Spider-Man 2

Track Listing

01 - Spider-Man 2 Main Title (3:21)
02 - M.J.'s New Life / Spidus Interruptus (2:31)
03 - Doc Ock is Born (2:22)
04 - Angry Arms/Rebuilding (2:51)
05 - A Phone Call / The Wrong Kiss /

Peter's Birthday (2:06)
06 - The Mugging/Peter's Turmoil (4:27)
07 - The Bank/Saving May (3:21)
08 - He's Back! (1:42)

09 - Doc Ock's Machine (1:50)
10 - Train / Appreciation (6:15)
11 - Aunt May Packs (2:51)
12 - Armageddon / A Really Big Web! (6:27)
13 - The Goblin Returns (1:36)
14 - At Long Last, Love (2:59)
15 - Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head (3:14)

Performed by B.J. Thomas

Orchestrated by Steve Bartek, Edgardo Simone,

David Sloanaker, and Mark McKenzie

Conducted by Pete Anthony

Produced by Danny Elfman

Released by Columbia Records on July 27th, 2004

Total Running Time: 48:01

Building on the successful components of the first film and making it even better for the second round, Spider-Man 2 is a thrill ride if any movie ever was and continues to prove that Sam Raimi was an excellent choice to head this franchise. From it's tighter script, finely interwoven character development, and even a more successful CG integration that literally has you scrambling to believe that what you're seeing was actually created in a computer, it's one of those films that just seems to get better the more you watch it. I thought it was good the first time I watched it, but subsequent viewings after the DVD release continued to keep me entertained each time. This is the definite mark of a winner, and is quite a rarity in the genre of superhero films.

It's no wonder that Danny Elfman is back for the sequel, though word has since come out that he will not be on the third. Since this is the first score that I can remember since Spy Kids that had other composers joining Danny's efforts, it could be part of what will cause him to leave this franchise. Both Christopher Young and John Debney, who we can generally refer to as the "usual suspects" (though in a good way), added material to this score. Though in the case of Christopher Young, his Train cue replaced Elfman's in the film. On album however, we are treated to all Elfman, though it's unfortunate that the soundtrack doesn't have material from Debney or Young as it would have been fascinating in a Spy Kids sort of way to listen to the contrasting styles.

Much like he approached Batman Returns, Elfman doesn't tinker with his previously established formula. Speaking of the Batman scores, fans of will undoubtedly be pleased that there is more of that type of feel here. Helping out tremendously is the appropriately dark and melodramatic theme for Doc Ock, which works far better as a theme and in its integration with the rest of the score than the bland one we had in the first for the Green Goblin (though it too gets a return at the end of the score). The rest of the themes returning from the original are better integrated this time around and serve to make the music more cohesive, especially in connecting the sequel with the original.

Still, while it's nice to have a connecting thread between scores, it can get too much here at times. Those with the original album will find nothing more of value here other than the theme for Doc Ock. In many ways, Spider-Man 2 is a superior score, but still not that much different from the first. If you haven't bought the first one, then the second is the way to go to get the best of both worlds. If you have both, only a love for the Doc Ock theme will sway you into having both.