I wish I could say that Spider-Man 2 was a great movie. I really wanted it to be. But as much as they developed the characters, they just rehashed the same basic elements to the plot. Oh no Aunt May is in the clutches of Doc Ock, hmm last time it was the Green Goblin. Oh no Mary Jane is kidnapped by Doc Ock, hmm last time it was the Green Goblin. Oh another scientist has gone stark raving mad because of a failed experiment. Oh but he was a nice guy. Sounds familiar? It is. In the first movie they mentioned that Dr. Connors fired Peter, in this one Dr. Connors is ready to fail Peter. And of course they are setting the stage for the next one when Dr. Connors becomes the Lizard? Oh and of course for Harry Osborn to become the Hobgoblin.
The whole story line of aww it's tough to be a hero is such a copy of Superman 2 I just couldn't get into it. Plus the idea of gee Peter can't get involved with Mary Jane because then she'll be in danger is pretty weak when she is already in danger just as his damn friend. There is plenty of action, and the emotions run high in this movie. Though it makes no sense why he keeps unmasking himself. By the end of the movie almost everyone knows who he is. And since they keep using enemies that he becomes friends with before they become evil villains, it seems to pointless to even bother with a disguise.
They should also explain how he keeps from getting monstrous bruises all over his body, and put more of the scientist back into his character. Plus he and Harry should have had a talk before the end of the movie, and Mary Jane may have wanted to get her act together a little sooner than on her wedding day. It's just too lame for me to buy.
It's still fun and I enjoyed it, but it felt like the first one too much. Even Stan Lee again saving someone from falling debris and instead of a guitarist singing the old Spider-Man theme song we get a violinist. They should have just played the Ramones version of the theme they did a while ago.
Maybe I am just getting too old for movies to enjoy them anymore.