It is imperative for readers to know that I am a huge Marvel comic's fan and collected comic books as a child, treasuring Marvel's Spider-Man like my favorite pocket knife. Those that grew up in the Midwest or perhaps boys that joined the Boy Scouts know the importance of owning their very own pocket knife. After viewing the first Spider-Man movie I left the theater with some reservations on how my comic book hero would be portrayed on the silver screen feeling as though the first movie was a bit mushy lacking some of the action featured in the comic book and the 1977 TV series.


However, in Spider Man 2 we find the mild mannered Peter Parker attending college at Empire State University living on his own in a flee bag apartment barely able to afford rent. In this film we Peter is madly in love with Mary Jane who is about to marry the young dashing astronaut John Jamison, because Peter is never there for her. Everyone knows why Peter can’t be there for Mary Jane, because he is to busy saving the world as Spider Man. He also works as a pizza delivery man and a freelance photographer for Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson.


Viewers won’t be able to make any complaints about the acting in this film. The acting is top notch. Tobey Magquire does an excellent job as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Kirsten Dunst brings a lot of emotion and thoughtfulness to her character Mary Jane Watson. In fact, each is cast in a role that doesn’t seem that far a stretch from the previous movie. It should be noted that Alfred Molina does a wonderful job as the conflicted villain Doc Ock.


The cinematography was exceptional with imaginative visual effects that practically placed you smack dab in New York. One of the best and yet worst scenes was the train fight and Spider-Man’s efforts to save the passengers. The fight between Spider-Man and Doc Ock was impressive and had almost a Matrix feel to it without the slow motion technology. What I didn’t like was Spidey’s mask coming off and everyone finding out his identify. Bottom line Spider-Man is supposed to keep on his mask and maintain his secret identify after all anonymity is what the comic book is all about.


Spider Man 2 as it predecessor continues to follow with an emotionally based theme coming across more like a love story than an actual comic book rock-um-sock-um brawl against good and evil. In this films the lines between good and evil are blurred and at times cloudy. Dr. Octopus looses almost everything even his humanity as he attempts to prove his scientific theories.


Fortunately, Spider Man 2 is worth the movie ticket despite its mushiness with Mary Jane and Peter Parker. I am sure pre-teens will enjoy it but parents will have to make the final decision regarding the appropriate teen age since the film is rated PG-13. The action is tense, with issues of death and dying, and gunplay. Fortunately this movie forgoes the blood and gore keeping things fairly clean in a comic book sort of way.


Columbia Pictures has got a winner here, and with the way this sequel ended I am sure there is going to be a Spider-Man 3. Children and adults and comic book fans will enjoy this one as long as they remember that it is an adaptation of the popular comic book, and I stress the word adaptation. Overall, the characters delves more into Spidey’s romantic side than his actual fighting and web slinging. One of the things I really liked about this film was the fact that it lived up to every trailer and premiere that has been shown or mentioned in the media.


I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars, primarily because of the films entertainment value and the opportunity to loose yourself for a few hours.


Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older