The summer of 2004 was a lot like the one we are experiencing now. Football fans were enjoying an exciting Euros tournament, there was an air of unease due to conflicts in the Middle East and commercial space travel was becoming a reality.
However, there is something that summer had that this doesn’t have though – the unbridled excitement for a massive blockbuster.
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 arrived two years after the first. Tobey Maguire returned as Peter Parker, the young New Yorker who dons the webbed suit to fight crime using his acquired spider powers. The cast includes James Franco, Kirsten Dunst and J K Simmons and fans were introduced to Doc Ock, played by Alfred Molina, a thespian who brought an emotional touch to the film that very few superhero stories had.
Before Spider-Man 2 was released, the summer blockbuster was seldom a superhero film. It was often films about natural disasters or big action flicks starring names such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Will Smith. That has since changed of course, as both Marvel and DC soon set out to release a new superhero film every six months or so. And while there have been incredible comic book films over the years, very few have achieved what Spider-Man 2 did 20 years ago.
Perfect villain
One of the major criticisms of modern superhero films is that the villain is often forgettable or doesn’t possess an intriguing storyline. Having a villain who acts merely as a foil to the superhero is not a bad thing.
Looking at the long list of superhero films released in the past 20 years, the two standout villains are The Joker from The Dark Knight and Thanos from the two Avengers films: Infinity War and Endgame. Having two memorable villains in a sea of forgettable ones is not ideal, it shows that these heroes need more interesting counterparts.
Molina’s Doc Ock is the kind of villain that begs viewers to understand him, sympathise with him and sometimes even agree with him. His journey goes from being a mentor of Peter Parker to the terror of New York City. And it’s not just about the fleshed-out story arc, the villain should be played by a talent who can elevate the character, making him or her their own, while still being recognisable to a comic book reading audience.
Distinct directorial touch
Sam Raimi cut his teeth in low-budget horror cinema, directing The Evil Dead in 1981 and Evil Dead II in 1987. The choices made in these films show the work of an ambitious and creative young filmmaker who can extend beyond his means.
He has employed techniques such as unusual shot angles and camera movements over the years, and they regularly showed up in the Spider-Man trilogy. He also implements them in his more recent film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Unfortunately, creative choices are becoming a rare thing in the money machine that is superhero franchises. Directors are now chosen based on their marketability rather than what they can bring to a project. Yes, some have bucked the trend, but for the most part, there needs to be more directorial freedom.
All the emotions
Spider-Man 2 is loved to this day for all the reasons mentioned above. But most importantly, it's because it’s a film for everyone. There’s no complex plot or a convoluted raison d’etre, it’s all there on the screen to be enjoyed and felt.
The sequel is unburdened by the need to show how Peter gets his powers or how he reacts to the death of his uncle, all of which had already happened in the first film. The second film jumps straight in, it has action, romance, scares and even tears.
Superhero films need to be good films first, they need to make the viewer enjoy the experience and relate to the characters on a human level before they can start to thrill with big set pieces and CGI monsters.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
