Is Spider-Man 2 As Great As We Remember?

Tobey's Spider-Man sure does what a spider can, buddy.
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All background music is from the Spider-Man 2 OST.

[@Raffaele_Baratto]

To me, the best part has always been when Peter tells Aunt May that he was responsible for Uncle Ben's death. That was serious character growth.

[@Fi_Sci_]

Spider-Man 2’s one of those movies you watch as certain points in your life and love each time for different reasons. You love the action as a kid, relate to the difficulties admitting feelings as an adolescent, and as an adult relate to all the curveballs thrown at your face. One of the best superhero movies that still has the most distinct execution I’ve ever seen with how it frames each scene. Truly a timeless masterpiece that still holds up all these years later.

[@adrivoid5376]

I feel like it has a great blend of comic logic and absurdity, and some realism and severity as Peter is growing older and into his role. Its fun, and this trilogy has the best Peter Parker to me!

[@PeterParker-ff7ub]

not absurd, fiction

[@delix787]

The one problem I had with the Sam Raimi movies. Every time Mary Jane or aunt May got kidnapped by one of the villains. They literally don’t ever talk about it or bring it up. They go back to their normal lives like nothing ever happened?! 😭😭😂😂😂

[@Takyomi]

Really fun video. Seriously one of my favorite movies growing up. The regular citizens standing up for and defending the beaten down hero is one of my favorite concepts in storytelling. Its a pillar of what being a hero is, inspiring people to be heroic themselves, to stand up to injustice because they, just like the hero, can't look away.

[@aperson6505]

The Evil Dead-esque Hospital scene is so good

[@delix787]

I think a lot of people don’t understand Mary Jane’s character arc. When she first kissed Peter at the end of the first movie she realized his lips were similar to Spider-Man’s! And she felt a connection right there. The reason why she’s messing with Peter‘s feelings in the second movie, is yes because she knows deep down Peter likes her to some degree and she’s trying to figure him out. One second Peter wants to be with her and another second he’s hesitating on a no. She’s trying to push him to confess his true feelings or something similar. The reason why she was re-creating the kiss with her future husband. Is because she’s trying to understand what are her true feelings? She created the same kiss with him to understand how she feels between Peter or this guy! And she noticed she didn’t feel the same way, it didn’t feel right. But she’s already in a engagement with him… When people say Mary Jane is making out and in love with both Spider-Man, and Peter Parker!! People call her a hoe. But at the end of Spider-Man (2) she said to Peter after the mask came off. I think I knew this entire time that you were Spider-Man…. Meaning she was in love with ONE person the whole time, not two different people….. That was the point when she kissed both Spider-Man and peter at the end of the first movie. She noticed they could be the same identity of a person. So the entire time she was in love with one person…. Mary Jane‘s character is confusing and frustrating and I understand the criticisms but I never had hatred for her. But that is my perspective on the character!

[@rhysburns5420]

Thank you! I've been trying to explain this to people for years

[@SaberRexZealot]

Spider-Man 2 is unironically one of my top ten favorite films. It’s so entertaining and quotable - not to mention the important life lessons for young adults. Nearly 20 years later and it’s still the best Spider-Man movie (besides Spider-Verse)

[@PatrickOMulligan]

No where as good as Spider-Verse.

[@mechajay3358]

It has become more clear over time that Dunst just did not made a convincing portrayal of MJ. It becomes much more explainable when she really she thought she was going to play Peter's other main love interest Gwen Stacy when she audition. Also she didn't have much chemistry with Toby. He even said that kissing her was like giving mouth to mouth.

[@vetarlittorf1807]

Yes. It is. It's literally one of the greatest superhero movies of all time alongside Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men 2, The Incredibles, The Dark Knight, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Logan, Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

[@yemmohater2796]

Which Superman and batman?

[@zeezus890]

@@yemmohater2796 he’s probably referring to the originals for both

[@vootvoot9180]

X men 2 is garbage

[@vootvoot9180]

I would add captain america civil war,Winter soldier and Man of steel to this list

[@delix787]

SPIDER MAN 2 IS A DAMN MASTER PIECE!! 🕷🕸🕷 The amount of great life lessons is outstanding. 🤧

[@PatrickOMulligan]

It actually is terribley written. I still like it, but oof.

[@Zombiesnyder13]

They gave AVI ARAD a big thank you in the credits of NWH But do you know who else deserves a big thank you? LAURA ZISKIN It was because of her and her partner (the screenwriter Alvin Sargent) that the original trilogy and TASM1 had depth Arad on the other hand just wanted to use the movies to sell toys

[@anthonygamer101]

i knew i loved this movie and had a few reasons for that thought but i really respect your media analysis abilities here i didnt think about nearly all the cool things you talked about here storytelling and character wise!

