- Also Known As:
- Unknown
- Year:
- 2004
- Country/ies:
- USA
- Predominant Genre:
- Fantasy
- Author(s)/Director(s):
- Sam Raimi
- Best Performance(s):
- J K SIMMONS
- Premiss:
- Beset with troubles in his failing personal life, our hero battles a brilliant scientist.
- Theme(s):
- Personal change
- Self-expression
- White supremacy
- Similar (in Plot, Theme or Style) to:
- Spider-Man
- Review Format:
- DVD
Superior sequel that deals with its themes effectively while striking the right balance between action and dramatic scenes - both complementing each other rather than drowning each other out. A Heidigger for beginners in its central character’s awareness of his need for dasein for his crime fighting to be effective, it is markedly more parodic than its predecessor and so that much more enjoyable.
Moreover, a more sensitive adaptation of the Spider-Man comic and less violent – as if the filmmakers gained confidence in an imperfect superhero; the first film being a rehearsal for the quality here. This combination of realism and fantasy is compelling.
The usual post-9/11 politics of claiming that formerly-alienated New Yorkers now stick together against unspeakable evil – be it terrorism or whatever – is risible, but dramatically effective.
A subtle analysis of the myth of the super hero from the point of view of a super coward. A personal hinterland requires a life divorced from punishing the bad guys but also entails hostages to fortune – those one loves. Peter Parker’s alias is scared to take this gamble, yet becomes less effective as your “friendly neighborhood Spider Man”. It is in the risk-taking that one becomes truly effective - as our hero learns while spending much time trying to run away from the very great privilege of his not inconsiderable abilities.
The performance of J K SIMMONS as J Jonah Jameson is a comic standout in a film replete with running gags and in-jokes for the fans.
The only real (minor) problem with this movie is its unrealistic violence: Those knocks that would badly bruise the likes of you and me hardly phase these characters.
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