My Favorite Themes - Part XX

Score: Spider-Man 2 by Danny Elfman

About the film: Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) continues to struggle between his duties as Spider-Man and his personal life, particularly his relationship with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Meanwhile, the instability of an experiment results in four metal tentacles grafted onto scientist Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), turning him into the villainous Doctor Octopus. One of the rare sequels that tops the original, this film pulls off the difficult balance of action, humor and heart, making for one of the finest comic book adaptations of all.

Title: "Doc Ock". Somewhat appropriately for the character, this is an eight-note melody, representing the threat of the character (in the first four notes) and his personal tragedy (the last four notes). In addition to a fantastic read under the film's superb main title sequence (at 1:19), there are quietly menacing takes in "Doc Ock is Born" and "Saving May" as well as a number of delightfully distended versions in "Armageddon".

Other themes of interest: Outside of Doc Ock's theme (and a secondary stomping motif in "The Bank"), it's pretty much the same impressive collection of melodies from the first film: the driving four-note theme for Spider-Man, the quietly noble 'responsibility' motif, the love theme and a brief sampling of the slithering Green Goblin theme.

Availability: The score album was released on Sony Music Soundtrax and should still be available.