It’s a sad thing to be a Batman. I was an enthusiastic collector of Batman comics, obsessively gathering them until 1972 when my mother threw them all away. My cousin, on the other hand, had Spider-Man's collection—his mother carefully preserved it in protective sleeves, and they remain in excellent condition to this day. The real tragedy is that, despite Christopher Nolan’s recent efforts, which I question, the definitive Batman film hasn’t been created yet. Given Batman’s current situation under Warner Bros., with people like David Goyer, Zak Snyder, and Ben Affleck involved, it seems unlikely we'll see a truly great one for at least another decade or two, possibly even three. I still hold out hope for *The Dark Knight*. My cousin was fortunate to experience the best Spider-Man movie early on—it’s arguably the finest superhero film based on comic books ever made. While I didn't care for Sam Raimi's first *Spider-Man*, and wished my mother had gotten rid of his last one, *Spider-Man 2* remains the ultimate adaptation from comics to screen. I was living in Shanghai back in the summer of 2004 and endured a grueling three-hour commute on a sweltering day just to see it in English—and I’m glad I did. It transported me to an imaginative superhero world that surpassed anything I'd felt since childhood. The return trip seemed easy because *Spider-Man 2* reawakened the sense of wonder from my youth, reminding me of a happy time I had forgotten. It was as if Spider-Man were riding with me on the subway, ready to protect me. And he was just a boy himself! Batman? Who even is that? For a superhero story, almost everything about this movie works perfectly. Doctor Octopus couldn't have been better; his appearance matched how he looked during Stan Lee’s peak years in brightly colored comic panels from 1968, and his voice sounded exactly as I imagined it would. Peter and Mary Jane were comfortable in their roles, and their friendship and romance felt meaningful. The story and action unfolded the way a comic book should—both intimate and spectacular. It was strange, wonderful, and frightening. The ending felt a bit over-the-top at the time, but when compared to climaxes in movies like *Man of Steel*, *Iron Man 3*, and *The Avengers*, it seems quite good now. These days we're being overwhelmed with comic book films attempting to outdo each other, jumping the shark repeatedly. Every minor superhero—from Doctor Strange to Shazam—is being resurrected and thrown onto the big screen to satisfy our desire for nostalgic childhood thrills. Disney’s Marvel is launching one theme-park ride after another. Sony, with their disastrous *Amazing Spider-Man* movies, has completely lost its way. Fox's *X-Men* and *Fantastic Four* franchises crashed long ago. And DC, under Warner Bros., has become its own worst enemy—a disappointing version even the Joker wouldn’t find amusing. Ultimately, Sam Raimi's *Spider-Man 2* sets the standard for all comic book movies, especially superhero films, now and apparently in the future. My cousin got lucky.

Source on TMDB