Spider-Man 2 Review

Spider-Man 2

Release Date: 30th June 2004 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures (presents)
Marvel Enterprises
Lauren Ziskin Productions

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 127 minutes

Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $788,976,453 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Peter Parker has trouble balancing his life as an ordinary person and his superhero identity as Spider-Man. Now he is about to lose M.J. in the hands of someone else and his powers, which causes him to give up his web-slinging

ways. With a new villain, Doc Ock, terrorising the city and threatening to destroy everything he holds dear, Peter must swing to action.

Cast

Tobey Maguire - Peter
Parker/Spider-Man

Kirsten Dunst - Mary Jane

Watson

James Franco - Harry Osborn

Alfred Molina  - Dr. Otto
Octavius/Doc Ock

Rosemary Harris - Aunt May Parker

J.K. Simmons - J. Jonah Jameson

Donna Murphy - Rosalie Octavius

Daniel Gillies - John Jameson

Dylan Baker - Dr. Curt Connors

Bill Nunn - Joseph 'Robbie' Robinson
Vanessa Ferlito - Louise
Aasif Mandvi - Mr. Aziz

Willem Dafoe - Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin (Cameo)

Cliff Robertson - Ben Parker (Cameo)
Ted Raimi - Hoffman
Elizabeth Banks - Betty Brant

Bruce Campbell - Snooty Usher (Cameo)

Gregg Edelman - Dr. Davis

Elya Baskin - Mr. Ditkovich
Mageina Tovah - Ursula
Daniel Dae Kim - Raymond

Hal Sparks - Elevator Passenger

Joe McHale - Mr. Jacks

Stan Lee - Man Dodging Debris (Cameo)

Kelly Connell - Dr. Isaacs

Brent Briscoe - Garbage Man

Emily Deschanel - Receptionist

Jason Fiore-Ortiz - Henry Jackson

Scott Spiegel - Man on Balcony

Christine Estabrook - Mrs. Jameson

John Paxton - Houseman

Joy Bryant - Woman at Web

Peter McRobbie - OsCorp Representative

Taylor Gilbert - Mrs. Watson

Donnell Rawlings - Pizza 'Heist' Witness

Reed Diamond - Algernon

Dan Callahan - 'Jack'

John Landis - Doctor (Cameo)

Joey Diaz - Train Passenger

Dan Hicks - Train Passenger

Chloe Dykstra - Train Passenger

Phil LaMarr - Train Passenger (Cameo)

(Uncredited)

Peyton List - Little Girl Playing on Steps

(Uncredited)

Spencer List - Little Boy Playing on Steps

(Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Sam Raimi

Based on the Marvel Comic Book/

Executive Producer/Consultant - Stan Lee

Based on the Marvel Comic Book - Steve Ditko

Screen Story - Alfred Gough,
Miles Millar and Michael Chabon

Screenplay - Alvin Sargent

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Joseph M. Caracciolo
Executive Producer - Kevin Feige

Producers - Avid Arad, Laura Ziskin and

Lorne Orleans (IMAX Version)

Co-Producer - Grant Curtis

Casting Director - Dianne Crittenden

Production Designer - Neil Spisak

Conceptual Artists - Paul Catling, James Carson,

Wil Rees, Alex Tavoularis and Jamie Rama

Storyboard Artists - Ted Boonthanakit,

Jack Hsu, David Lowery, Steve Markowski,

Fergal Reilly and Dan Sweetman

Art Directors - Jeff Knipp,

Steve Saklad, Thomas Valentine

and Thomas P. Wilkins

Art Director: New York Unit - Scott P. Murphy

Set Decorator - Jay Hart

Property Master - Doug Harlocker

Costume Designers - James Acheson and
Gary Jones

Assistant Costume Designer - Paul Spadone

Director of Photography - Bill Pope

Director of Photography: New York Unit -

Peter Menzies Jr.

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Jonathan Taylor

Camera Operator: Second Unit/Steadicam

Operator: "B" Camera - Kenji Luster

First Assistant Camera - Greg Luntzel

Production Supervisor - David J. Grant

Unit Production Manager - Denis L. Stewart

Unit Production Manager: New York Unit -

Richard Barratta

First Assistant Director - Eric Heffron

Second Assistant Directors - Bac DeLorme

and Michael J. Moore

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Dan Bradley

Second Unit Director - Jeffrey Lynch

Location Manager: New York Unit - John Fedynich

Stunt Coordinator - Scott Rogers

Assistant Stunt Coordinator - Darrin Prescott

Fight Choreographer - Dion Lam

Special Effects Supervisor - John Frazier

Special Effects Supervisor: New York Unit -

J.C. Brotherhood

Special Effects Coordinator - James D. Schwalm

Doc Ock Animatronic Construction: Edge FX -

Steve Johnson

Doc Ock Animatronic Producer: Edge FX -

Heide Waldbaum

Puppet Master: Edge FX - Eric Hayden

Additional Suit Design: Edge FX - Alec Gillis

and Tom Woodruff Jr.

Visual Effects Designer - John Dykstra
Visual Effects Supervisor - Scott Stokdyk

Visual Effects Supervisor: Miniatures Unit -

Eric Durst

Visual Effects Supervisor: Zoic Studios -

Rocco Passionino

Senior Visual Effects Producer - Lydia Bottegoni

Visual Effects Executive Producer: SPI - Jenny Fulle

Visual Effects Editor - Jody Fedele

Visual Effects Editor: SPI - Kevin J. Jolly

Director of Photography: Miniatures Unit -

Tim Angulo

CG Character Animation Supervisor: SPI -

Anthony LaMolinara

CG Supervisors: SPI - Daniel Eaton,

Kee-Suk 'Ken' Hahn, Seth Maury and

Peter Nofz

Motion Control Supervisor: SPI - Gregory Nic Nicholson

Supervisor: Light Stage 2 - Tim Hawkins

Film Editor - Bob Murawski

Supervising Sound Mixers - Jeffrey J. Haboush,

Kevin O'Connell and Greg P. Russell

Supervising Sound Editor & Sound Design -

Paul N.J. Ottosson

Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and Catherine Rose

Music - Danny Elfman

Music Consultants - Darren Higman and

Laura Ziffren

Awards

2005 Academy Awards
Best Visual Effects - John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk,
Anthony LaMolinara and John Fraizer (Won)
----------------------------
Best Sound Mixing - Kevin O'Connell,

Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush and

Joseph Geisinger (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - Paul N.J. Ottosson

Review

Years ago, I didn't watch SPIDER-MAN 2 when it came out on its home video release. Let me tell you. I wish I had watched it, and boy, was I missing out! Years later, the sequel would become a popular choice in the superhero movie category and a much-loved fan-favourite. In its magnitude, a well-developed narrative is in the film with an explosive pulse of action. Containing the similarities to Superman II in the film's story, I never got too quick to see the comparison. Tobey Maguire is still far from evoking the sense of heroism as the title character. Sadly, he still has one year to portray Spidey in the third instalment. Alfred Molina was outstanding in playing one of Spider-Man's deadliest foes. The antagonist, Dr. Octopus, is added to evoke sympathy from the audience but mainly develops into a worthy adversary. It's a shame to see a villain lose everything he had and hoped for in following his dream.

One last main section to note in this review is the visuals, like the machine tentacles for Dr. Octopus, are a clever mix of practical and CGI effects. The CGI is better rendered graphically than the first and is far from aging and put together seamlessly.

Although it's not one of my favourites, it's incredible for SPIDER-MAN 2 to come off as being enjoyable for audiences. It's a very great movie at the top of its game. I highly recommend this to anyone, including fans of the character.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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