SPIDER-MAN 2

Reviewed By Fred MacDonald

I want to be clear on this. I liked Spider-man 2, a lot. Then again I liked the first one as well, but I had one or two small problems with it. This sequel was a better with doing things all the way around, and the story was very good too. So you may ask, why didn't I give the movie a four star, must see rating? Well, in my view, the film makes one mistake that is pretty important for this character, and I just can't buy into it.

First off let me say that the acting by all of the cast members is superior to what you usually get in a commonplace action adventure picture. It's not just a question of everyone hitting their marks, and saying what lines they have, no the cast members actually seem to believe in their individual characters.

The story is thought out, and I found myself hooked into what was going on from moment one. Even though there are many elements in this adventure they all hook up and one time or another, and each link builds up to the next event. The dual nature of Peter Parker, and Spiderman tends to take center stage in the movie, but we also get views of Mary Jane’s life choices, a look at Peter's beloved aunt, and the slide into major anger by his former friend. The individual, who is Doctor Ock, is also well rounded and is more of a tragic person then a complete baddie.

The special effects are better used in this picture, and the plot device of Spiderman losing his powers at certain moments in the story, actual makes his normal swinging around seem more intense if the viewer is wondering if Spiderman's powers will keep working this time, then they have something invested in the character, and are already somewhat hooked with the story.

With all of this going on, I found myself liking the picture a whole lot. Then it happened: the train scene. Spiderman takes off his mask to get a better look at the threatening danger, and then allows a sizable amount of people to see his real face. Granted, this makes for a nice scene of the common folk relating to the fact that Spiderman is a person like themselves, but the scriptwriter has now opened a box of trouble. Mr. Parker's character doesn't want to risk Mary Jane’s life by having her know his secret, and thus he is almost willing to lose her forever. However his actions in the train defeat this concept, since there are now lots of people who can describe what he looks like. (Despite what everyone says on the train, someone will let the information slip out by accident, or if they were offered enough money.)

The comic book adventures have always stressed the importance of keeping his true identity under wraps. (At least the stories that I have read.) So to have his secret known to a group of people who have no vested interest in the real individual, strikes me as being a bit reckless to say the least.

Most people will say that this is only a small problem, in the story, and it shouldn't prevent me from embracing the whole. But this must also be weighed against the whole history of the saga. It is my belief that certain core elements belong in the Spiderman concept. To change one of them, for a less than important reason, in my view, takes something away from the character. Simply put, why should Peter Parker freak out if someone finds out who he really is, when he opens the door to that danger himself?

One final point. I am NOT upset about Mary Jane learning about who Peter is, nor his former best friend. Both of those actions have already been dealt with in the comic books, and will also flesh out future story elements in the next film. In fact I wouldn't even be bothered if Peter's aunt figured his secret out, or was told it. That makes sense. But random members of the city do not. Like I said, for some people this is a minor point, but for me it is not. Thus I can say that while I really enjoyed Spiderman 2, I didn't LOVE it. If they hadn't made that one misstep, then I could be like most other people and give the movie a Four Star score. But I must be true to my own views first. So go out and see the picture, just remember there are one or two people who think that the film has a minor flaw or two.

Score 3 Stars Out Of Four.