Spider-Man 2
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Spider-Man 2 is the Academy Award-winning sequel to the popular 2002 film Spider-Man and was released in the U.S. on June 30th, 2004. Its soundtrack was a major hit in the United States and elsewhere.
Credits
The film, directed by Sam Raimi, stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and J.K. Simmons reprising their roles of Peter Parker (Spider-Man), Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn and J. Jonah Jameson, respectively. Alfred Molina plays the role of the villain, Doctor Octopus ("Doc Ock").The screenplay is credited to Alvin Sargent, with screen story credit given to Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko receive additional screen credit for "comic book and characters."
Plot
It has been two years since the end of the last film, and Peter Parker is finding a double life very difficult. He loses a job, faces financial difficulties, is having trouble with his estranged friend, Harry Osborn, who still blames his father's death on Spider-Man (Harry doesn't know that Norman was actually the villanous Green Goblin of the first film or that Peter is Spider-Man, but is angered that Parker's trust is not to his best friend, but to Spider-Man, his "bread and butter"), struggles with his studies and school work, as Professor Curt Connors reprimands him, and finds that he is losing his powers. Moreover, he has learned that Aunt May is being threatened with foreclosure on her house and his potential girlfriend, Mary Jane, has acquired a new boyfriend, John Jameson, the son of Peter's employer, J. Jonah Jameson. M.J. turns increasingly hostile to Peter after he fails to keep a promise to see a play in which she is the female lead. Further, he questions if he could ever have what he "needs," a life as Peter Parker, which climaxes in a vision involving Uncle Ben.
Peter's idol, a brilliant, gentle scientist named Otto Octavius becomes a mechanically-controlled lunatic as the result of a fusion accident and the loss of his wife and failure. Doctor Octopus ("Doc Ock"), as he is now called (due to the metal tentacles wired to his spine), desperately wants to rebuild his experiment, and Spider-Man, in the meantime, must stop him from robbing a bank. In the robbery attempt Aunt May is nearly kidnapped and is enlightened to the fact that Spider-Man is a hero after he saves her. Peter's morale hits a nadir when Harry lashes at him in a drunken rage, M.J. and John Jameson announce their engagement and he loses his powers due to a form of burn-out syndrome. Peter temporarily gives up Spider-Man, shirking his responsibilities.
As Peter has much more spare time now, not only does he excel at his physics courses, but at least one of his relationships improves. Peter and Mary Jane connect once again, but as Mary Jane is engaged, it seems too late. On the other hand, Aunt May is distressed by Peter's confession that he was somewhat responsible for his Uncle Ben's death. Soon after though, she sees his bravery in admitting the truth and inadvertently inspires him to become Spider-Man once more, as she speaks of how he gives hope to others and that one must do things for the greater good in spite of their dreams. In the meanwhile, Doctor Octopus and Harry Osborn, now head of Oscorp's research division, make a deal: Harry supplies him with tritium for his experiment, and Octavius agrees to capture Spider-Man for him.
Mary Jane remembers the upside-down kiss she had with her savior Spider-Man in the first film, and that Peter's kiss suspiciously felt the same. She arranges a meeting with Peter, and although she is very fond of him, Peter's secretive behavior estranges and intrigues her. But before things can go on, they are attacked by Doctor Octopus. Because he knows that Peter and Spider-Man are close (although he does not know that they are the same person), he abducts Mary Jane in a ploy to lure Spider-Man into a trap.
This shock brings back Peter's powers. He dons his costume and has a great fight with Octavius, culminating with the insane scientist forcing Spider-Man to rescue a runaway subway train. With an utmost effort, Peter narrowly prevents the train from falling from an unfinished bridge and then looses consciousness. Unmasked and vulnerable, the passengers of the train carry his limp body inside and set him down gently. Peter awakens and is startled by the absense of his mask which is then returned by two young boys. The children and assemblage of other passengers vow not to tell anyone of seeing his face. Unfortunately, he is weak from stopping the train and is captured easily by Doctor Octopus, then brought before Harry Osborn. Harry unmasks Spider-Man and is stunned to discover that his sworn enemy is also his best friend.. Peter easily breaks free of his bonds and convinces Harry that they need to set aside their conflict for the time being as larger problems are at hand. He then persuades Harry to reveal where Octavius went so he save Mary Jane from being killed.
