TALK STORY

Spider-Man 2 Was Excellent!

POSTED BY: FILMCRITIC3000
UPDATED: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 08:50
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VIEWED: 1856
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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 4:07 AM

FILMCRITIC3000


(I saw an early screening at 7PM last night and will definitely be seeing it
again!)

SPIDER-MAN 2

(Columbia Pictures)[SONY]

While the summer sun scorches us outside, most of the movies we get to see in
theatres are shiftless, banal tripe. Just turn up the sound, surrender your
brain, and let 90 minutes of nothingness claim you. It will then spit you back
out, one admission price cheaper.

Director Sam Raimi has provided us with a rare thing, indeed: a summer movie
that transcends the season of its release. Its themes and tones reverberate
inside of us. Peter Parker is the ultimate gadfly who always has to face the
facts: he wants to be himself but he can't. He will always be Spider-Man. It is
that balancing act between both sides that give us the crux of the plot in this
superior sequel. Tobey Maguire gives the audience a confused, unsure Peter
Parker. His performance is the heart of the movie. One misstep, one falter, and
the movie would have crumbled. He captures the heartache, uncertainty, and
vulnerability of this torn man wonderfully.

Alfred Molina is a genius scientist trying to capture the power of the sun
artifically. It all goes wrong and so is born Dr. Octopus ("Doc Ock"). He
deftly underplays the role, letting his maniacal tentacles do the work for him
and boy do they. The tussles between Doc Ock and Spider-Man are brutal,
concussive, and intense. These are some of the best fight scenes on film.

Kirsten Dunst is breathtaking. She imbues Mary Jane Watson with a longing
hopefulness and a strong vibrantly fierce independence. All she wants is what
she cannot have: Peter Parker.

I could continue like this for hours. Raimi has carte blanche to splash his
trademark directorial style over the silver screen canvas and he gives us a
maestro's concerto. One scene in a hospital operating room will give fans of
"The Evil Dead" series a clever wink. Speaking of which, look for Bruce
Campbell as a stuffy theatre usher. And all the while Danny Elfman's brilliant
score takes us to many plateaus; it never overpowers us though.

The characters matter. That's the key. You can throw all the pretty colors and
overbearing action at us you want. It doesn't matter. The key to the success of
the "Spider-Man" franchise is the well-written relationship between both the
people on the screen and the ones in the audience. The eternal struggle between
what we want and how we'll go about getting it is universal. Alvin Sargent's
("Unfaithful") screenplay is a tome that speaks to that. The girl you never
told you loved. That guy you stopped calling all those years ago. Our lives are
what we make of them, good or bad. We all must forge our own paths, discover
our ideas, follow our destiny. So must Peter Parker. Anyone who loves film,
enjoys a good romance, and likes taut action will enjoy "Spider-Man 2". It is a
testament to what magic the movies can become if care and conviction are given
behind the scenes. Go see it.

**** (out of four)



"If they give you ruled paper, write the other way."

- Juan Ramon Jiminez

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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 7:22 AM

JASONZZZ


Quote:

Originally posted by FilmCritic3000:
(I saw an early screening at 7PM last night and will definitely be seeing it
again!)

SPIDER-MAN 2

(Columbia Pictures)[SONY]

....




That's a great review, thanks.
I'll definitely go and see it. In your opinion, was any of the fight scenes or suspenseful scenes (I remember the trailer had a specific part where Harry poises over Spidey with a dagger...) that might be traumatic for young children?



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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:29 AM

CAPNRAHN


Quote:

ORIGINAL by Jasonzz
That's a great review, thanks.
I'll definitely go and see it. In your opinion, was any of the fight scenes or suspenseful scenes (I remember the trailer had a specific part where Harry poises over Spidey with a dagger...) that might be traumatic for young children?

Let me attempt to answer that in 2 parts:
In general, the scene is not over played for it's 'terror'. It is quickly dispensed with when Harry makes his discovery of who is actually under the mask.

Specifically:
It depends on how sensitive the young children are. Emotional fortitude varies widely. If a parent knows their child and understands the rating system, they should be able to make an accurate decision. It just depends on what the individual child can deal with. Only a parent {or should!} knows the sensitivity level of their progeny.

That help?

My brief review {for now}
Rami and cast/crew does NOT disappoint!!!!!!

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:38 AM

JASONZZZ


Quote:

Originally posted by CapnRahn:
Quote:

ORIGINAL by Jasonzz
That's a great review, thanks.
I'll definitely go and see it. In your opinion, was any of the fight scenes or suspenseful scenes (I remember the trailer had a specific part where Harry poises over Spidey with a dagger...) that might be traumatic for young children?

Let me attempt to answer that in 2 parts:
In general, the scene is not over played for it's 'terror'. It is quickly dispensed with when Harry makes his discovery of who is actually under the mask.

Specifically:
It depends on how sensitive the young children are. Emotional fortitude varies widely. If a parent knows their child and understands the rating system, they should be able to make an accurate decision. It just depends on what the individual child can deal with. Only a parent {or should!} knows the sensitivity level of their progeny.

That help?

My brief review {for now}
Rami and cast/crew does NOT disappoint!!!!!!

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"



Thanks, the description of the scene was exactly what I needed. Though, we will likely preview it with our drunken friends before we take our kids to the saturday matinee.




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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:40 AM

CAPNRAHN


I am always glad to help, Jasonzz!

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:41 AM

JCKNIFE


It was excellent! Go see it!

I thought the Doc Ock hospital scene would be pretty freaky / scary for kids.

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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:50 AM

JASONZZZ



Check this out... Turkey's Spiderman is freaky

http://i-mockery.net/3devadam/



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