The Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus appreciation thread

[The Joker]

What did you all think of him?? Did you enjoy his performance as Doc Ock?? Did you think he was the right casting choice for the role??

Personally, he was by far the best thing in SM-2 for me. I loved every second of him. I think he gave a terrific performance as Ock. He gave a performance that was villainous, menacing, warm hearted, and even sympathetic.

Granted Doc Ock was changed in certain aspects of his character, but he was nonetheless a compelling villain IMO. Some of my fav scenes with him include:

-The demonstration scene. When he strapped on the tentacles and willed them to life I got goose bumps. Loved the bit where he viciously swiped Spider-Man away when he tried to unplug the reactor. A little foreshadowing of the violence Octavius was capable of to make his dream succeed.

-The scene in his warehouse lair where he turns evil. The creepy music, the way the tentacles wavered around his head menacingly, how he slowly comes around to their influence with that lunatic smile "Yessssssssss"

-The cafe scene. He was really menacing in this scene:
Ock: "I want you to find your friend Spider-Man. Tell him to meet me at the West side tower at 3 O'Clock"
Peter: "But I don't know where he is"
Ock: *Removes his shades with a tentacle* "Find him. Or I'll peel the flesh off her bones"
Peter: "If you lay one finger on her...."
Ock: "You'll do what???"

-The scene where the train passengers stood up to him to protect Spidey, and he just grinned and swiped them all aside.

-All the fight scenes with him rocked. Every single one.

Basically he stole the movie IMO. And when he wasn't on screen I was eagerly anticipating his return. He was visually stunning, and Molina looked like he was having a ball playing the villain.

 

[Arcturus]

Alfred Molina is a very talented actor, and I think he was a perfect casting choice for Doctor Octopus. He was flawless as the man before the accident, and the man after the accident. I thought the movie version of Otto was very interesting and done very well. Every moment that he was on screen was amazing, I just wish that there was more of him in Spider-Man 2. I love both of the Spider-Man films, but out of the two we have so far, SM-2 is my favorite. I thought the movie all flowed together perfectly, and Otto was a big part of that amazing rollar coaster.

 

[The Joker]

I just wish that there was more of him in Spider-Man 2.

Yes, I agree. I know it's Spider-Man's story and all, and Ock wasn't interwoven as much into Peter's personal life as Norman was, but I still wish he had some extra screen time.

I love both of the Spider-Man films, but out of the two we have so far, SM-2 is my favorite. I thought the movie all flowed together perfectly, and Otto was a big part of that amazing rollar coaster.

Very nicely said

And I once again agree with you. SM-2 was more enjoyable for me to watch. Mainly because the characters like Harry, Aunt May, Jonah etc had better roles and scenes in the story. And of course we had Doctor Octopus as the main villain

 

[Bullseye]

I thought Molina portrayed Doc Ock to perfection. So now we have seen to great performances from Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina.

A great big thank you to Molina for bringing Doc Ock to life.

I can only hope Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace can do the same with their roles.

 

[A.B.]

Molina did it all as Doc Ock. As you said he was able to be villainous and menacing but also the warm hearted science guy Peter looked up to.

It was awesome how when you meet him he's one of the kindest guys you could meet and then a few minutes later he's making menacing remarks to Spider-Man.

When he let go of Aunt May to let her fall the comment he made showed how much Ock had changed "Oops, butter fingers". It's those little nuances that made me sure that Molina IS Doctor Octopus. The little smile he gave to MJ before grabbing her and taking her as hostage also made me think "this guy is badass".

As Otto Octavius he's charming and a good man, as Doc Ock, he's menacing and charismatic.

 

[Kraven]

Molina acted the part of Ock perfectly, IMO. He had the look for Ock, and nailed the character. I loved every scene with him on screen. He was very badass in it, loved the train scene. .

 

[Herr Logan]

As we've discussed many times, most of Movie!Ock's script, just like that for almost every other character in 'Spider-Man 2,' was a piece of $hit. Regardless, Alfred Molina is a perfect choice, and I know he could be the perfect Dr. Octopus in a movie in which the real Dr. Octopus was written.

Just imagine him in a set of scrubs while holding the private hospital staff hostage, shouting, "Silence! Nobody speaks when Octavius speaks!!"

And of course, the infamous b1tch-slap of Spider-Man, where he sneeringly says, "Why aren't you mocking me now, Spider-Man? Where are your brave taunts now?"

I would love to see him, now in his classy white Armani suit, brutally thrash a low-skill hired thug for asking too many questions about what his pay would be and when he'd be paid, and then tell the rest of them in calm and smarmy manner that if any of them should ever have any further questions about their salaries, benefits and general working arrangement with Octavius, his four "Human Resource managers" are available 24/7 and happy to supply those answers, as they've just witnessed.

 

[Dr.Dude]

While every scene Ock's in is a classic, the one part that says it all is that bit in the train, where he swipes away the passengers defending Spider-Man with that grin on his face --- Molina just absolutely ****ing nailed it.

