Okay, here is a detailed plot summary of Spider-Man 2 (2004):
Plot Summary: Spider-Man 2
The film picks up two years after the events of Spider-Man (2002). Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), now a high-achieving but underappreciated physics student at Columbia University, is still struggling to balance his life as Spider-Man with his personal life. His relationship with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) has grown but is strained due to his constant secrecy and irresponsibility. He also faces pressure from his Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and his mentor, Dr. Richard Parker (Cliff Robertson, in a posthumous scene), who left him instructions regarding his powers and responsibilities.
The Conflict Erupts:
Peter's life is upended when his best friend, Harry Osborn (James Franco), returns after five years studying geology in Tibet. Harry is desperate for Peter's help after suffering a mysterious illness. He reveals he has been secretly working for a biotech company called Oscorp. There, under the guidance of the company's eccentric CEO, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), Harry has been experimenting with advanced mechanical spider-like limbs intended for military use.
During a volatile experiment, a mishap occurs, and the suit's power source malfunctions, sending electrical charges through Otto's spine. The result is catastrophic: Otto's limbs become living, metallic appendages fused directly to his body, giving him superhuman strength and agility but also causing him immense pain and instability. He is institutionalized at the Rookwood Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
Meanwhile, a second villain emerges: Dr. Gustav Fiers (Paul Giamatti), a disgraced former colleague of Otto's who has developed his own version of the Oscorp technology – a more crude, but equally dangerous, set of mechanical arms designed for surgical precision and brutal combat. Fiers calls himself "The Sandman" and begins a series of robberies to fund his operations, turning New York City into his playground.
Peter Takes Action:
As Sandman's crimes escalate and Otto's condition worsens, Peter feels increasingly responsible. He struggles with the idea of letting Otto die while he focuses on his relationship with Mary Jane or his studies. His irresponsibility peaks when he fails to stop Sandman during a heist, resulting in the death of a police officer and causing Mary Jane to break up with him, believing he doesn't care about anyone but himself.
Fueled by guilt and a desire to save Otto, Peter rededicates himself to being Spider-Man. He confronts Sandman and eventually captures him, but Otto's condition continues to deteriorate. In a desperate attempt to cure his friend, Peter secretly brings Otto back to his lab at the Parker residence, defying his aunt's warnings.
Climax and Resolution:
Otto's condition worsens dramatically. Overwhelmed by the pain and the alien nature of his limbs, he descends into madness, transforming into the monstrous "Doc Ock." Ock escapes the lab, seeking out Otto's former colleague, Dr. Connors (Michael Keaton, uncredited voice), who had also been experimenting with Oscorp's technology and had transformed into a giant lizard creature years prior (a nod to the comics). Ock, believing Connors can help him, seeks out the Lizard.
During a confrontation at the High Line, Ock nearly kills Peter before being stopped by the Lizard. The two creatures then battle, destroying the High Line. Mary Jane witnesses the chaos and realizes Peter is Spider-Man. Seeing her father (John Rhys-Davies) injured in the crossfire, Peter chooses to save him, allowing Mary Jane to see him in his true form for the first time.
In the final showdown at Oscorp, Peter and Mary Jane try to reason with Ock, but he is consumed by the pain and rage of his mechanical limbs. He attacks them, and Mary Jane is injured. In a moment of crisis, Peter realizes he must destroy the source of Ock's power. He uses Otto's own scientific knowledge, creating a device to overload the electrical circuits in the mechanical arms. As the limbs short-circuit and Ock cries out in agony, Peter shatters the central power core, causing the arms to detach and Ock to collapse.
With Otto's limbs gone, the human mind returns. Otto is taken into custody, and Peter promises his aunt he will be more responsible. He reconciles with Mary Jane, understanding that being Spider-Man means being accountable not just to himself, but to everyone he affects. The film ends with Peter looking out over New York City, embracing his dual life with a renewed sense of purpose.
