Reykjavík Grapevine - 23.07.2004, Blaðsíða 23

The Empire Strikes Back. Superman 2. Aliens. Whereas most sequels are just a
reworking of the original idea with more money thrown at it, there are the occasional
ones that actually manage to surpass the prototype. The aforementioned three are
examples. Spider-Man 2 just manages to make it onto that illustrious list.
by Valur
Gunnars
son
LISTINGS : july 23 - august 5MOVIES :
SP
IDERMA
N 2:
A SOAP
OPERA
FOR BO
YS
Where the first Spider-Man works best is
when Peter Parker is discovering his powers.
Somehow, it manages to capture the thrill
of being an ordinary teenager who can
suddenly beat up bullies and swing from
skyscrapers better than he has any right to.
Where the first film goes wrong is when
the plot kicks in. Willem Dafoe can do
menacing like few others, but the giggling
Green Goblin in full regalia looks like
someone you´d rather laugh at as he
tries to take over the world. And the
action scenes are closer to the spirit of
Charlie´s Angels than the comic books.
This time, they get the villain right.
The usually affable Alfred Molina
makes a mean Dr. Octopus, if a some-
what more sympathetic one than his
comic book counterpart.
Again, insanity is the reason for the
evil one´s actions. His debates with
his mechanical arms verge on the
ridiculous, but in the context you
go can along with anything and
just enjoy it.
The insanity of both
Norman Osbourne and Otto
Octavious continue a familiar
theme in popular culture: beware
the eggheads. Anyone who
thinks too much is bound to be
plotting something sinister and
the hero is a muscleman who
punches his way into the villain’s
meticulously constructed lair and
saves the day. Superman´s brawn
vs. Luthor´s brains, The Hulk’s
gamma-enhanced muscles vs.
the Leader´s (to be played by
Geoffrey Rush in the 2nd Hulk
film) gamma-enhanced intellect. Perhaps this
is one of the reasons why a lot of people seem
to have more faith in a Bush than a Gore.
Anyone who knows too much is not to be
trusted.
But Spider-Man is no brainless hunk of
muscle. He seems more like the top student
taking on the professors, which in this film he
more or less literally does.
Unlike most fairy tales, which tell us that
if we do the right thing we will eventually
be rewarded, the Spiderman stories have
always taken a different and perhaps more
realistic approach. Spiderman is constantly
being punished for doing the right thing. In
fact, the more good he does, the more people
seem to hate him. Perhaps you want children
to believe that doing the right thing will lead
to a reward. But the challenge, as presented
to Spiderman, is knowing you´ll be punished
for doing the right thing but doing it anyway.
That´s where the question of great responsi-
bility kicks in.
Although the action sequences are better
judged than in the first Spider-Man, for a
superhero film they´re actually few and far
between. Perhaps one of the film’s flaws is
that the engaging Molina seems underused.
Instead, we get to witness that rarest of
things in a sequel: character development.
Spiderman even deals with his own version
of impotence, finding he can no longer crawl
walls when he starts doubting himself.
His romantic and financial problems take
centre stage, interspersed with the odd battle
with a supervillain. Spiderman always was a
soap opera for boys. Perhaps we boys aren´t
as averse to matters of the heart as previously
thought. We just need the odd explosion to
keep our attention.
Screenings start rougly every two hours, at 18, 20 and 22. However, with films getting ever longer
starting times may vary. There are usually ads and trailers for roughly 15 minutes from announced
starting time. Almost all films have a short interval in the middle.
Hverfisgata 54
Phone: 551-9000
www.regnboginn.is
PREMIERS:
23. july I Robot
Still running:
Spiderman 2
Eternal Sunshine
Day After Tomorrow
Walking Tall
Laugarás
Phone: 553-2075
www.laugarasbio.is
PREMIERS:
23. july I Robot
30. july Shaun of the Dead
Still running:
Shreak 2
Spiderman 2
Godsend
Álfabakka 8
Phone: 587-8900
www.sambio.is
PREMIERS:
none
Still running:
King Arthur
Shrek 2
Raising Helen
Harry Potter 3
Kringlan 4-6
Phone: 588-0800
www.sambio.is
PREMIERS:
none
Still running:
King Arthur
Raising Helen
The Chronicles of Riddick
Around The World in 80 Days
Mean Girls
Harry Potter 3
Smáralind
Phone: 564-0000
www.smarabio.is
PREMIERS:
23. july I Robot
Still running:
Spiderman 2
My Baby´s Daddy
Hagatorg
Phone: 530-1919
www.haskolabio.is
PREMIERS:
23. july King Arthur
Still running:
Shrek 2, Troy, The Chronicles of
Riddick, Around the World in
80 Days, Devine Intervention
The Ladykillers, Harry Potter
and the Prisoner Azkaban
Mors Elling (Elling 2)
Look no further for:
Comic Books
Graphic Novels
Manga / Anime
Action Figures
Sci-Fi / Fantasy Paperbacks
Collectible Card Games
Warhammer
Role-Playing Games
and more...
NEXUS
Hverfisgata 103 (near bus station Hlemmur)
Open mon-sat 12 to 19:30, sun 13-18.
Phones 552 9011 - 552 9012
23