Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Shadows. Practical stunts. A vulnerable hero. We used to have it all.

I saw this in theaters when it came out and liked it. Living in this age where superhero movies are a dime a dozen and mostly horrible, I didn’t know how good I was eating back then.

Spider-Man 2 is great. It looks good - actually good, not just expensive. The special effects mostly hold up, especially the practical stuff. Sam Raimi is putting real flair on this movie, and I love it. The horror sequences, the action, the car crashes - absolutely incredible. That hospital scene is pure Evil Dead energy. He never forgot where he came from.

Also, this movie is lit like a film. There are shadows. Actual shadows. I miss when blockbusters looked like this instead of the flat, overlit, digital paste we get now.

And I love Peter being vulnerable and weak. He loses his powers because he’s emotionally overwhelmed. He’s broke, failing school, can’t keep a job, disappointing everyone he loves. Modern superhero movies forgot that’s allowed - that your hero can be struggling and small and human. That’s what makes it land when he rises.

We had it so good. We didn’t appreciate it.

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