What I want to talk about is an American superhero film -- ''Spider Man 2". Even though I fully understand it is quite abnormal to discuss such type of film in such way because of the stereotype, which is that hollywood blockbuster is merely flashy and superficial. But honestly, after so many different types of films I have watch, most of which got a decent rank in Douban), ''Spider Man 2" still serves as my favourite one. And I am willing to try my best to dig into the movie.
Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi. It is the second film in Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco reprise their roles as Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, respectively.
The main function of a movie is to provide entertainment and evoke our meaningful reflection on its theme. In my opinion, ''Spider Man 2" perfectly meet both requirements. With the help of the high-tech and its compact plot, it delivers its thesis -- self-recognition, in a natural and amazing way, which is able to make everyone to rethink spontaneously.
The film focuses on Peter Parker struggling to manage both his personal life and his duties as Spider-Man. In the climax, Dr. Otto Octavius, who turn into devil following a failed experiment and the death of his wife. Using his mechanical tentacles, he threatens to endanger the lives of the people of New York City. Spider-Man must stop him from annihilating the city.
The best part of the film is not how Spider-Man save the city. It is how Peter Parker even the first villain do with their self-recognition. We almost have no idea how desired a superhero like Spider Man is to live an ordinary life. It is the same as we don't fully aware of how importance our self-recognition means to us. When we see Peter Parker tired of being let down in his personal life because he have to fill the duties of being Spider-Man, he quits being hero from his heart. As a result, he begins to lose his super power. What we think of ourselves determines what we become. It is the power of self-recognition.
The movie further discusses the issue of what is the right self-recognition. When we see Peter Parker lives a confident and happy life after quiting being Spider-Man, we might think it is the right thing for him. But when he find himself so helpless to be without his super power to save the people endangered, we might second think our judgement. "Sometimes to do what's right we have to be steady and give up the things you want the most, even our dreams" quoted from Paker's aunt, I think it is what the movie is trying to tell us. It is a perfect sublimation for theme of the movie "Spider Man 1" -- "with great power comes great responsibility". Realizing this point, Peter Parker choose to be Spider Man again for he know he is the very one to save the city. Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have is raging inside us, we always have a choice. The movie taught us that it's the choices that make us who we are and we can always choose to do what's right.
The movie is amazing in many other aspects. For example, the first villain Dr. Otto changes from a noble professor to a monster because he cannot accept the fact that his invention is unstable and having killed his beloved wife. His self-recognition of being a perfect scientist drove him crazy. Luckily, Spider Man taught him that he always have the chance to make no mistake any more. He come to himself finally and stop his machine to destroy the city himself.
Another impressive scene is when Spider Man was beaten by Dr. Otto, the citizens in New York spontaneously stand in front of Paker to protect him. The citizens see Spider Man's face, realizing that he is just a kid like everyone else. And it is everyone's responsibility to provide assistance, superhero is merely a concept that makes us strong.
It is almost a perfect movie in my eye. All the flashy factors are perfectly serve for the inspiring theme -- to find our right self-recognition.
