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In 2004 Peter is attending Empire State University in his beloved New York City and earning money by taking pictures of Spidey for the Daily Bugle, though his skill and reputation as Spider-Man have improved, his personal life still leaves much to be desired. Still estranged from the love ... Read review
More than a few critics hailedSpider-Man 2as "the best superhero movie ever," and there's ... more
no compelling reason to argue--thanks to a bigger budget, betterspecial effects, and a dynamic, character-driven plot, it's a notch aboveSpider-Manin terms of emo...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Two years have passed, and the mild-mannered Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) faces new ... more
challenges as he struggles to balance his life as the elusive superhero Spider-Man. Tormented by his secrets, Peter is in danger of losing all those that he holds dear....
Sam Raimi's follow-up to SPIDER-MAN finds Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) struggling to ... more
balance his everyday life with his alter ego as the web-slinging superhero. Still carrying the burden of keeping his crime-fighting identity from those closest to him--including his longtime love Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco), and his doting Aunt May (Rosemary Harris)--Parker must also face off against a dangerous new menace, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), a scientist driven mad by experiments involving powerful mechanical arms. When the deranged Octavius (AKA Doc Ock) forms an alliance with the vengeful Osborn, who blames Spider-Man for the death of his father, the wall-crawling hero is in for his biggest battle yet.
Struggling to balance his life as a college student, Daily Bugle photographer, and ... more
crime-fighting super-hero, Peter Parker is ready to give up the burden of being Spider-Man, until the evil Doc Ock, armed with a powerful and lethal weapon capable of destroying the city, threatens the Big Apple. Orig
Take New York for a spin.From random crime to global threat, the entire city is relying on ... more
you to save it.Do anything Spider-Man can with breathtaking new moves and amazing combos.Battle Doc Ock, bust street crimes or clash with classic villains.Go anywhere. Interact with anyone and anything.Web swing for the first time from street to rooftop across the entire city.Featuring the voices of Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Alfred Molina.
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Disc One:- Feature Film including 2 Brand New Scenes.- 8 Mins Extra Footage Edited by Sam ... more
Raimi.- Audio Commentary with Producer Laura Ziskin and Screenwriter Alvin Sargent.- Spidey-Sense Branching Featurette.Disc Two:- Sneak Peek Spider-Man 3 Featureete & Trailer.- VFX Breakdowns - a look at the Visual Effects of Spider-Man 2.1.- Inside 2.1 Documentary.- Villains of Spider-Man Featurette.- With Great Effort Comes Great Recognition Featurette.- Multi- Angle Score.
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Action/Adventure - Director: Peter Jackson - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Advantages: Action, Romance and Comedy all present and correct Disadvantages: I didn't need to see Kirsten Dunst's nipples again
...his skill and reputation as Spider-Man have improved, his personal life still leaves much to be desired. Still estranged from the love of his life, Peter will not allow himself to get close to MJ for fear of putting her in danger. His best friend Harry hates Peter’s alter ego Spider-Man for killing his father in cold blood. Not only does Harry not know that his father was the Green Goblin, but he’s also oblivious to the fact his best friend and arch ... ...Octavius (Alfred Molina) and without Spider-Man New York is defenceless…
There’s something hugely comforting about all Marvel Superheroes, it’s the overwhelming evidence they provide that having super powers sucks. It alienates you from the world at large, puts those you love in danger and leaves you with a choice between a life of self sacrifice and near constant misery or one of maniacal super villainy (I know which one I’d go for). ... more
Two years ago Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) was bitten by a genetically modified super spider which turned him overnight from high school geek to, well, a high school geek with super powers. In the first movie we saw Peter losing an uncle through his own apathy and arrogance (an event which finally put him on the road to becoming the Spidey we know and love), witnessed his blossoming romance with Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) and beheld his epic battle with The Green Goblin who turned out to be the scientist father of his best friend Harry Osbourn (James Franco).