Spider-Man finds Doctor Octopus in an abandoned waterfront warehouse on a pier, where he holds Mary Jane hostage and has just re-ignited his doomed fusion experiment, which is clearly going astray just as did the one in the beginning of the film. They fight a second time, and in the end, Octavius regains his sanity. Peter reveals his true identity and reitterates some advice given him by Octavius prior to his tragic fall from grace. This triggers an epiphany in Octavius where he realizes the monstrosity of his recent actions. Determined to end his doomsday experiment before it causes anyone harm, Octavius uses his mechanical arms to collapse the floor of the building, plunging himself and the fusion device into the water below, snuffing it out permanently. Tragically, Dr. Octavius is killed in the process but ends up dying a hero ("I will not die a monster!"). Mary Jane finds out that Peter is Spider-Man, and is in awe and full of joy at the same time. But Peter tells her they can never be together, as he will always have deadly enemies, and says she should spare herself the grief of coming too close to him.
As he hears of the warehouse disaster in his penthouse, a distraught Harry Osborn meets face to face with his father, the late Norman Osborn in a hanging mirror. The hallucination of Norman demands that his son kill Peter Parker to avenge his death. This, for the first time, marks Harry's possible departure into mental decline. Horrified at the thought of harming his best friend, Harry hurls a dagger at the mirror, shattering it and revealing a hidden passageway which leads to a secret room in the attic. Confused, disoriented, and surrounded by a cache of advanced weaponry and equipment, Harry focuses on a Goblin Glider in the center of the room and realizes that his father was the infamous Green Goblin. He also discovers glass cylinders containing the performance-enhancing chemical compound which gave Norman Osborn his superhuman abilities as well as triggering his insanity. This is a clear lead-up to Harry donning the mantle of the second Green Goblin in the third film as he does in the comics.
In the end, Mary Jane Watson runs away from her marriage with John Jameson. She gatecrashes Peter's apartment, telling him that she has decided to live with him - despite the risks - because a full dangerous life is better than a half, carefree life. She - almost forcefully - persuades Peter to finally be her boyfriend while accepting the need of his vows by letting him respond to a sudden call for help. As Peter joyfully swings to the rescue, Mary Jane remains, still somewhat apprehensive of the bizarre and potentially dangerous relationship they have committed themselves to.
Box office success
In its first six days, Spider-Man 2 generated $180 million at the North American box office, a record as of 2005. It took in $88 million in its first weekend, and an opening day record $40,442,604. However, it was beaten a year later by , which grossed about $10 million more. Altogether, Spider-Man 2 made $373,585,825 in North America, making it 2004's second highest-grossing movie (behind Shrek 2) and the 9th highest-grossing movie in the U.S. all time. Worldwide, Spider-Man 2 made $783,964,497, making it the 3rd highest grossing movie of 2004 worldwide (behind Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Shrek 2), as well as the 18th highest grossing movie worldwide of all time.
Other records the film holds are highest-grossing box office for a film opening on a Wednesday, best opening weekend for a film opening in July, best five-day gross for a film opening on a Wednesday and the fastest film to reach $200 million (the film needed 8 days, which ties it with 2005's ). [link]
Budget
- Story rights: $20 million
- Screenplay: $10 million
- Producers: $15 million
- Director: (Sam Raimi): $10 million
- Cast: $30 million
- * Tobey Maguire: $17 million
- * Kirsten Dunst: $7 million
- * Alfred Molina: $3 million
- * Rest of cast: $3 million
- The shoot: $45 million
- Special effects: $65 million
- Music: $5 million
- * Composer (Danny Elfman): $3.5 million.
- Total: $200 million
Critical reaction
The general critical reaction to the film was very enthusiastic, with many critics saying the film had a dramatic power and emotional content that many summer blockbusters lack. Metacritic gave the film a collective rating of 83 out of 100 based on an average of 41 reviews. [link] Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rating of 93%, based on 222 reviews. [link]Roger Ebert, who was lukewarm on the first film [link], praised the second movie and gave it four stars. He went on to call it the "greatest super-hero movie since Superman" [link]. A number of other newspapers also gave it good marks, and the movie was listed in AFI's Top Ten Films of 2004
However, The New Yorker rated it as average, while Salon.com and Village Voice rated it as poor.
In the 77th Academy Awards, the movie won the Academy Award for Visual Effects. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Sound and the Academy Award for Sound Editing. There were many rumors that the film was in contention for the Academy Award for Adapted Screenplay, as many fans and critics alike regarded Alvin Sargent's screenplay as superb in terms of emotional depth and character development. There have also been a few critics and web sites arguing that it even deserved a Best Picture nomination.
