It’s been well over a decade since Peter Parker first hit the big screen in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man.” To date, Tobey Maguire’s web-slinger has maintained his seminal status — sure, Marc Webb’s films took a glossier and at times darker approach, but Raimi and co. helped to mold the tone and set our expectations for so many movies that have come since. And, in doing so, Raimi made what is still easily one of the best superhero movies: “Spider-Man 2.” In our recent rundown of the 25 best superhero movies of all time, “Spider-Man 2” clocked in just shy of the number one spot. It’s a fantastic film, great even outside of genre considerations, that is lovingly character-focused, hilarious, and unabashedly strange.
But, for a more nuanced look at why Maguire’s second go at the wall-crawler is so good, a new video essay from Films & Stuff is here to help. At its core, the video argues that “Spider-Man 2” is a film that knows what it is, and that it’s confident and unafraid to pair silly comedy and serious drama — which it puts in a lot of work to earn. Much of the success of the dynamic comes from a careful delineation: The principal cast are treated as real people with real and worthy struggles, while the world around them supplies the humor (e.g. the excellent J.K. Simmons).
The other major success of the film, the video contends, is that, as a sequel, it isn’t trying to reinvent the world of “Spider-Man,” but rather building on the conflicts there. In a way, it’s doubling down on the characters and relationships we already care about, including the big one: Peter Parker vs. Spider-Man.
So, if it’s been awhile since you’ve sat down with Raimi’s superhero classics (though you could probably forgo the final entry), now might be the time to do it — especially with “Spider-Man: Homecoming” on the way next year.
Check out the video weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below. [via Geek Tyrant]