  At last a Spiderman movie worthy of Toby Maguire, the thinking woman's sex symbol. I was really bored watching the first Spiderman movie and didn't have a burning desire to see this one, but when Aaron says, "Do you want to go see Spiderman 2? " I know the right answer is "Yes. " Let it not be said that I won't go see action movies with my boyfriend - at least ones starring Toby Maguire. . . hmm, Toby Maguire Anyway, about the movie. It's fantastic! The first five minutes were smarter, cooler, funnier and more exciting than anything in the first movie. I think we have Michael Chabon to thank for that. Having read his Summerland, I could discern the Chabon sense of humor throughout the movie.
And of course, Toby Maguire is perfect at conveying the hilarious irony of his situation. Alfred Molina was so sincere as the mad scientist with the freak show arms, you never really stop feeling sympathy for him even as he is clomping around causing chaos in the streets. Aaron thinks the computer graphics were not realistic enough, but that didn't bother me. I loved flipping and flying over Manhattan with my fake Spidey. The only parts of the movie I didn't like were the scenes with Kirsten Dunst. Maybe it wasn't her fault her character was so irritating. Maybe we also have Chabon to thank for that because I don't think he writes women very well. But I can't help thinking that someone else could have played her character better (maybe Katie Holmes or Alexis Bledel). I think either one of these women would have been better at convincing me that they actually wanted to kiss Peter Parker.
Dunst's MJ just comes off as whiny and self-righteous because he has disappointed her but not because she is achingly in love with him as he obviously is with her. But it's not her fairy tale; it's his, so I guess I don't need to believe that she actually loves him - it's enough that they kiss. Which brings me to the urlLink ethics of Spidey's choices. I won't comment on it but it's fun to read intelligent boys talking about the theme of a movie where the wimpy intelligent boy becomes miraculously strong and gets to kiss Kirsten Dunst. As if it weren't a fairy tale. 
