Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Directed by Sam Raimi
Cyborgs; Genetic code; Genetic research; Mutations; Science fiction
In this sequel, Peter Parker/Spiderman must decide if he will retain or abandon his powers and role as superhero while fighting a new nemesis, Doc Ock, a scientist whose artificially intelligent arms have taken over his mind and body.
This sequel to the 2002 hit Spiderman begins shortly after the end of the first installment. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is suffering under the strain of his double life as a college student and the superhero, Spiderman. Struggling for money, distant from his friends, and blaming himself for his uncle’s death, Peter begins to question if he still wants to be Spiderman. Early in the film, Peter’s friend Harry Osborn (James Franco) introduces him to the renowned scientist Doctor Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina); Octavius is working on a project which will initiate and sustain fusion through harmonic reinforcement to create a “new fusion-based energy source” that will provide safe, inexpensive, and renewable energy for the whole world. During a demonstration, Dr. Octavius unveils his four “smart arms,” Artificial Intelligence machines which connect to his body via neural links established through incisions in his spinal cord. As nano wires connect the arms to his cerebellum, Octavius is able to control the mechanical limbs using his brain, allowing him to manually manipulate the fusion reaction in an environment no human hand could enter. When Dr. Octavius loses control of the fusion he creates during this demonstration, the inhibitor chip which protects his higher brain function from being taken over by the A.I. apparatus is broken and the A.I. arms fuse permanently with his spine, seizing control of both his body and his mind. Dr. Octavius becomes Doc Ock (Doctor Octopus, due to his eight limbs) and Spiderman’s main nemesis in the film.
Having rejected his secret, long-time love, Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), at the end of the first film in an effort to protect her, Peter is devastated when he discovers she is seeing someone else. He is so upset that he begins to lose some of his spider-like abilities. When he later learns that she is engaged, Peter decides he no longer wants to be Spiderman and his powers disappear entirely. Spiderman 2 addresses the power of the mind and emotion over physical mutations, both in its representation of Peter’s ability to choose whether or not he will manifest the genetically-engineered spider traits that have fused with his own DNA and in Doc Ock’s struggle with the A.I. arms for power over himself. Peter’s capacity to choose whether or not the spider DNA in his body is active, in conjunction with the plot development that his emotions also affect his spider skills, allows this sequel to further the examination of human responsibility and choice initiated in the first film. Ultimately, Peter realizes that he cannot selfishly deny the responsibility that comes with his powers and he reassumes the mantle of Spiderman. After defeating Doc Ock by disabling the A.I. arms so that Doctor Octavius can regain control of himself and choose to stop the apocalyptic fusion he has created by sacrificing his own life, Peter/Spiderman saves Mary Jane. Peter’s heroic, selfless choice to become Spiderman once again, despite the cost to his own desires, is rewarded in the end when Mary Jane discovers his alter ego and convinces him that they can be together.
Evaluation: Spiderman 2, like the first film, is primarily an action movie designed to also engage deeper topics such as human responsibility and choice. However, the plot’s suggestions regarding the ability of the mind and emotion to conquer genetic code provides a provocative twist on the original story of genetic mutation.
– Lauren Wood Hoffer