In 2004 Peter is attending Empire State University in his beloved New York City and earning money by taking pictures of Spidey for the Daily Bugle, though his skill and reputation as Spider-Man have improved, his personal life still leaves much to be desired. Still estranged from the love of his life, Peter will not allow himself to get close to MJ for fear of putting her in danger. His best friend Harry hates Peter’s alter ego Spider-Man for killing his father in cold blood. Not only does Harry not know that his father was the Green Goblin, but he’s also oblivious to the fact his best friend and arch nemesis are in fact the same man. Due to his obligations as the masked protector of the City, Peter has no money, is flunking school and can’t be with the woman he loves. Just as Pete decides to hang up the suit for good a new enemy arrives on the scene in the shape of newly mad scientist Dr Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) and without Spider-Man New York is defenceless…
There’s something hugely comforting about all Marvel Superheroes, it’s the overwhelming evidence they provide that having super powers sucks. It alienates you from the world at large, puts those you love in danger and leaves you with a choice between a life of self sacrifice and near constant misery or one of maniacal super villainy (I know which one I’d go for). ‘Spider-Man 2’ is the perfect example of this, poor Peter spends most of the film either desperately unhappy or getting the crap kicked out of him with little recompense. It’s a fantastic choice of plot, taking most of its inspiration from The Amazing Spider-Man #50 ‘Spider-Man no More’, throwing in one of the series’ best villains and moving Peter and MJ’s romance to the fore. There are a huge list of credited writers and even more uncredited according to the film’s director Sam Raimi (including Raimi’s brother Ivan), but whatever the combination is it’s a hugely successful one. The screenplay is brilliant with the dialogue feeling like it’s come off the pages of the comic yet 90% of the time managing to avoid the schmaltz (Aunt May can sometimes let the side down). The film is well structured and balanced between action, romance and comedy without ever feeling disjointed or the tone confused. Simply put it’s a great script.
The first Spider-Man was far from perfect, whether you were a comic book fan disappointed that the story went straight into Peter’s almost endless romance with MJ at the expense of the doomed Gwen Stacey or a Sam Raimi fan who was hoping for a little more visual dynamism, you were left with plenty to pick at. Of course the most widely heard criticism was on the film’s villain, The Green Goblin. Willem Dafoe was stuck behind that unmoving, plastic monstrosity of a mask unable to exert any real sense of menace or inspire sympathy in an unimpressed audience. Doc Ock is another matter altogether, from his tragic and brilliant transformation to his ultimate redemption Ock is a brilliant villain with an engaging storyline separate from Spider-Man’s personal problems. Many of the problems with Mary-Jane’s character have also been cleared up in this second outing. MJ’s character development has finally got going and although she’s not quite the kick ass, wisecracking icon of the comics she’s no longer a screaming sack of meat (and finally gets to call Peter ‘tiger’). As for Sam Raimi fans, I’m sure there will be far more to delight them here than in the first movie.
With the huge success of the first film (it’s now the eleventh highest grossing film of all time) Raimi no doubt felt less need to play safe when directing Spider-Man 2 (already the thirty fourth highest grossing film of all time). What it means for us is that the film is better on every conceivable level. For the ‘Evil Dead’ fans amongst us Raimi’s flair for horror is apparent in a fantastically frightening operating room scene in which Doc Ock’s newly attached mechanical arms go on a rampage. There are even a couple of nods to the ‘Evil Dead’ series thanks to shots from the tentacles POV, a completely unnecessary surgical chainsaw, Scott Speigel (Evil Dead 2's Writer) trying to steal Spidey's pizza and the now mandatory Bruce Campbell cameo (he’s the ‘Snooty Usher’). Though the film is rated PG, thanks to Raimi’s talent for the terrifying the film is quite scary in places. I noticed a few kids slightly disturbed by some scenes in the film and would be cautious when taking very young children along.
The comedy is also more successful than in the first film, Spidey’s irreverence has been pushed to the forefront and there are more gags for your buck in almost every scene. Apart from Bruce’s cameo there’s a great scene with Hal Sparks and Spidey in a lift which really heightens the sense that Raimi is embracing the comedy of this character being a part of the real world (as opposed to the fictional Metropolis or Gotham City) there’s even a reference to that most current of popular obsessions eBay. By far the most brilliantly comic scene of the film is the dramatic shift from serious superhero film undercut with sweeping orchestral score to Peter strutting down the street in almost Technicolor to ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head’ if that doesn’t prove Raimi’s willing to take more risks with this film, nothing will!
