Superhero movies are so common these days that comic book characters you’ve never heard of still get their moment on the movie theater marquee. But when we think of the best of the genre, we keep coming back to the huge names: the Avengers, Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman. And out of all of those films, popular opinion says that Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight is the greatest superhero film ever made.
What Christian Bale and Heath Ledger pulled off in 2008 was certainly iconic. But sorry to the Caped Crusader: the best superhero movie is still one that came before it. Because in 2004, Sam Raimi changed the direction of superhero movies forever with Spider-Man 2, a film that brought us a stand-out supporting cast, jaw-dropping action sequences, and a deep exploration of its hero’s mind. To say that Spider-Man 2 is better than The Dark Knight is not to argue that the latter doesn’t deserve all the accolades it gets. Instead, calling Spider-Man 2 the greatest superhero movie is to recognize that it takes a very special film to even be compared to Nolan’s masterpiece — and that its breakthroughs are part of what made The Dark Knight possible.
Peter Parker Is a More Compelling Character Than Bruce Wayne
Part of what elevates Spider-Man 2 over The Dark Knight is its main character. As fantastic as Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne is, Tobey Maguire‘s Peter Parker is superior. Some of this is inherent in the character: Bruce Wayne is purposefully limited, holding his emotions in for the most part. He wears the part of a billionaire as his costume. It’s only when he puts on the cape that he becomes his true self.
That’s not so with Peter Parker. Alvin Sargent‘s script for Spider-Man 2 gives us a deeply sympathetic look at the kid behind the mask. By now, Parker has his role as a hero all figured out; in this film, he learns that he must live with the cost. Not only did he lose his Uncle Ben, but people have been hurt and killed because of his powers and how he chose to use them. In the first film, Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) died. Now, his son, Harry (James Franco), is simultaneously Parker’s best friend while also seething with hatred towards Spider-Man. Peter must carry that weight, along with the knowledge of how often he is putting Mary Jane’s (Kirsten Dunst) life on the line.
Batman is the epitome of dark cool. Spider-Man is relatable precisely because he is not cool; rather, he is an everyman who is either blessed or cursed with a gift. No matter how many good things he does, the weight of responsibility and its repercussions is almost too much to carry.
‘Spider-Man 2’ Is Carried By Its Stellar Supporting Cast
While Tobey Maguire is excellent as Peter Parker, his successes wouldn’t matter if he doesn’t have a great cast of characters to interact with. Rosemary Harris‘ May Parker is the soul of the family, keeping Peter grounded when everything feels like it’s coming undone. And this time around, everything in his relationship with MJ is turned up a notch. Their relationship is now much more than awe, mystery, and upside-down kisses in the rain; in Spider-Man 2, fantasy meets reality. Mary Jane wants to be with Peter, which he wants more than anything. However, his fear of her getting hurt because of who he is leads him to push her away, straight into the arms of John Jameson (Daniel Gillies). We know Peter and MJ will eventually be together, but the film makes our two leads earn it, resulting in the stunning, third act reveal of Peter’s secret identity in front of Mary Jane. Romantic subplots are often afterthoughts in superhero movies but Spider-Man 2 does its love story splendidly well.
And no great superhero can exist without a great villain. Spider-Man 2, like The Dark Knight, has two. No one can compare with the genius of Heath Ledger’s Joker, but Sam Raimi’s well-written baddies were a refreshing one-two punch in a time when villains were often one-note tropes. The audience can understand both their motivations. Of course, Norman Osborn brought his demise on himself, but still, what son wouldn’t defend his father? Seeing only the good in his dad is how Harry Osborn grieves. He’s tormented by a deep pain that brings out the worst in him.
Even better is Alfred Molina as Otto Octavius, a good man and scientist turned tragic villain Dr. Octopus. Whereas there is no curing the Joker, Doc Ock is a bad guy who is intimidating while also being sympathetic, who eventually comes to his senses and tries to help. This all comes together to make Spider-Man 2 a deeply human story where the action is secondary to the emotional performances.
Marvel’s 3-Part Sci-Fi Adventure Trilogy Is a Perfect Weekend Binge
Go web!
‘Spider-Man 2’ Is the Perfect Blend of Action and Emotion
Despite its emphasis on character development, Spider-Man 2 does not get lazy with its action sequences. In fact, Spider-Man 2 is one jaw-dropping action scene after another. But while they show off inventive set design and gasp-inducing fight choreography, what gives them all their power is the emotion behind them.
Spider-Man 2‘s train scene, which is perhaps its most famous sequence, is a prime example of this. Raimi’s direction and Danny Elfman‘s score blend together in a moment that spotlights exactly how hard Peter Parker will fight to save the innocent — he’ll damn near rip himself in half for the people of New York City. And he does it all unmasked, his identity exposed. Afterward, when he collapses, Spider-Man 2 delivers its most powerful scene, as the citizens carefully move his body to safety, in a show of connection. They don’t want to reveal his identity; they see this superhero as a person and are thankful. Three years after 9/11, the idea of community in the Big Apple was a tearjerker. 22 years later, it still gets the waterworks going.
Spider-Man 2 was a revelation when it was released. Before it, outside of a few examples like Blade and X-Men, comic book movies were looked down on. They were for kids and no one else. In his perfect four-star review, Roger Ebert wrote that Spider-Man 2 is “a superhero movie for people who don’t go to superhero movies, and for those who do, it’s the one they’ve been yearning for.” It’s the starting point for everything that came after. Two decades later, it’s the benchmark, the one that changed everything.
