The reason I ditched you all on Friday afternoon was because the
husband and I went to go see a movie. I know. Shocker! They actually left the house! Amazing! We didn't think that was possible any more! {Sniff} We're so proud of you!
Yeah, ok. Whatever.
It was a choice between Spiderman 2 and The Bourne Supremacy. I wanted
to see Bourne. He wanted to see Spidey. We flipped a coin and he won.
Oh well. This is our tried and true marriage saver. We've been using it
for almost ten years and it has consistently done right by us. There's
no moaning and groaning when someone loses because that movie is the
next one on the list to see. It's fair and it works, and there's no
stupid grudge holding because you didn't get to see the movie you
wanted to see this time around. When used as a simple tool for setting
moving viewing priorities, the-coin-toss-as-movie-picker works rather
well and saves much angst. If you're going to consistently use it just
to beat the one you love into submission about your coin flipping
skills, well, don't be surprised when you hit romantic comedy hell. The
laws of probabilities run both ways, you know?
So, we shot off to see Spiderman 2. The husband could barely contain
himself. As a member of the phylla Geekus Extraordinarius, he is a big
Spidey fan. Read the comic book for years. Knows the history inside and
out. He's one of those guys Sam Raimi impressed tremendously with the
first one, and he couldn't wait to see this one. His verdict: better
than the first.
My verdict: WOW! I thought they'd done a good job with the first one,
but this one was much, much better. Why?
Character development. One of the reasons they make these comic book
movies is that the characters are interesting and they face interesting
conflicts. In theory. Most of the time, however, the fine line between
action and drama is stomped out by some random Doc Marten-wearing
producer who, in true Buddy Ackerman
fashion, wants more explosions and gunfire and less character
development.
Spidey 2 is not that movie, fortunately. Sure enough, there's plenty of
action, but there are also major dilemmas (and some not so major) that
Peter Parker must face and resolve. It's so damn satisfying when you
get to the end that you want to shout "Hallelujah" because you just
spent $5.50 (and that was at a matinee!) and, for once, you weren't
disappointed. They told a great story in a great way, and if there was
actually any justice in this world, Spidey 2 would be up for some
Oscars next year, and not only in the techie categories. Tobey Maguire
is wonderful, as is Rosemary Harris. Whomever decided to ask her to
play Aunt May is a genius and God Bless them. No one else could have
whacked Doc Ock with an umbrella---in true little old lady
fashion---and gotten away with it. Vedict: Go and see it. It is so
worth your time and money. You won't be disappointed.