Of course the two main themes Raimi is dealing with are action and romance, two genres not as present in his back catalogue as horror and comedy and arguably not his strongest as a director. In Spider-Man 2 both are impeccably handled. The action sequences are thrilling and inventive and for me there was certainly more evidence of Raimi’s visual flair thanks to fast moving cameras, jumpy zooms and sudden changes of angle (the shaky zooms onto Pete and MJ’s faces when Ock is approaching the café are a particular highlight). Credit has to go to ‘Matrix’ Cinematographer Bill Pope for handling Raimi’s vision so beautifully and ensuring the film is as visually impressive as it is unusual. The set pieces are brilliant, no doubt the ‘train scene’ will be remembered most as both emotionally and as a piece of thrilling action it’s superb, a balance few blockbusters achieve. Raimi’s direction is supported by special effects that don’t disappoint on any level and Spider-Man’s swinging through New York certainly seems to have more weight than the slightly over CG original. Though I’m sure for many these fabulous pieces of choreographed mayhem will only serve as an unwelcome distraction from the love story which drives this picture. MJ and Peter’s story is told with sensitivity and a sense of humour and has a conclusion which will hopefully satisfy a post-feminist audience (it certainly redeemed MJ for me).
Things could have been very different in Spider-Man 2, because of back problems Tobey Maguire nearly had to pull out altogether due to fears that the physical demands of a second film could leave him permanently disabled (there's a nice little reference to this in the film). Dunst’s real life squeeze Jake Gyllenhaal was even lined up to don the spandex suit in his absence. Thankfully Maguire managed to prove his fitness and returns as Peter Parker and the 29 year old is becoming more Peter Parker by the day. Though I’d still like to see the web slinger crack a few more gags and get a few more girls (Betty Brant for example, Jameson’s secretary, is one of Spidey’s many conquests in the comics). Maguire has the essence of Peter down to a fine art and looking into those big soulful blue eyes you can feel the weight of the world. Dunst delivers her usual girl next door good looks combined with a likeable performance and manages to elicit a lot more empathy than through her histrionics in the first film. Alfred Molina is wonderful, genuinely scary and sympathetic is not an easy combination to pull off, but he manages it with ease. Thanks to his performance Doc Ock is one of cinemas more rounded baddies and perhaps the most successful screen super villain. I should perhaps also mention ‘The New James Dean’ TM James Franco who gives us a fine line in brooding and should certainly liven things up for the more hormonal ladies in the audience.
My favourite thing in the first film remains just that in the second. JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson (Peter’s boss at the Bugle) could have literally stepped out of the pages of the comic book. It’s a performance so brilliant I struggle to comprehend there’s an actor involved, he is J. Jonah Jameson. He gets all the best lines in the film and doesn’t waste one of them
(For a picture of Spider-Man) J. Jonah Jameson: I'll give you $150.00 for it! Peter Parker: $300.00 J. Jonah Jameson: That's Outrageous! Done...
Hysterical, hammy, hypnotic it’s a comic performance worthy of huge recognition. He steals every scene he’s in and has the rare gift of being able to deliver dialogue so you’re laughing almost constantly.
The film’s score is by the only man who should ever be allowed to score a superhero flick the unparalleled Danny Elfman. His opening theme combined with some of the best opening credits I’ve ever seen (Alex Ross' stunning artwork provides a handy recap of the first film) sets the stage for the film perfectly and throughout his trademark gothic and haunting style helps to set this film apart from the more brash blockbusters and place it in the same category as that other Elfman scored superhero masterpiece ‘Batman’.
Of course the film isn’t perfect (I could have done without Maroon 5 on the soundtrack for a start), but what Raimi has give us is a truly superior blockbuster. Character development is as important as big explosions and a sense of humour is as much the dominant voice as a sentimental moral message. I don’t think there was any call for Mary Jane to get wet again, nor for us to have to suffer through another example of how in New York when you mess with one of ‘em, you mess with all of ‘em, but these are minor flaws when compared with the hugely successful whole.
So as not to end on a down note and to recognise the film’s brilliant ending I’m happy to say we’re now assured of a Spider-Man 3 and Harry’s discovery in the films finale certainly gives a big hint for comic book fans as to where the films might be going next. With characters like Dr. Curt Connors (The Lizard) and John Jameson (Man-Wolf) already putting in appearances it seems that the filmmakers are really embracing the expansiveness of Spidey’s universe and hence this series of films is likely to run and run, and that’s something for us all to look forward to.