[@VladTepesVladTepes]

This was a great movie trilogy. It's a shame we didn't get part 4.

[@vetarlittorf1807]

True. Spider-Man 4 would have had the Vulture as the villain and introduced Felicia Hardy, who would have been revealed to be Vulture's daughter in a plot twist similar to what we got in Homecoming. Unfortunately there was just too much creative dispute between Sam Raimi and Avi Arad. Heck, if Raimi would have it his way, Venom would not have appeared in Spider-Man 3 because he wanted to save him for a future film.

[@robo1513]

@@vetarlittorf1807 weren't they gonna add the lizard tho. I mean Doc Conners is in spider man 2 and 3.

[@PatrickOMulligan]

3 was soooo good.....

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodGeek99]

This movie is a masterpiece in my eyes people considered it the best super hero movie ever made

[@Zombiesnyder13]

RIP Laura Ziskin and Alvin Sargent Spiderman was nothing without them

[@Zombiesnyder13]

LAURA ZISKIN was the only one capable to save this movie from AVI ARAD After she died in 2011, during the production of TASM1, there was nobody else to stop Arad from ruining everything May she rest in peace

[@randomcharacter6501]

Yes

[@dantegallardo1974]

How'd I miss this? this is great!!!!!!

[@HxH2011DRA]

The GOATED spider-man movie

[@jaxongervais9737]

Of the original trilogy this one was always my favorite, helps it was the first one I watched.

[@oneshotprestige]

Top 5 favorite movie of all time for me.

[@DetectiveJones]

Yes.

[@DaWoWzer]

Spiderman 2 is the best super hero movie hands down.

[@delix787]

I agree! I thought it was odd that Peter never tried to reach out to Doc Ock personally!! 🥴 Or when he was Spider Man!! The only excuse I can think of. Is that Dock was hiding pretty well. But I doubt that is a good excuse lol.

[@TheDahaka1]

NOOOOOO!!!!! You missed the chance to say "The moment it becomes clear that Spider-man needs Peter, and Peter needs Spider-Man... 2 (too)"

[@ttech8054]

Can’t wait for Spider-Man 3 that movie actually slaps no lie

[@dtay8913]

Spider-Man 2 is still the Greatest Spiderman movie to date.

[@TheCreepypro]

you answered the question well in 13 minutes

[@bluemage6495]

Yeah, as much as I love MJ in the comics (when they're not trying to ruin their relationship), Raimi's trilogy didn't do her any favors (even if Kirsten Dunst had the looks). And I'm really enjoying your November series!

[@mechajay3358]

Dunst just did not made a convincing portrayal of MJ. And she didn't have much chemistry with Toby. He even said that kissing her was like giving mouth to mouth.

[@delix787]

Can you talk about the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy?! AND STAY AWAY FROM 4/5 🗣

[@captainoftheneverdie21]

It is simply an amazing film top to bottom, the proper sequel

[@fightingmedialounge519]

10:17 that's another prediction I got right for this project. Let's see if I can go three for three.

[@literallyjudas2157]

commenting before I go to bed and watch the video later: Yes.

[@DrDolan2000]

Peter's suffering is the best part of this movie. He wants to do the right thing, but the world keeps knocking him down for it; or at least, that's how it feels to him But why - doesn't Peter - tell Harry - that he didn't kill his dad??? It would take like two seconds!

[@TheRealGigachad1848]

"Peter, don't tell Harry." When Harry eventually finds out the truth, that's the first thing Peter does.

[@DrDolan2000]

+@@TheRealGigachad1848 Well, Norman said that because he didn't want Harry to know he was a villain, right?

[@pimp_floyd5024]

If you haven’t seen this since you where a kid, did you really love it that much in the first place?

[@rhysburns5420]

Was thinking the same. The amount of times I watch this movie each year is crazy lol

[@LeonardoKlotz]

I love when horror directors make superhero movies

[@beastvg123]

Love this movie. For me it swaps back and forth with Spiderverse as the best Spidey film.

[@dustinmiller1485]

Yes, it is.

[@plasmi9]

Thats the thing theres no need to watch these videos because the answer is just: yes XD by the way, regarding your video about subverting expectations, that recent Mob episode brought that to mind. Of course, MP100 is like THE champion of expectation subversion

[@fightingmedialounge519]

Wouldn't really say it's that simple.

[@Terminal_Apotos]

Yes. Question Answered.

[@goldgunscantshoot973]

Took the words out of my mouth, very based

[@Rhekon]

Peter's life in this film is a nightmarish shit show for anxious young adults transitioning to the next stage of life after college.

[@literallyjudas2157]

Finished the video, I was right.

[@spectacularspider-man4886]

No. It's better.

[@delix787]

HELL YESSSSS!! 😈😈😈😈

[@PatrickOMulligan]

Southpaw did an hour and a half breakdown of how Spider-Man 2 is quite poorly written.