Particular praise was lavished upon Alfred Molina for his sympathetic performance as Doc Ock, as well as Tobey Maguire's continued portrayal of the troubled and tormented superhero.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Tobey Maguire | Peter Parker / Spider-Man |
| Alfred Molina | Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus |
| Kirsten Dunst | Mary Jane Watson |
| James Franco | Harry Osborn |
| J.K. Simmons | J. Jonah Jameson |
| Daniel Gillies | John Jameson |
| Dylan Baker | Dr. Curt Connors |
| Donna Murphy | Rosalie Octavius |
| Rosemary Harris | May Parker |
| Bill Nunn | Joseph "Robbie" Robertson |
| Ted Raimi | Hoffman |
| Elizabeth Banks | Betty Brant |
| Elya Baskin | Mr. Ditkovich |
| Cliff Robertson | Ben Parker |
| Willem Dafoe | Norman Osborn / Green Goblin |
| Vanessa Ferlito | Louise |
| Bruce Campbell | Snooty Usher |
| Mageina Tovah | Ursula |
Trivia
- Before Spider-Man 2 was even released, it was announced that Spider-Man 3 would be released in 2007.
- There are two references to Evil Dead, one of Sam Raimi's eariler films:
- *A hospital scene with the attempted removal of Octavius' tentacles
- *At different points in the film, Peter and Harry both sport the same outfit as Ash from the Evil Dead films
- Promotion, marketing and anticipation for this film had grown so much in late 2003 that Sony considered putting webbing along with the Spider-Man 2 logo on the bases at the 2003 All-Star Game. This was cancelled due to negative baseball fan reaction.
- Before the film was released, it was well-publicized that Tobey Maguire may have had to pull out of doing the film due to severe back pain. At one point, the producers had Jake Gyllenhaal on standby to take up the part. However, Maguire was in the end cleared to reprise his role as Peter Parker. The controversy was rumored to have made early shooting on the movie somewhat uncomfortable, as Kirsten Dunst was dating Gyllenhaal at the time, but the actors were eventually able to put the controversy behind them.
- Maguire's back problems were also referenced in the film itself. When Peter Parker tries to leap off of a building, he falls to the ground in an alleyway. When he stands he winces crying "My back! My back!".
- The name of Peter's landlord, "Ditkovitch", was an obvious hat-tip to Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko.
- Spider-Man creator Stan Lee makes yet another cameo appearance (as he did in Spider-Man) during Spidey's first battle with Doc Ock. This time, he also saves a person from harm.
- Again, the main villain is nearly given a name that ends up being dropped. This time, the names are "Science Squid" and "Doctor Strange" are the two suggested names.
- Actor Bruce Campbell also makes another cameo as the usher who won't let Peter into Mary Jane's play.
- Tobey Maguire is a vegetarian. In the scene where Parker watches police cars go by, he is actually eating a tofu hot dog.
- Spider-Man 2 is the first movie to be released in UMD format for the PSP. The first one million copies of the U.S. PSP included the movie free.
- Doctor Octopus uses tritium to create nuclear fusion. The device he uses seems to be inspired by those used for inertial confinement fusion.
- When M. J. runs through the park in her wedding dress, she passes a man in black on the right side of the screen. The actor is Thomas Jane's stunt double from The Punisher, a covert reference to the character (since Sony Pictures didn't have the film rights to use him explicitly).
- When Peter stops the runaway subway, his first attempt echoes Superman's usual method of stopping a train by catching it by the locomotive and planting his feet until it stops.
- The scene in which J. K. Simmons (as J. Jonah Jameson) shouts "Spider-Man was... A THIEF!" caused much hilarity. Simmons was wearing false teeth for Jameson's trademark scrooge smile, and whenever he tried to form the "TH" he spat out his false teeth. These scenes can be seen on the blooper reel of the DVD.
- The typeface used for publicity and title purposes within the film is also used for the logo of PlayStation 3, also made by Sony.
- The film can be compared to another superhero film, Superman II in that there are some basic plot elements in common, including the hero losing his powers, the love interest finding out the secret identity, etc.
- The scene in which Doc Ock kidnaps Mary Jane, and carries her screaming to the top of a small building, is reminiscent of the scene in the original King Kong film in which Kong carries a screaming Ann Darrow to the top of a motel.
- There is a cameo of Queer as Folk star Hal Sparks, in the elevator scene when Spider-Man had lost his powers, as a reference to the character of Michael Novotny, a comic nerd in the television series. Although in the DVD audio commentary for the film, the director says that he picked Sparks for his stand-up rountine, and does not mention the television series.
- Spider-Man 2 was originally to be released in May 2004.
- It was the first film with over 4,000 theaters for an opening day and second for overall counts. Shrek 2 was the first film with over 4,000 theaters in overall counts.
- This movie also had a burning building scene, but with a different plot. In the first film, the building was a trap set by the Green Goblin, while in this movie the fire was not.
