“Spider-Man 2” (2004)

Spider-Man 2

Grade: A

Spider-Man 2 is not only a great superhero film, but a great film, period. Compelling in both the story and the telling, it improves upon the first Spider-Man (which was already very good) in every possible way, succeeding as both sequel and standalone. It’s a career peak for director Sam Raimi (his special effects budget has come a long way from The Evil Dead, but it was always his classical showmanship that made his films so entertaining anyway. Raimi’s lost none of that here: balletic action, impressive montage, playful sight gags); a career peak for actor Tobey Maguire (having now fully grown into the character, he particularly excels during the more introspective scenes, earning his heroism through Peter Parker’s personal life); and a career peak for the Spider-Man franchise as a whole (shit, probably the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, if we’re being honest).

I’m always impressed by how skillfully Spider-Man 2 weaves together its many subplots and emotions, swinging effortlessly from drama to comedy to romance to tragedy (to occasional horror) without ever becoming tangled. Each storyline is given the proper patience and poignancy it deserves, each panel treated with utmost respect, an intricacy that allows us to see the story with the same sincerity, the same devotion, the same excitement as a comic book reader. We believe in Spider-Man. It really feels like he’s saving us on that train — a rare relatability that no other superhero movie has ever matched.