returns". And I've figured out something, the one "something" that makes or breaks and superhero movie. It has to be about characters, not a gimmick, the superhero's powers or whatever. "Batman" and "Batman Returns" is good because its about the characters, "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin" suck because they are all about flash and cool action and don't delve into the characters at all. "The Hulk" was excellent in my book because it was about the characters, not just the Hulk running around smashing things going "grrrr....argh....". "Daredevil" was about his relationship with Elecktra more than the Kingpin and the action sequences. That's what makes great superhero films. "Spider-Man 2" is about the characters, we listen to them, we care about them and that's what makes the action exciting, exhilerating and fun- we don't want to see any of these characters we care for get hurt. This is indeed bigger and better than the original, and any other comic based film ever made.