Review of SPIDER-MAN 2

by STEVEN BAILEY

There are some "popcorn movies" that transcend their origins and

just become great movies--"North by Northwest," "Raiders of the

Lost Ark."

Add "Spider-Man 2" to the list.

There's no good reason that a film about a guy with the dubious

talent for traveling by web should be one of the most touching

movies around. But darned if I wasn't near tears by movie's end.

For that, kudos to director Sam Raimi, who found the same

"realistic" tone in the first "Spider-Man" and extends it here. The

characters seem like clichés--the clumsy kid turned super-hero,

the erstwhile girlfriend, the doting aunt. But thanks to heartfelt

encore performances from Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and

Rosemary Harris, they're more believable than those in more

"earthbound" movies I've seen this year.

Of course, some viewers don't go to "Spider-Man" movies for

character depth, and action fans won't be disappointed here either.

Alfred Molina, whom I've always found hammy, here has perfect

pitch as Dr. Octavius--at first friendly and caring to Peter Parker

(Spidey's daily alter-ego), then downright operatic in his revenge

when his planned scientific breakthrough goes wrong and turns

him into a kind of octopus-robot.

But the movie spends an unusual amount of time letting us get to

know its characters, so that viewers truly have a stake in the

high-powered action scenes. (Warning: Those scenes might be

very tough sledding for younger viewers. But if you've seen

"Spider-Man 1," you know what you're in for anyway.)

Out of a flawless cast, I end by singling out thoroughly winning

Kirsten Dunst as M.J., Peter/Spidey's love interest. Her dreamy,

sunny face grounds the story in happy normalcy. And her final

scene tops even "S1's" much-ballyhooed kiss.

This movie has it all. Go.