Advantages: Doc Ock looks great, stunning battle sequences, humour Disadvantages: Too much Mary-Jane
Two years or so after we last saw him, our hero Spiderman is still having a tough time. Apart from balancing the time pressures of his high school education against those of a part-time job to pay his rent, he also has his aged aunt to worry about and he has to keep his feelings to himself over the girl he loves. Whilst Mary-Jane Watson means more to him than anything else, he must continually push her away for fear that one of his many enemies will ... ...say, he can’t tell Mary-Jane the real reason he pushes away, so he must watch sadly from the sidelines as he struggles to understand him. The final straw comes when, unable to meet an appointment to see Mary-Jane perform in her new play, he turns up at the end only to see her meet up with her dashing new boyfriend, John Jameson. For Peter, it’s all too much and given that his amazing powers seem to be fading anyway, he finally throws ...
LostWitness 19.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
Advantages: Great cast, story and special effects Disadvantages: Could have had a more interesting title
...scenes is when he thinks Spider-Man has gone for good and he admits that maybe he misjudged the wall-crawler, before conforming to type again when it becomes clear that Spidey is back with a vengeance. “Evil Dead” stalwart Bruce Campbell turns up in a cameo as an obstreperous doorman and Sam’s little brother Ted turns up again as one of Jonah J Jameson hapless lackeys.
I have already mentioned one aspect of the special effects, but in such a CGI-heavy ... ...for me were the old Spider-man TV series theme tune, sung lounge style by crooner of the month James Bublé and Burt Bacharach’s “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” during a montage of Peter enjoying normal life. The score is far better, with Danny Elfman doing the honours and resisting the temptation to cover everything in twinkly piano music. In fact the score fits the film so well, that you sometimes forget it’s there.
The costumes are pitch perfect, ...
afy9mab 08.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
Advantages: Everything Disadvantages: Having to wait til 2007 for the end!
Peter Parker has survived both his internal, and explosive external battles with the mad Green Goblin. However, all True Believers know that such victories are dubious wins at best and Peter's life is never an easy ride. This second web-spinning tale opens with a string of defeats and personal disasters that, while amusing to the viewers, leaves us wondering how a working class superhero keeps his chin above water.
The Story:
Everywhere Peter turns, ... ...disappoints them, he needs to get his act together, he's too lazy or just plain too broke to meet his commitments. The line, "If you've done six impossible things this morning, why not round it off with breakfast at Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?" springs to mind. Spidey could easily pick up some extra cash doing commercials spots for Milliways, which would really come in handy. Instead, Peter tries desperately to juggle his ...
Entwife 09.07.2004 (13.07.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
Advantages: Spider-Man 2 rocks Disadvantages: Mary-Jane's hair should be fluffier
...you include Dr Octopus).
Spider-Man began as a try-out character in issue 15 of Amazing Fantasy. There never was an issue 16. But the character had generated enough interest to warrant his own series and, within a year, The Amazing Spider-Man #1 hit the news-stands. From the outset writer Stan Lee wanted to write a superhero comic with a different perspective. Bruce Wayne is a gazillionaire, Clark Kent has a great job (he’d probably get Super-unemployment ... ...of discovering you have superpowers, Spider-Man 2 brings our hero right back down to earth.
The opening titles recap the events of the first movie using fan-favourite Alex Ross’s hyper-realistic artwork. We are reminded how Peter Parker became Spider-Man and how he was indirectly responsible for the death of his Uncle Ben. The still images show us Spider-Man standing over the lifeless body of Norman Osborn as Osborn’s son, Peter Parker’s best friend, ...
danielse 06.07.2004 (16.03.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
Advantages: cast / acting / special fx Disadvantages: few that I can think of
Spider-Man 2 Review
The best superhero film yet?
