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Actors: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, J.K. Simmons, Dylan Baker, James Franco
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Spiderman 2 |
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Tobey Maguire reprises the role of comic book superhero and Kristin Dunst returns as the girl-next-door, Mary Jane Watson, in this energetic, special-effects-ridden sequel to 2002's box office hit. This time around, Spiderman's alter ego, Peter Parker, intends to pack away that famous red and blue suit for good but an experiment gone wrong creates new villain Doc Ock (Alfred Molina) and quickly shatters Spidey's plans for retirement. There are several exciting action scenes such as Doc Ock's attempt to kidnap Spiderman's Auntie May at a NYC bank. The complimenting backstory is still the just-out-of-reach relationship between Peter Parker and Mary Jane which adds a touch of welcome romance to offset all the action.
--Fay Rose, Resident Scholar
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Peter Parker (Maguire) continues to wrestle with his secret identity. His school work is suffering and he's all but lost Mary Jane Watson (Dunst), who has become a model and actress, and eventually becomes engaged to marry publisher J. Jonah Jameson's son the astronaut. Meanwhile, the scientist Dr. Otto Octavius hopes to identify an inexhaustible energy source through fusion, but an accident welds four large mechanical arms to his body and drives him crazy. Peter and Mary Jane's friend Harry Osborn (Franco) has financed Octavius's project, but is also obsessed with getting revenge on Spider-Man for the death of his father, the Green Goblin, and the two team up just when Parker has decided to give up his web slinging identity and live a normal life. This sequel is as good as or better than "Spider-Man" because the plot is more coherent, there's more human story, Molina and Simmons (as Jameson) are particularly fine, and about $54 million was spent on the special effects, which include an incredible battle on a speeding elevated subway train.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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This is the sequel to the 1st Spider-man movie. Spidey alias Peter Parker (Tobey McGuire) can't seem to catch any kind of break. Being Spiderman seems to have brought him nothing but trouble as far as his personal life is concerned. Not only that, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) has gotten engaged to a handsome astronaut John Jameson, and Peter might lose her forever. Things have gone so bad for him that he is pushed past his breaking point. Throwing his talents into the wind, he decides that he doesn't want to be a superhero anymore. When a freak accident transforms Dr. Otto Octavius into the vengeful and multi-tentacled Dr. Octopus, Peter realizes that only Spiderman can stop him. Mary Jane gets kidnapped and Harry Osborn, who still blames Spiderman for the death of his father, Norman Osborn, wants him dead. Spidey will have to push himself past his limits if he's going to survive.
--Lovely Wolff, Resident Scholar
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Spider-Man (Tobey McGuire) continues to struggle with being half man/half spider. He feels he has to choose between being Spidey, or Peter Parker because of how it affects his mental well-being and his relationships. Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is all but finished with unreliable Peter and wants to move on without him. His other friend, Harry Osborn continues to deal with the death of his father, the Green Goblin, while he works with another scientist Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) who eventually becomes "Doc Ock" who has delusions of grandeur.
--Karen Kay, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Spiderman 2 |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 25%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 45%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- change of heart
Superhero movie?
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- super strength
- is very quick
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
Body type
- average (man)
- muscular (man)
Unclothed?
- Chest
Events of movie makes character more...
- irritated
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- Very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- red
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- scientist
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- is very quick
- super strength
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- emotionally unstable
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard wavy
Body type
- fat (man)
- average (man)
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physical condition
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century (1970's to Present)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Big cities?
Yes
Misc settings
- lab
Kind of city
- Dirty, crime-ridden (like NY)
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to deaths
Comedy or somewhat funny movie?
Yes
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Kinds of F/X
- nasty human transformations
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Modern rock/pop
Is this movie based on a
- comics
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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