Alright, this is the first movie that I've seen in a long time that I felt deserves a review.. Basically just things I liked about it, and things that I thought could use some work. Here goes:
Spiderman 2 is in my biased opinion, awesome. It's just like X2 wherin it's better than it's original. Spidey 2 and X2 share similarities too. Both push similar themes through the screen and slap you in the face with them. Both have blaitant foreshadowing into what is to come in the next release. Both hit the action hard and early.
If you like spoilers, continue on. If not, then STOP. I wont give the story away, but I may say a thing or two that you might want to save yourself from knowing until you're sittin' in a theater.
Spiderman 2 continues a couple years after the first one left off. The backbone of the story is that Peter Parker's life is falling apart. Spiderman is taking up too much of his time, and it's taking it's toll on this poor photographer from New York. He's at risk from getting fired from his job, risk from failing out of school, and in a nutshell, his life just plain sucks. He feels he is obligated to be Spiderman, until a conversation he has with another character convinces him that he does, in fact, have a choice.
The antagonist in this movie is Dr. Octaveous, or "Dok Ock", a physisist. We really feel for Dok in this movie because he's not an evil man, instead his intentions are quite sincere. A freak accident leaves him in the control of another... umm.. well, you'll have to watch the movie for that.
Anyway, the rest of the movie goes on as you would imagine. Peter wonders if he made the right decision. Obviously, because there are other movies slated to be in production, he decides that he can juggle a personal life and Spiderman at the same time and good triumphs over evil.
What did I like about this movie? well:
- the animation in this movie is smooth. They really learned from their mistakes made in the first movie to bring quality graphics to the screen. Spiderman no longer looks rubbery and non-human. Lighting on spidey in this movie as he's web-slinging is a little questionable, like it was in the first movie. And his costume during these instances looks to be too vibrant to me... But that's just me being picky.
- The fight on the Subway train is amazing. Critics are saying "oh, there's a fight on top of a train.. like we haven't seen THAT before." but you wanna know something? You haven't seen a fight like this before. Just because it's on top of a train is secondary. It's a great fight. Obviously computer generated, but you quickly forget that. You really think you're watching a guy do most of these stunts. Now, that's not to say that there isn't the odd reminder that it's not real, but for the most part it really is a convincing battle.
- This scene ends with Spidey passing out and being "body surfed" by passengers on the train to a safe place to lay on the floor, all while a slowish orchestral piece with a patriotic and heroic theme hums in the background. Cheesy, but it is a good way to show that the people of New York no longer see Spiderman as a menace or criminal.
- There were a few comic relief moments in this movie, too. Watch for the scene in the elevator. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time... I was bent over in the theater chair holding my gut.
- Willem Dafoe makes a cameo appearance.... God he's an awesome "evil guy" actor.
Ok, now what's my beef?
- The first time you see Spiderman web-slinging around the city and come in for a landing, while he's standing on the ground, if you look just up and to the right of his right shoulder, you can see a clear fishing line type rope that grabs the sunlight. I guess they forgot to edit it out. It wasn't the only time it happened in the movie, but this was the first of the two times that I caught. Oops!
- Another beef? I think Dok Ock's change of heart happens too easily. That's all I'm gonna say about that..
- My final beef comes from Maguire's interpretation of Peter Parker. I think he makes Peter *too* nerdy and *too*.. umm... "golly gee shucks", if you know what I mean.. It's like he's playing a kid from the 50s - it's just too much, but that's just me.
- The question mark shaped scar / line / dimple / whatever on Maguire's right cheek is annoying.
but that's about it for beef! not much beef when it comes to this movie.
In watching the final scenes of the movie, you're introduced to the villian which will appear in the upcoming Spiderman 3. If you've watched any of the cartoons, you can probably guess who this is by this journal entry alone.
Anyway, the movie wasn't perfect by any means, but you dont go to a Comic movie to see perfection. I must say, I'm really impressed so far with the X-Men and Spiderman movie adaptations of the old cartoons / comics. They stay (for the most part) fairly true to the look and feel of the old series, as well as providing a great source of entertainment leaving you begging for the next movie in the series.
I give this movie an 7.5 out of a possible 10 voids.
Until next time.......
*fade to black*
:: Eldorado ::
Tuesday, July 06, 2004 ::
12:49:00 PM
