Spiderman 2.1 (2004)

Peter Parker is struggling: he loses his job as a pizza delivery boy, he lags behind in his studies and cannot keep up with his rent. Most of all, Spiderman must be around whenever trouble brews, even if Parker has to live up to his promises. So being two different individuals is no easy task.

On the other hand, there is a scientist who has been researching on nuclear fusion, and has collaborated with Oscorp in funding his project. Doctor Otto Octavius finally makes a breakthrough in his project, until a glitch causes some perils in the vicinity. He later becomes a scientist with four mechanical arms welded to his body.

This movie revolves around three characters: Peter Parker/Spiderman, Harry Osborne, Dr. Otto Octavius /Doc Ock. Peter Parker is under a lot of pressure after being endowed with his gifts and buckles when he starts to lose his powers. His loss of powers is due to his weakening will to live up to his responsibility as Spiderman; a situation which he chooses to accept so that he can concentrate on the hurdles that matter.

Octavius is turned into a villain, not because he was hell-bent on power but because his actuators were now in control of him. They are artificial intelligence appendages that now tap into his mind and talk to him, making him do What he does not desire to do. A man of brilliance and intellect is manipulated by his very creations when the inhibitor chip is destroyed, so that he is a victim of his own creation. So What do they all aim for? To rebuild the fusion experiment. But they need capital, and the tritium.

This movie continues two years after the last film. Harry Osborne suspects Spiderman of killing his father, and has been hell-bent on revenge. The problem of this kind almost has him too obsessed to focus on his position as the new owner of Oscorp. A story of this sort would certainly be worth gold for the Daily Bugle, especially in the eyes of J. Jonah Jameson. He enlists Octavius' hand in subduing Spiderman in exchange for the tritium, so that he can avenge his father's death.

If Peter Parker was to relinquish his role as Spiderman, he would have to reveal his identity. It was not a problem for him when his mask slipped off while trying to stop a train from ultimate catastrophe: it was either protect his identity, or save the passengers. His reward was that he was protected, and nobody leaked it onto the news (or YouTube! ). I guess Parker did get to see the better side of New York City: nobody was as cruel or dastardly as Jameson to exploit Spiderman's true identity.

So a life turns around for Peter Parker and Spiderman. They can save the people they love without fear of revealing their identities. The story was straightforward, relevant to the situation of dual identities, inspiring and engaging. We see the challenges and triumphs one can experience, and can sympathise with the enemy with a motive.