Blockbuster.co.uk - DVD - Rent 'Spider-Man 2'

Watch the Trailer

Sacrifice, Destiny, Choice.

One of the movie smash-hits of the summer, Spider-Man 2 wowed audiences, instantly proving itself a remarkable follow-up to the original Spider-Man film.

Two years have passed since Peter Parker walked away from his beloved Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) and faced up to the responsibility of being Spider-Man. The strain of a double life is taking its toll on Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) as he struggles with his “gift and curse” of his super powers whilst balancing his dual identities as the web-slinging superhero and his life as a college student.

Tormented by his secrets and with his school work suffering, overworked Peter finds that his relationships with all those he holds dear are in danger of unravelling. Tired of waiting for Peter to make his move, Mary Jane is now engaged to another man – (an astronaut who has played football on the moon). His friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) is complicated by the young Osborn’s bitterness over his father’s death and his growing vendetta against Spider-Man; and even Peter’s beloved Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), who has fallen on hard times since the death of her husband, begins to have doubts about her nephew.

Things get even worse for Peter when his super-powers start to fail at impromptu moments (such as leaping between tall buildings) and he loses his job delivering pizzas. Unsure of his own abilities and unable to pay his rent, Peter decides to give up being Spider-Man to concentrate on getting his life back on track.

But when an accident transforms Scientist, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) into a multi-tentacled monster who threatens Aunt May and kidnaps Mary Jane, Peter realises that only his alter ego, Spider-Man can beat this destructive force, so he reclaims his superhero identity once more.

Director Sam Raimi reunites an all-star cast in this compelling sequel to the 2002 blockbuster Spider-Man. Filled with more thrills and character development than in the first film in the series, Spider-Man 2 never fails to impress with its mix of action and personal introspection (from Peter, Mary Jane and Harry Osborn).

The three major cast members from the first Spider-Man all have their moments on screen and will not disappoint their fans. Tobey Maguire is perfect as Peter Parker and is able to bring out the mild-mannered, everyman side of his persona that allows the audience to relate and connect with his character. It was his performance in the first movie, along with his on-screen chemistry with Kirsten Dunst which made the first Spider-Man such a success. Kirsten Dunst returns as the ever-mournful-eyed Mary Jane, Parker’s love interest; while James Franco is great as Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborn, who’s still nursing his grudge against Spider-Man for killing his father (Willem Dafoe), a.k.a. The Green Goblin, in the original film. This time around Franco is perfect as Osborn and the young character actor displays just the right amount of seething anger to be totally believable.

Having a well-rounded villain really does make the story and in Spider-Man 2, Dr.Otto Octavius is one of the most plausible villains to feature in a comic book movie. Alfred Molina (Chocolat) is great as the reluctant bad guy who starts out as a promising scientist with everyman qualities but who gradually goes insane after an experiment goes horribly wrong. Doc Ock is not an evil person, instead, he wants to further mankind through harnessing the power of the sun. He will do anything to get the materials to try his experiment again and believes that a few human lives can be sacrificed for the betterment of mankind. The perfect mad-scientist!

While upping the amount of character development this time around, Sam Raimi has not forgotten about the most important part of the comic book movie – the action scenes and there are plenty of heart-pounding, chair-gripping moments that keep the film ripping along at a roaring pace. Indeed there is one scene featuring a subway battle which is probably the best use of a train in an action sequence since The Fugitive. This one scene is likely to be remembered as a Spider-Man 2’s signature moment and definitely one that will be watched over and over again now Spider-Man 2 is available on DVD.

The Special Effects are incredible and the movie really flies along when our amazing hero is being chased between skyscrapers and through the subway by the hideous and creepy Doc Ock. There are more special effects scenes than in the first film but these are in place to further the story along rather than just mere set-pieces.

Faithful to the spirit of the great Stan Lee’s Marvel Comics character and one of the most gripping and breathtaking action movies for a long time; Spider-Man 2 is perfect in nearly everyway. Fans of the comic books will see the hidden references to events that take place in Stan Lee’s universe while adrenaline junkies will embrace the action scenes which take both real life and CGI sequences to a new level. A brilliant addition to the franchise and a superb movie that is now available on DVD – rent it now!

Motion Picture © 2004 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. Spider-Man Character ® and © 2004 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.