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Spiderman 2 - The Courage To Be Who You Are

As one who grew up reading Marvel comics books, it is exciting to see those superheroes come to life on the big screen. Both action and drama made the first X-men a big hit, but I must admit, when it came to Spider-Man, I was a bit of a skeptic. The in 2002, Spidey’s battle with the Green Goblin, utilizing computer-generated special effects, became the fifth highest grossing film in U.S. history.

Well, Spider-Man 2 is here, and it’s bigger and better than the first. The messages are there: for example we have to be true to who we really are and we have to be accountable to the power that we have been given.

While the hero is definitely Spider-Man, I was quite amazed at the director’s ability to bring Dr. Octopus to life. While the comic book present Doc Ock as simply an evil villain, the movie suggest that the mechanical tentacles accidentally fused to his body had a personality of their own.

Spidey’s battle with Doc Ock is a big part of the action, but that’s not the heart of the film. It’s more about making a choice to use one’s gifts to make the world better, or to sit back and do nothing. It is so easy to say, "It’s not my problem". But if we have the means to make a difference, then it is not only our problem, it is our responsibility to do something.

The special effects in the movie are seamless, although you can still tell they are computer generated. The PG-13 rating comes from intense violence, although not much of it is graphic. There is no sexual content and only one profanity that you may miss unless you’re looking (which I was). Overall, I doubt that any other movie this summer can match the sheer energy, creativity and box office appeal of this web-slinging adventure.

Sometimes being ourselves is costly. To be Spider-Man and use his powers to protect the innocent and fight crime is costing Peter Parker everything from his best friend to his academic career to his childhood love. And things just seem to get worse and worse until only one option remains. Give it up.

That’s the solution when things get tough and the cost seems to high to pay. Just give up. Be like everyone else. Obey your thirst and have it your way. Why should you be the one to make the sacrifice?

Responsibility cost. We may have to sacrifice our money, friendship, and respect; even what we consider to be true love. But once we’ve done what we’ve been created to do, it will be worth it all. The right thing to do is not that hard, but it’s a choice that only we can make. We will be happier for sure, although that may not be obvious at first. But if we put our own happiness above everything else, then life won’t be worth living.

Aunt May’s speech puts everything in perspective. "The world desperately needs heroes willing to set their own dreams of happiness in order to do the harder thing – men and women courageous enough to find contentment in giving themselves away to others instead of looking for satisfaction on the easier road".

Jesus said it even greater for those who would dare follow Him: "Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whosoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" Matthew 10: 39-39 NIV. Our greatest hero sacrificed His life to make salvation available to each of us. To follow Him we must have the courage to sacrifice our lives each day. It costs us to choose that lifestyle, but then, what other life is worth living?

By: Edmund Brown