Spider-Man 2 — Spider-Man No More

It’s a scary situation, when facing possible death, that one’s life, or the lives of many, are put into the hands of one man who can prevent such a disaster. That’s a lot of trust to be giving out to some stranger to make things right. But when the situation calls for one person to put his life in the hands of many, how will that be played out in the end?

There is a moment in Spider-Man 2 that plays out this scenario. After saving a runaway train in New York City, an exhausted—and maskless—Spider-Man is carried into the train compartment by the people he just saved. To their shock, they realize that this person who just saved their lives is just a kid… someone’s son, brother, friend, a fellow New Yorker. This revelation manifests into something poignant when Dr. Octopus comes to claim his body. The people of New York stick up for Spidey, protecting him and his identity, as he did for them, even going as far in stating that Dr. Ock will have to “go through me” in order to get at him. It’s this moment that shows just how much Spider-Man is the everyday, common person’s hero.

And this is the appeal of Spider-Man. He’s not a wealthy billionaire who creates gadgets, lives in a cave and dress up like a giant bat. He’s not an alien from another planet with extraordinary, god-like abilities. When Stan Lee created Spider-Man, he put together someone who was endowed with amazing powers but also dealt with real day problems. Poor Peter Parker has been put through the ringer… he lost his uncle to a murder, he can’t hold a steady job, he has problems paying his rent, his school work is suffering, his best friend hates him, and the girl he loves is engaged to another man. And this is only the tip of the iceberg to the woes that has to be faced in Peter Parker’s world because the spectre of Spider-Man always looms over him. When does he get to lead a normal life? The real question is can he ignore his special abilities and quit his life as a superhero?


With Great Responsibility Comes Time For a Break

It’s two years after the first movie and Harry Osborn (James Franco) has taken over his late father’s role as head of Oscorp Industries. He has brought onboard a brilliant but gentle scientist, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), who is going to bring Osborn’s company to new heights. Unfortunately, an accident happens that leaves Octavius’ wife dead and fuses mechanical tentacles to his spine. It’s safe to say that it also makes him unstable in nature. His goal is to recreate his original experiment to prove to the world that he was right, and he will go to any lengths into achieving his goal.

Unfortunately, this means bad news for Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire). As the unstoppable Doctor Octopus, Spider-Man has to try and stop his rampage through New York City as he acquires the necessary equipment and money. This also includes getting his hands on tritium, a compound he needs in order to complete his experiment, and there’s only one person who has it… Harry Osborn. What Spidey doesn’t know is the secret agreement Octavius and Osborn have made with each other: Harry will give Octavius the tritium if he delivers Spider-Man to him. Harry still blames Spider-Man for his father’s death, the late Norman Osborn (who, incidentally, has no idea he was the villainous Green Goblin).

Meanwhile, Peter’s daily life is on turmoil, and it is affecting him greatly especially when his powers start to disappear. The stress of everything has caused a burnout syndrome that has temporarily made his powers disappear. But Peter doesn’t see it as a bad thing. Without the web-slinging in his life, he can now focus on the other things that he has neglected. His schoolwork has improved as well as his relationship with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Too late, though, as she is engaged to John Jamseon, the son of the Daily Bugle’s publisher J. Jonah Jamseon (J. K. Simmons). It’s funny how their lives went opposite ways as Peter has been struggling for a couple of years to make end’s meat, while Mary Jane has gone on to be a successful actress.

However, it’s hard for Peter to ignore the cries of those who need help. Despite his loss of power, he still recalls Uncle Ben’s message of great power and great responsibility. This is reinforced by the most unlikely of sources: Aunt May (Rosemary Harris). Spider-Man rescued her earlier from Dr. Octopus and it changed her outlook at him. She reviled Spider-Man and believed Jameson’s slander in the Daily Bugle. However, ever since that incident, she changed her tune. All has noticed Spider-Man’s disappearance, and Aunt May inspires Peter (she still doesn’t know he’s really Spider-Man) to don on the costume again. The problem: how does he get back his powers?


Weaving His Own Web

Despite the few liberties taken, director Sam Raimi has done a very good job at staying faithful to Spider-Man’s history. I still have a problem with the idea of organic webshooters and the reasoning is simple: I liked the fact that Peter used his scientific knowledge to create these devices. It shows what a gift he has for the sciences. It also makes for some interesting stories, as he needs materials to make his webs. Part of the fun is watching Spider-Man run out web cartridges in the middle of a battle and use his intelligence to defeating a villain. There’s also the acquisition of the materials he needs in order to make his web formula. Most of the time Peter needs money to buy the supplies need, and we all know of his money problems. It’s another element in “Bad-Luck” Parker’s daily life. It should be noted that the comic book version has now recently gained the power to shoot organic webs from his hands. I guess the movie had more of influence than possibly thought. I still don’t like it.

What I did appreciate is Peter’s knowledge of the scientific world being explored as he banters with Dr. Octopus. Here we get to see how smart Peter really is as he is able to keep up and understand what the good doctor is trying to accomplish.

Speaking of Dr. Ock, he is one of the best super-villains to grace the big screen. Here we are treated to a truly sympathetic character and understand his motivations for the things he is trying to accomplish. His wife died in an accident, his experiment was deemed a failure, and his tentacles were fused to his spine with a plausible explanation. Even though he goes about doing things the wrong way, it’s hard not to understand the psyche of his mind. And this is where Raimi excels in his vision of the Spider-Man world. Alfred Molina brings Otto Octavius to life in such a superb way, and it was a breath of fresh air from the over-dramatization of Willem Defoe’s performance as the Green Goblin in Spider-Man.

However, as any Spider-Man fan knows, the Green Goblin’s legacy hasn’t ended. Harry discovers the secret to his father’s double life and anybody who is anybody knows that he will take up the mantle. If Raimi is staying true to the comic book, then Harry is destined to becoming the second Green Goblin. Added to his hatred for Spider-Man is the knowledge of his secret identity that happens to be his estranged best friend. Is this the thing that will make him go over the edge?

Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, J. K. Simmons, and Rosemary Harris respectively reprise their roles and they all add an extra dimension to their characters. One of the easiest things to do is to keep them stagnant. Instead Raimi wisely allows them to evolve naturally as the story warrants. And by doing so, he succeeds in something that is rare in Hollywood movie making… he creates a sequel that’s superior to the original film. Spider-Man was designed to introduce all the characters and get the origin story out of the way. Spider-Man 2 gets past all of that and into the meat of the matter… his daily personal problems. That has always been the attraction to this character since his inception. Here is a person with these amazing abilities and it doesn’t help in his daily life. Instead it becomes a burden and a nuisance for him. If this guy can still have problems like this even with his gifts, then our lives aren’t that bad to begin with in the first place.

Not until we have to face a costumed psychopath out for our head.


Other Comic Book Movies
Batman
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Batman & Robin
Batman Begins
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
The Batman Superman Movie
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Spider-Man
Superman: The Movie
Superman II
Superman III
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Superman Returns
Superman: Brainiac Attacks
X-Men
X2: X-Men United
X-Men: The Last Stand