Dave, Marcus, and Colin strap on their web-shooters and swing into the middle chapter of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy — a film they all agree still soars. From jaw-dropping action to genuine character arcs, Spider-Man 2 delivers the superhero goods with style.
The crew breaks down the film’s surprisingly emotional core, the razor-sharp effects that still hold up, and the perfect balance of humor and heart. Everyone's on board with the electric chemistry between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst — but it’s Alfred Molina’s complex, tragic Doctor Octopus who truly steals the spotlight. He’s not your average “take over the world” bad guy — he's got depth, nuance, and, yes, terrifying robot tentacles.
They also rank their favorite Spider-Man performances and suits, debate who wore Aunt May best, and unanimously agree that James Franco’s Harry Osborn... leaves a lot to be desired. Colin doesn’t hold back, branding him a “whiny little bitch” — and honestly, no one disagrees.
Raimi’s signature style may be toned down in places, but when he unleashes it — especially during Doc Ock’s horror-tinged transformation — it’s pure cinematic gold. Bonus points for Bruce Campbell’s scene-stealing cameo as New York’s most pompous theater usher.
If your Spidey senses aren’t tingling by the end of this episode, you might want to get them checked out.
Previous Sam Raimi episodes:
We’d love to get your feedback, if you liked the episode, hated it, or think that we missed something, please send us a message at feedback@reeldmc.com, submit your comments on the episode in the Spotify app, or find us on X @reeldmc.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.