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.

My brain almost never shuts off, it is in constant thought unless I can distract it with some external stimulus. Which is why I read so much, watch tv or movies, surf the internet, etc. I had about 3 or four posts worth of thought last night as I was reading the new issue of TIME Magazine, specifically the articles on Thomas Jefferson. I have always been a great admirer of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. I think I have always been drawn to their roles as the men behind some of our philosophy of American Democracy. Not the nuts and bolts of government, but the raw ideals that symbolize American Freedom.
It is funny though when you read about any of the founding fathers, because every author has their favorites, and usually that means they are very biased against who ever may have been a rival of said favorite.
Aside from the usual worship of Jefferson complete with the apologists who squirm with regards to Jefferson and slavery, and of course the ones who vilify Jefferson as some racist slave-monger who opposed the government and for no good reason also opposed Hamilton and his economic goals...there are those who can create a balanced view of Jefferson and put things into the proper context.
I liked the fact that TIME featured Jefferson, but I was concerned over some of the crap that kept creeping into the articles. A few of them were trying to draw Iraq and Bush into them for no reason.
Everybody has an agenda. The trick is to keep a sharp eye out and be aware of it.
I have too much to say on the subject of Jefferson, so I think I will go watch the Joe Schmo Show and relax.

Bush gets spanked by Chirac. And it's about time. Bush's arrogance is so firmly wrapped around his image that he can't help but draw fire for such comments. If Clinton or Bush Sr. or even Reagan had made the same comment, there would not have been any big deal. But because Bush jr. has made pushing people around his primary way of doing things, he has cast himself as the quintessential "ugly American." His cowboy image and his Christian moral certitude may win him votes in America's conservative heart but it gains us little with our Allies and only encourages our enemies to fight that much harder. Force-feeding Iraq democracy has only caused so many more of the people to fight something that they might otherwise have clamored for. There are times when pushing in one direction only causes someone to fight that much harder. It's like dealing with teens. Sure you can't be a permissive parent, but you can't be so strict and overbearing that they fight you just for the sport of it and to assert their sense of power.
The number one thing America has in it's pocket is our culture and standard of living. Sure we SuperSize more things than we should, we don't care much about Opera, and we gave the world Jessica Simpson. But our culture has such appeal to people that they emulate us and in tyrannical regimes, it undermines them and promotes democratic thinking.
Ugh. I do get so tired of seeing how much this Administration can screw things up.

Oh and WTF was Jack Ryan thinking? (not the Tom Clancy hero--and Ben Affleck's portrayal doesn't count) I mean dude you are married to 7of9 and your idea of "romantic getaway" is sex clubs? Isn't being married to Jeri Ryan enough of a sex club? Sure there are times when the club isn't open, but guess what, you are the only one on the guest list. What more do you need? People are never satisfied.