Watched Spider-Man 2 again, first time in a while.
Truly a magnificent movie. If anything, it's under-rated. I love how they build up the pain Peter has to go through, he cops it from all angles. And how NYC goes to the dogs when he's absent. It makes for a rewarding finale when MJ discovers the truth.
Responsibility is always at the back of his mind, and he finds it hard to turn off. He's always checking if he's wearing his Spidey suit when something bad is happening. I like how this shows Peter is a hero, with or without powers - say in comparison to Clark Kent in Superman II. Without powers, Peter rushes into a burning building (a nice contrast to the 2002 movie) and saves a child's life. When he hears a man died on the fourth floor, he realises it's time to up the stakes and try to bring his powers back. Because as Spidey, he could've saved that guy too.
So indeed, still the best film in the franchise. If he did just one, Raimi's legacy with the character would have been assured just with this.
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