- Film Director John Landis has a cameo appearance in the scene in which Doctor Octopus is in the hospital after the accident.
Other Spider-Man media references
- At one point, the working title of Spider-Man 2 was Amazing Spider-Man, which was the title of the first ongoing comic book series starring Spider-Man.
- Elements of the film's plot are taken from the Stan Lee written Spider-Man storylines "If this be My Destiny" (Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #31-33), Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #50, and the first Spider-Man annual.
- Throughout the whole movie, the only points when Otto Octavius is called 'Doc Ock' or 'Doctor Octopus' are when Jonah Jameson suggests the names at the Daily Bugle, and in the final battle at the docks, where Spider-Man calls him "Ock." One of the suggested names is Doctor Strange, which is Steve Ditko's other major co-creation for Marvel Comics.
- In the film, Peter Parker is a physics major, interested in experimental nuclear physics and fusion power, while his comic book counterpart studies biochemistry/biophysics at the fictitious Empire State University. His textbooks include Quantum Physics and Photonics and he volunteers an eigenvalue to a problem in Professor Connors' class.
- The movie includes multiple references to the comic story arc where John Jameson becomes Man-Wolf. Jameson wears the same medallion that in the comics turned him into Man-Wolf, and he is portrayed next to a full moon in one scene.
- Some of the plots in were incorporated into this movie:
- *Major plot points about Doctor Octopus were from the episode "Doctor Octopus: Armed and Dangerous", including Octavius being a good man and Peter's mentor before the accident, and the idea of Doc Ock creating a dangerous fusion machine.
- *The scene in which Peter is late for M.J.'s theater performance was taken from the animated episode involving the Chameleon (with the Chameleon disguising himself as Peter).
- *The scene with Aunt May receiving bills was from the animated episode in which Peter is asked to take a photograph of the Lizard.
- *The scene with Peter losing his powers was taken from the animated episode where he had problems with his powers, prior to turning into a six-armed monster.
- The woman with the violin sings a song about Spider-Man. That song was actually the theme song of the original early cartoon series. The tone and tempo was changed in the movie. It was also used in the first movie with a male busker singing in the subway station.
- The second time Spider-Man lost his spider-powers, he fell down into a back alley. That alley was the same place he discovered his powers. When he went up to the rooftops to test his powers, the building he was on was the same building used in the first movie, where Peter was practicing his web slinging.
- Dr. Curtis Connors actually appears in the film as Peter's physics professor. No mention of the The Lizard has ever surfaced in the movie though. Although, in the film he is missing his arm. In the comics, Connors becomes The Lizard due to a serum he makes from Lizard DNA to regrow that arm.
Awards and nominations
2004 Academy Awards (Oscars)- Won - Best Visual Effects — John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara, John Frazier
- Nominated - Best Sound Mixing — Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Joseph Geisinger
- Nominated - Best Sound Editing — Paul N.J. Ottosson
- Won - Best Actor (Film) — Tobey Maguire
- Won - Best Director — Sam Raimi
- Won - Best Special Effects — John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara, John Frazier
- Won - Best Writing — Alvin Sargent
- Nominated - Best Supporting Actor (Film) — Alfred Molina
- Nominated - Best DVD Special Edition Release
- Nominated - Best Music — Danny Elfman
- Nominated - Best Sound — Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Paul N.J. Ottosson
- Nominated - Outstanding Achievement in Special Visual Effects — John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara, John Frazier
- Won - BMI Film Music Award — Danny Elfman
- Won - Best Popular Picture]]
- Nominated - Best Family Film (Live Action)
- Nominated - Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures — Joseph Geisinger, Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush
- Won - Best Director — Sam Raimi
- Nominated - Best Actor — Tobey Maguire
- Nominated - Best Actress — Kirsten Dunst
- Nominated - Best Film
- Nominated - Scene of the Year — Spider-Man battles Doc Ock on the train
- Nominated - Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
- Nominated - Favorite Movie
- Nominated - Favorite Movie Actor — Tobey Maguire
- Nominated - Best Sound Editing in Domestic Features: Sound Effects/Foley — Paul N.J. Ottosson, Christopher Flick, Scott G.G. Haller, Ruben Simon, Jussi Tegelman, Lisa Hannan, Ai-Ling Lee, Martin Lopez, Bernard Weiser
External links
- [Official Spider-Man Movie Network]
- [}}}] at Rotten Tomatoes
- [}}}] at Box Office Mojo
- [Spider-Man Movies] hype at the [SuperHeroHype!]
- [Metacritic Spider-Man 2 review summary]
- [Allmusic.com soundtrack review]
- [IMNO Interviews Ryan Woodward Storyboard Artist for Spider-Man 2]
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