[@zerotohero1483]

I greatly dislike the way they portray Spider-Man in relation to Peter’s life and how they screwed over the perception of what makes a good Spider-Man villain (don’t get me wrong, Ock is fine, i just don’t like how now EVERY SINGLE VILLAIN has to have a relationship to Peter for them to be considered a good villain). The ‘Spider-Man is a miserable burden on Peter Parker’s life that he only does out of guilt’ is something I have hated as a perception for what Peter’s story is like and needs to be. Reading the comics, especially the early years. Also, they did a horrible job adapting Mary Jane. She’s just so annoying and despicable and that’s the cardinal sin for me as she’s my second favorite character in all of Spider-Man comics (Ben Reilly number 1!!!!)

[@10011110011]

I prefer Bully Mcguire, but spooder man 2 is certainly one of the best movies ever made

[@dvides89]

TLDR ….Yepp it’s even better 😂😂

[@katakanatabro2048]

used to be my favorite film, it's definitely not anymore, though. Here's the thing, I can get on board with all the messy plot stuff in the movie, but there is one issue that I think does clog up the experience in the long run, Mary Jane is so prevelant throughout the movie, showing up in so many important scenes, and I have grown to not like her writing, at all. Still love the movie, even more than the first one but I do think it's a bigger problem than it's made out to be. My favorite is 3 believe it or not and I convinced myself that movie was bad but then I thought about it and was like 'well....'

[@sr.brigadeiro7718]

Fuc yes

[@wuba5456]

🕷🕷

[@chriscannon8144]

Hope you touch up on Sam & Ted Raimi’s original plans for Spider-Man 3’s plot before Sony & Avi Arad ruined everything. Studio interference can be a director’s worst enemy.

[@Lowart]

Unfortunately I don't really go into any behind-the-scenes stuff in the next one, nor do I go into alternate versions (even though I looked into them a bit). It would've been too much extra work with the month of videos going on haha I still hope you enjoy it though!

[@chriscannon8144]

@@Lowart Of course, none of your vids has let me down yet, I’m just glad you’re aware of what happened. And yeah, that’s understandable, takes a LOT of digging for stuff like that and I’ve watched many reviewers over the years talk about the production anyway.

[@ThePonderer]

I don’t really think this one’s aged as well as film 1. I just don’t care for the Peter/MJ romance as portrayed here, and there’s a lot of contrivances that eat at me.

[@ABCodeX]

I think you’re missing the forest for the trees, bud. The MJ stuff was underwhelming and bad at times, but everything thing else is fantastic. I find the themes of responsibility and compromise still hold a lot of value and significance. The character growth with Peter and his Aunt May is emotional and shows real growth between the two of them. And the fact that they still focused on Harry’s relation with his dad and Spider-Man is the cherry on top of a slightly flawed masterpiece, but that’s just my opinion.

[@summoner0005]

This is certainly a take

[@Grag235]

Why do I get the feeling that he’s gonna say that Spiderman 3 is trash? (I like Spiderman 3, but I’ll be fine if he says that he didn’t like it)

[@fightingmedialounge519]

He's likely no to be that harsh given his preferences.

[@randomcharacter6501]

Spiderman 3 is better than the first 2 movies in the home trilogy... Fight me

[@fightingmedialounge519]

@@randomcharacter6501 that's certainly an opinion.

[@10011110011]

@@fightingmedialounge519 thats certainly THE correct opinion

[@fightingmedialounge519]

@@10011110011 eh, we'll see how it goes

[@JPLeonhart]

Reviewing Spider-Man 3 please review the editor's cut Edition it is much better and fix a lot of the pacing issues

[@bowserbreaker2515]

I love this movie, but I still prefer the first one.

[@VladTepesVladTepes]

I'm sorry but the dress Mary-Jane is wearing is positively hideous.

[@Lowart]

Agreed. She made many mistakes that day, and that dress was one of them

[@dostoyevskysolzhenitsyn8201]

You say this is a great movie, but your criticisms with this movie are things that actually completely ruined it for me.

[@ANONYMOUS-tg2tq]

This movie is about choice

[@9aracna.]

Meow

[@Rannos22]

Spiderman 2 is my favorite of the three Though I don't think I've seen the third

[@PatrickOMulligan]

Why did you not address more of the issues with the writing/filming? No mention of the tenticle knife? It would definitely make it hard for you to still call this film great.

[@Lovegearss]

And third

[@Lovegearss]

second

[@Lovegearss]

First

[@jaxongervais9737]

Of the original trilogy this one was always my favorite, helps it was the first one I watched.

[@rold-hx8bu]

Yes

[@metroidman3893]

Yes

[@heresthedealio3520]

Yes