Intermission: 'Spider-Man' sequel tops original movie

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.

Outside of huge box office numbers, which "Spider-Man 2" has already achieved, the holiest of Hollywood grails is a sequel that bests the original.

Director Sam Raimi achieves this feat and joins the ranks of Frances Ford Coppola and his "Godfather Part II" and George Miller, whose "Road Warrior" outdid the original "Mad Max."

Raimi, who directed the "Evil Dead" series of films as well as the comic-book-brought-to-screen "Darkman," has a deft eye and deep heart for what it takes to translate the essence of comic books to the film world.

There have been a lot of films based on monthly magazine heroes: "The X-Men," "Superman," "Batman" and "Daredevil."

But few directors have managed to interpret the frame-by-frame style of comics to the big screen in such a way that makes an aficionado of the medium feel like he does while absorbed in one of the books. Ang Lee did a great job with "The Hulk," and Raimi's first "Spider-Man" was a high-water mark.

In "Spider-Man 2," the director seems to have finally found the exact formula he was searching for in the original, and what's on-screen is proof positive. Raimi makes no apologies for the obvious digital effects that are utilized every time Spider-Man is in action, but he doesn't need to. It's not a film like "Jurassic Park" where we're supposed to believe this is real. It's a comic book.

The 1960s was a tumultuous era for social change and pop culture. The Beatles and the subsequent "British Invasion" changed music and hair styles. The civil rights and anti-war movements held sway. Movies like "Easy Rider," "Midnight Cowboy" and "The Graduate" altered the face of film. Comic books, sometimes an overlooked but nonetheless powerful force, were changing as well.

Super heroes had always been straight and true. Sure, Clark Kent (Superman's secret identity) was a Milquetoast sort, but at least he held a job. Bruce "Batman" Wayne was a multi-millionaire when he wasn't fighting crime.

Then along came Stan Lee and Marvel Comics, with heroes who were flawed and had day-to-day problems like the rest of us. Some of Marvel's heroes (like the Hulk) were even reviled and considered villains.

Spider-Man in "real life" as far as comic book "real life" is concerned is teen-aged Peter Parker. He's a guy who has a near-destitute widowed aunt, can't pay his bills and loses his job as a pizza delivery boy. He always has to fight crime while making deliveries, making him late, but obviously can't tell his boss.

He also has a crush on a girl he cannot pursue.

All of this because he wastes his time being a super hero.

Anyone who knows the magazines, or saw the first "Spider-Man," already knows the back story.

In "Spider-Man 2," director Raimi delves deeper into the human condition of the super hero lifestyle.

Spidey loses his powers for a while (it's an obvious reference to being "unable to perform" as a male) and gives up the super life.

He tries to become a "normal" person.

Raimi, and writer Alvin Sargent, develop all of the characters Spider-Man/Peter Parker, his love interest Mary Jane and villain Dr. Octopus with great detail.

Even those who don't like action heroes might be pleased with this as a classic love story.

After the big battle scene which would ordinarily be the climax in this sort of film the real climax is brought forth.

It has to do with affairs of the heart. But it also has to do with affairs of the super hero.

As a long time Spider-Man fan, I will say that Tobey Maguire is a perfect choice for the role.

Granted, he's not really on-screen as Spider-Man (all of those scenes are computer generated), but his Peter Parker is perfection.

The only problem I had with "Spider-Man 2" was the obvious set-up for "Spider-Man 3," when the Green Goblin (from the first episode) will be reincarnated. It was too obvious and the only cheap shot in the film.

Other than that, there's nothing not to like.

It's great fun and mines a lot of human emotion.

As far as the summer season of 2004 goes, "Spider-Man 2" is the first film to merit the attention.