A few random comments in no particular order:
1. I really liked the scene where Peter's shy neighbor brought him cake. A total throw away scene as far as moving the narrative, but it really gave indication that the entire world doesn't revolve around Pete, MJ, and the villains. They encounter other people too, who don't always end up as an evil villain to fight or a damsel in distress to rescue. Just a nice little "world building" sequence.
2. In contrast, I thought having Pete and Aunt May just happening to be applying for a loan at the bank the exact moment Doc Ock tries to rob it, and then having him randomly select Aunt May as a hostage was a little too contrived. Sure that's a staple in superhero type films, but the first movie really worked to have each dramatic scene and action sequence evolve fluidly without such heavy handed one in a million randomness.
Its a really fine line to tread, I just thought in this instance it was a bit distracting.
3. I realize that this whole movie is about Peter wanting to be Peter instead of Spider-Man, but for someone so concerned about the damage that could be caused by villains learning his identity, he took his mask off a
lot. It made sense on the train when his mask got damaged and he had trouble seeing out of the one eye (we'll just ignore the fact that somehow two kids recovered it after he threw it off the top of a speeding train and that it someehow repaired itself...I know--When the kids said they "found it" they meant they found one of his spares in another dumpster somewhere--Hey Stan, how about a No-Prize?
), but it was getting to the point where he ripped it off every other scene.
4. I thought Peter's (funny how it feels more natural to call him Peter as opposed to Spider-Man; which goes to show how well they presented him as a character) attempt to stop the train went on too long for what he actually did. I know it was supposed to be this Herculean strain for him, but I don't think they really sold how painful and exhausting it was for him to save everyone. I don't know what I would have done, maybe add a couple popping sounds like his shoulders were dislocating, something extra. Just yelling and holding on to his webs didn't seem like it was "enough" (putting his leg down and cleaving through the track was very cool though.)
Maybe they could have had him fail to save one of the people Doc Ock threw off the train, so that it was more emotional anguish that tormented Peter as he held on, pain for not saving the passenger and also fear of just how capable Otto might be of killing MJ. Then when he collapsed at the end and the people laid him down they would have all been traumatized at losing a fellow commuter, but in Peter's anguish they find strength, and then in turn give it back to him.
As it was, I didn't think the exertion was enough to warrant the Christ-like manner in which he was carried. Sure anyone would have been in absolute awe of someone who just saved them all, but I would have liked it if they sold the moment more as a scene of the passengers bonding with one of their own as opposed to reverently moving their superhero savior.
With all that said, it ended on a wonderfully high note; when Peter came to and had that "moment" with everyone, it was nicely touching.
5. I thought the five minute or however long it was sequence in the cafe where Doc Ock throws the car through the window might be the most perfect representation of everything I love about Spider-Man; and it doesn't even involve the costume. His powers: the Spider Sense, superhuman strength and agility; the conflict between Peter and his heroic alter ego, the drama and tension in his relationship with MJ, and the spectacular comic book presence and otherworldliness of his supervillain enemies. All of it, right there, in about five minutes of consecutive screen time. Brilliant.
It was almost disturbing how intimidating Doc Ock was as he carried MJ off, oblivious to her horrified screams. Then that pivotal moment Peter took off the glasses and resolved to conduct the pursuit as a fully restored Spider-Man. Fantastic. When this movie nailed a concept, they
really nailed it.
6. I don't see how anyone who's seen an Evil Dead movie couldn't chuckle at the "tentacle cams" in the hospital sequence, or the inclusion of the chainsaw.
7. I'll say it again, Alfred Molina's performance was hands down the best supervillain performance of all time bar none.
8. James Franco was surprisingly good as well. Would have made a damn fine Anakin Skywalker.
9. I thought Doc Ock's finale was a bit anticlimactic after the whole train fight, and especially after the fantastic resolution to the Green Goblin, but the epilogue with Harry finding his father's stash (I was really hoping the camera would pan to reveal an unused orange helmet of his father's) and MJ was
great. I really liked how MJ broke the mold of standard comic book movie love interest and made it clear that her feelings for Peter and desire for her own happiness were just as important as Peter's concerns in determining the final decision about their future.
10. I know this would have broken a lot of "comic book" continuity, but a part of me was
really hoping that when Peter decided to be Spidey again after pitching his costume in the trash that Raimi would blindside us all with him pulling out a spare costume--and have it be the black version. Okay, I recognize it probably would have been too early in the series to switch colors, but I think it would have been damn cool.
11. The more I recollect on the film, the harder and harder it is for me choose which Spidey movie I like the best. I may just have to go see this one a few more times before making my final decision....
