"Road to No Way Home" Re-Watch: Spider-Man 2

"Spider-Man 2" (2004)

 The sequel to Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" came out a short two years after the original, but despite the relatively quick turnaround, we got an assured masterpiece that is the best of the eight "Spider-Man" movies that have been on the big screen. I said what I said. Not only that, it's one of the best superhero movies of all-time. Again, I said what I said.

Principal photography on "Spider-Man 2" began April 2003 and concluded in December 2003. The film stars Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, James Franco as Harry Osborn, Alfred Molina as Dr. Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus, Rosemary Harris as May Parker, Donna Murphy as Rosie Octavius, Daniel Gillies as John Jameson and J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. The film was written by Alvin Sargent from a story by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Michael Chabon. It was directed by Sam Raimi. "Spider-Man 2" premiered on June 30, 2004.

Restrict blood flow not air flow.

Sam Raimi's first "Spider-Man" is a great origin story. It does what it needs to do. It is a perfect set up for "Spider-Man 2," which is Raimi's magnum Spider-Man opus. It is, and I will stand by this, the greatest Spider-Man story that has been committed to film. It perfectly encapsulates everything that people have loved about Peter Parker for 60 years. It is one of the top 5 superhero films ever made. I said what I said.

The opening of the movie is beautiful. The first movie is recapped using beautiful painted illustrations by comic artist superstar Alex Ross. Ross has drawn some memorable comics. For Marvel, he is most well known for the miniseries "Marvels." For DC, he drew the iconic Elseworlds story, "Kingdom Come" and more recently "Justice." Every single painting in this opening you could hang on your walls. They are breathtaking. It sets the tone for the movie. This art sets a tone. You know from watching this that you are into something special. 

Tobey Maguire returns as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Maguire was great in the first film, but I feel like he is even more assured in this film. He wears Peter Parker like a second skin. And in the first film his Peter was maybe too awkward, the Peter Parker of "Spider-Man 2" is more confident. More self-assured. The two years he's been web slinging have done him some good. The film really leans into the old Parker Luck. If you're a comics fan, you are familiar. No matter how much good he does, Peter Parker can't seem to catch a break. It's all over this movie. The opening scene is a glaring example of that. Peter is late to his pizza delivery job and has to try to get pizzas somewhere in less than 10 minutes. He fails and gets fired. Then, he sells a photo to JJJ but gets no money because of the advance he took. He is late on his rent. He is missing MJ's play. It's so true to the character and Maguire sells every moment.

Kirsten Dunst and James Franco return as Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn, respectively. I hate saying this, but they are both just kind of there. Mary Jane is again left with very little agency. After revealing her feelings for Peter at the end of the first movie and being rejected because of his identity as Spider-Man, MJ has a lot going for her. She's starring in a well-received revival of "The Importance of Being Earnest." Her face is on a billboard. She seems to be very successful. She's dating and soon engaged to astronaut and son of JJJ, John Jameson. But all that it seems means nothing if she doesn't have Peter Parker. It seems like MJ spends the majority of the movie fussing over Peter. She tries to get him to reveal his feelings. She is angry with him when she feels like he's blowing her off. She seems to figure out he's Spider-Man when she has John lean his head back so she can recreate their upside down kiss. But in the end, she's just once again a screaming hostage. If I have one gripe about this movie, it's MJ. She just has zero agency once again outside of her relationship to Peter.

This is not how you ride the train guys.

James Franco's Harry has taken over Oscorp and he's kind of turned into in insufferable jackass. He's trying to use Otto Octavius to upstage his father and he's pursuing his vendetta against Spider-Man who he believes killed Norman. The latter is causing friction between himself and Peter since Peter is taking pictures of Spider-Man. You still aren't sure why Peter and Harry are friends. They still don't seem to have anything in common and Harry is being kind of a tool. I get that he thinks Spider-Man killed his dad and maybe he'd be a little resentful of his best friend taking pictures of him, but it seems like he takes things a little far. He accosts Peter at his own birthday party. That being said, it is very Spider-Man for Peter's costumed life to interfere with his personal life. And the reveal of Peter's identity to Harry works really well. It just feels like a lot of this is set up for the next movie, so it's kind of difficult to take too much stock in it. And when Harry sees a vision of Norman before he finds his stock of Goblin gear are we meant to believe that Harry is also having like the same delusions as his dad? So this is genetic? It's all a little muddy.

I have to give pros to Rosemary Harris, the actress who plays Aunt May. We all love hot Aunt May from the MCU "Spider-Man" movies, but Harris is perfect as the classic May. She could have been pulled straight from the comics. She has a larger role in this movie than in the first one and she's fantastic. She's a brassy broad who loves her nephew unconditionally. She's proud. The way that May forcefully has Peter take the $20 that she gave him for his birthday even though the house is getting foreclosed on. May is a quiet force of nature in this movie. The scenes that really shine here are when Peter comes clean about being present for Ben's death and the scene where the two reconcile. There is so much emotion. So much left said and unsaid. And watching Harris you know that you are really watching someone who can act. 