Whether its comics or movies, still the best supervillain ever.

 

[Dragon]

I agree Molina was perfect casting. He actually looks alot like Ditko's dsign from ASM #3. Talented actor, his delivery was excellent. I hope we'll be seeing him return for another round. There's a good chance Ock survived so we just might.

 

[Red]

I think Molina did the best anyone one could with a poor script. He gave Ock a sense of menace and arrogance. For me he managed to balance out guy whom Peter looked with and the crazed scientist.

One of my favorite moments is when Harry tells him to bring him Spidey in exchange for the Tritium and Ock just say’s “Have it ready” I mean it’s like he know’s he’ll win, that’s badass.

 

[Regent77]

Molina was absolute perfection as Ock.

He brought a mix of vulnerability and sheer menace to the role. Like Ock above, I loved every moment he's on screen and when i rewatch the movie I eagerly anticipate every scene he's in.

The smile he gives MJ in the cafeteria scene after he's placed his glasses back on looked right out of the comics. The man did his research and tapped into the soul of the character flawlessly.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I loved Molina as Doc Ock!

My personal favorite scene is when he first arrives at the abandoned warehouse, right after escaping the hospital, and begins to realize what has happened to him...we see Doctor Octavius literally lose his mind right before our eyes!

Great stuff!

I would LOVE to see Molina as Doc Ock leading the Snister Six in a big screen movie adaption!

 

[El Payaso]

Loved Molina as Ock. Every second of it.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

While every scene Ock's in is a classic, the one part that says it all is that bit in the train, where he swipes away the passengers defending Spider-Man with that grin on his face --- Molina just absolutely ****ing nailed it.

One of my fav scenes too

 

[Dr.Dude]

Hell yeah.

 

[Ned Leeds]

Those pics posted by Dr Dude look straight out of the comics, especially the second one.

Molina was AWESOME, as the tentacled one! He's a great actor IMO.

Too bad the writers had to merge "Ock" with some of Connors' persona and give him a good heart and a penchant for poetry.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

This bit was great:

Love the look on his face when he says "Butterfingers"

 

[Spoarz™]

Alfred Molina is a very talented actor, and I think he was a perfect casting choice for Doctor Octopus. He was flawless as the man before the accident, and the man after the accident. I thought the movie version of Otto was very interesting and done very well. Every moment that he was on screen was amazing, I just wish that there was more of him in Spider-Man 2. I love both of the Spider-Man films, but out of the two we have so far, SM-2 is my favorite. I thought the movie all flowed together perfectly, and Otto was a big part of that amazing rollar coaster.

Wonderfully put dude. I agree, I thought Molina was perfect for Doc Ock.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

I think Ock suffered from his popularity, its pretty clear that Ramimi has a Parker/Osborn triolgy in mind, as a result of that Ock was kind of disgarded in Spider-Man 2. If he wasn't so popular I think they would have aited until the triolgy was over before putting him in. In Spider-Man 2 he is kinda of the guy there just for Spidey to fight, his story means very little

 

[The Joker]

I think Ock suffered from his popularity, its pretty clear that Ramimi has a Parker/Osborn triolgy in mind, as a result of that Ock was kind of disgarded in Spider-Man 2. If he wasn't so popular I think they would have aited until the triolgy was over before putting him in. In Spider-Man 2 he is kinda of the guy there just for Spidey to fight, his story means very little

While I agree that Ock needed more screen time in the movie, I would not say his story meant very little.

He was being amped up during the movie for the big explosive finale. When he went to Harry for the tritium, to when he trashed the cafe and kidnapped MJ, to the big showdown between Spidey on the train and in the lair. He was the danger to the city.

As I said, I would have preferred a more meaty participation from Ock, but I do not agree his story meant very little. But it was not as big as it should have been either.

I don't think you can blame the Goblin trilogy either. Harry's participation didn't hinder Ock's screen time at all. It was the Spider-Man no more plot that seemed to be the main focus of the movie.

 

[captain_jimbo]

I thought Alfred Molina was a great Doc Ock, and a much better villain than the Green Goblin.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

"You're getting on my nerves"

 

[Galactical]

This bit was great:

Love the look on his face when he says "Butterfingers"

That had me laughing out loud. I loved his performance, menacing, humerous, classy. He was excellent.

 

[DarthDaveBanner]

Best. Comic. Book. Villain. Performance. Ever.

 

[Lantern Venom]

I've never been a fan of Doc Ock in the comics. I didn't think he would translate well to the silver screen at all. Molina put my fears to rest instantly. In a remarkable movie overall, he still stole the show. His performance rivals that of Jack Nicholson as the Joker. I never thought I would say that about any actor portraying a comic book villian. He was funny, vicious, smug and crazy.

Roger Ebert thinks SM2 is the best comic book movie ever made. Molina is one of the main reasons. 'Nuff said.