You’re going to hear a lot of critics telling you that Spider-Man 2 is so much better than Spider-Man. This I think is a little unfair as it, at least in part, diminishes the original. And let’s not forget that was a very good film indeed. It was especially notable when so many other films that year were below par. The original X-Men film for instance, (which was of course thankfully followed up ... ...back to his best for Spider-Man 2. The scene where Spiderman and Dr Octopus fight on the side of the building is an excellent showcase for Elfman’s deft score. Fighting to a backdrop of orchestral music, for a few brief moments the music fades and all the extraneous sounds are stripped away to leave only the sound of the blows that they are landing on each other and sound of the pieces of brickwork that are being torn from the building and crashing ...
Kevin_Stanley 02.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Spider-Man 2 (DVD)
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Advantages: great gift set for the spidy fans Disadvantages: a little expensive
For all you spidy fans out there, the Spider-Man2 gift set DVD is a must. It comes with posters and playing cards, plus the DVD as more bonus material that is not on the previous releases, with a few more deleted scenes. My nephew is mad on Spiderman, and although I thought it was a little bit expensive to buy, it certainly gave him a lot of pleasure. The plot, obviously being the sequel to the box office hit Spider-Man, who this time around faces Dr Octopus. The special effect are better than that of the first, and the strory goes deeper into certain parts of the orignals storyline, i.e, Mary janes and Peter Parkers relationship, and Harrys vengence against the spidy hero that killed his farther. It also leaves you hanging on for the third movie, which no doubt is imminant.
Its an exciting movie what lots of thrills and comedy, all ...
Advantages: Moments of brilliance Disadvantages: Tries too hard
Ouch. I've just got off a Spiderman cram session, and after watching the original film yesterday, this morning I sat down with the sequel. I regard Spiderman 2 every bit as highly as the first film, but what makes it so great? And what stops it from being perfect? Get your replica Spiderman costume you bought off eBay at the ready, because I'm about to reminsce with every Spiderman fanatic, as well as inform those who have never stepped foot in a world of superheroes and villians what they have been missing.
Tobey Maguire returns as Peter Parker AKA Spiderman, and the opening credits serve as reminder of what happened back in 2002. Marvel were obviously very careful when bringing their comic book series to the big screen, like they've tried to be with all the films they've recently turned from paper into moving picture ...
This film is absolutely brilliant, its better than the first spiderman movie and i simply cant wait until i can see the third spiderman movie. Its a great family film and you have to watch the first spiderman movie to make the expierience of this movie even better. Its excellent that they have brought the cartoon character to life and the actors that they have picked to play the parts, Tobey Maguire who plays Spiderman and Alfred Molina who plays Doctor Octopus are without a doubt the best. Well Done. You have to buy this film in fact buy Spiderman 1 and Spiderman 2 and then go and see Spiderman 3 at the cinema. I have 2 young children so unfortunately i have to wait until Spiderman 3 is out on DVD. ...
Peter Parker is having problems with his double life as the superhero Spider-Man and as things get worse he decides never to be Spider-Man again. It's only when the scientist Dr Otto Octavius becomes deformed in a freak accident into Dr Octopus that he realises that only Spider-Man can stop him.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS, UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK; CINRAM LOGISTICS (SWINDON)
Commentaries From Cast And Crew And The Technical Team, 4 Featurettes, Music Video, Spidey Sense 2 Factoid Track, 12 Making Of Documentaries Including Stunts And Visual Effects, 4, Featurettes Including Ock Umentary Eight Arms To Hold You, Enter The Web Multi Angle Shots, Photo Art Gallery, Theatrical Trailer
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Stereo
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Czech English, Dolby Digital Stereo English Spanish
Award information
OSCAR
Best Visual Effects 2004 (John Dykstra, John Frazier), Best Visual Effects 2004 (John Frazier, John Dykstra)
Professional reviews
Review
"...In a word. amazing..." (Empire, )
DVD Description
Sam Raimi's follow-up to SPIDER-MAN finds Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) struggling to balance his everyday life with his alter ego as the web-slinging superhero. Still carrying the burden of keeping his crime-fighting identity from those closest to him--including his longtime love Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco), and his doting Aunt May (Rosemary Harris)--Parker must also face off against a dangerous new menace, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), a scientist driven mad by experiments involving powerful mechanical arms. When the deranged Octavius (AKA Doc Ock) forms an alliance with the vengeful Osborn, who blames Spider-Man for the death of his father, the wall-crawling hero is in for his biggest battle yet.
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