We can't talk about the performances in this movie without talking about Alfred Molina. He kills it as Otto Octavius aka Doctor Octopus. A lot of people will say that Norman Osborn is Spider-Man's arch nemesis but for me, it will always be Doc Ock. Hell, Octavius took over Peter's body in the comics for a while. Yes, Osborn killed Gwen Stacy, but did he live Parker's life for a while? Molina is just perfect as Ock. If they ever cast another actor, he'll have huge shoes to fill. Molina makes Octavius a layered character that you have empathy for which is so important. You see his hubris but that doesn't make his accident and turn to villainy any less sad. Molina plays this all just right and just like Dafoe in the original movie, he never plays it too much. It never tips over into pure camp.

No more Spider-Man.

The plot of "Spider-Man 2" is very like superhero nonsense. Otto Octavius is working on some sort of fusion reactor, but it hasn't been tested enough. It's unstable. There is an accident. Spider-Man shuts it down but not before Otto's wife is killed and the robotic arms he was using are fused to his back. Octavius then becomes obsessed with proving that his experiment is a success. Meanwhile, Parker is trying to balance his life as Peter and Spider-Man. It seems the stress that he's under is causing his powers to fritz out until he loses them all together and seemingly abandon the promise he made to Ben and forgetting all about with great power, comes great responsibility. Which, it turns out, is easier said than done. 

If you're a comics fan, then "Spider-Man 2" has a lot for you. An enduring image from the Stan Lee run of "Spider-Man" comes from "Amazing Spider-Man" #50 penciled by John Romita. The above picture is basically a direct homage to the cover of that image, where Peter stops being Spider-Man. That comic also features the first appearance of the Kingpin, fun fact. This plot point isn't glazed over. I love the montage of Peter going about his life without powers. It gives very like sitcom opening credits vibes. The movie quickly shows Peter that he can't walk away from this so quickly and that the good that he has done has left an indomitable impression on him.

In my re-watch of "Spider-Man," I talked about how Raimi was able to incorporate some of his signature filmmaking style into a mainstream superhero movie and he ups his game in "Spider-Man 2." The sequel has maybe the most Raimi sequence in the trilogy. I'm of course talking about when the surgeons attempt to remove the arms from Octavius. He's blindfolded and as soon as they try the arms take care of business. Raimi leans hard into the horror aspect of things. There are the shadows showing the arms tossing people around the room. The nurse cowering and screaming in the shadows caused by the carnage. An arm pulling a woman across the floor into the darkness while her nails scrape grooves across the floor. The surgical saw. It is perfection and it's Raimi having some fun. 

Kirsten Dunst's nipples should be billed separately in these movies.

The action sequences in "Spider-Man 2" are really top notch and they still hold up today. There are some aspects that feel a bit dated, but none that really take you out of the movie. The bank sequence is fantastic from the moment that Peter pushes May out of the way. The next thing we know Octavius has May and is climbing the side of the building with her. Ock doesn't really have a fighting style, it's just basically causing as much damage as possible, which really makes sense for a scientist going crazy and trying to be a supervillain. He's chucking bags of coins at Spidey. Tearing off the hands of a clock and tossing them at the hero. The addition of May beating him with an umbrella and using that umbrella to hook herself to the side of a building doesn't detract from this at all. In fact, this sort of camp factor, I think, makes the whole sequence even better. 

The best action sequence in the movie though is the subway train. It begins with Ock, having been sent by Harry to find Peter Parker in order to capture Spider-Man, casually tossing a car through the window of the coffee shop where Peter and MJ have met to hash out things with their relationship. Peter senses it, heralding the return of his powers. Ock takes off with MJ and Spider-Man follows. This leads to a long tussle between the two that climaxes on a subway train. It's so good. Ock tossing passengers out the windows of the train with Spider-Man catching them and webbing them to safety. Ock disabling the train and Spider-Man, maskless, stopping it with webs and just pure strength. 

The maskless thing used to really bug me, but I think I made peace with it watching "Spider-Man 2" this time. As someone pointed out to me, NYC is the biggest city in the world. It's highly unlikely that anyone would really recognize Peter and even though he is a photographer for the Daily Bugle, it's not like his picture is posted along with his photos. And this sequence is all about showing how the people of New York really love Spider-Man. They defend him. They are ready to protect him. It shows how Spider-Man is needed and important. It could have been really heavy handed and schmaltzy but I think Raimi has the perfect touch here. 

A few brief notes here before we wrap up. I love that unlike "Spider-Man"s kind of dour ending, "Spider-Man 2" ends on a joyous note. Peter and MJ are together, MJ having literally fled her wedding. She accepts the risks of dating Spider-Man and it leaves Spider-Man hooting with happiness as he does what he does best. 

There are a few fun, hey! it's that person! moments in Spider-Man 2. We get the return of the effervescent Elizabeth Banks as Betty Brant. Emily Deschanel, sister of Zooey and star of television's "Bones," briefly pops up as the receptionist who isn't paying for those late pizzas. Who's that in the elevator with Spidey the first time his powers briefly leave? It's Michael Novotny himself, "Queer as Folk"s Hal Sparks. That loan officer at the bank looks familiar. Well, it should because it's Joel McHale! I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but if I did, point them out in the comments.

Next up, the Raimi trilogy concludes with the much derided "Spider-Man 3."

So, clearly, I love this movie. What do you think? Am I off base calling it the best Spider-Man movie? Let me know in the comments.