Spider-Man 2 Revisited: 5 Criticisms Nobody Ever Admits

Whether intentional or not, the film continuously falls back on Spider-Man using the exact same trick over and over again to resolve conflicts: he just takes his mask off.

How does Spider-Man survive he and Doc Ock's killer subway battle when he passes out after saving the train? He takes his mask off. How does Spider-Man ultimately defeat Doc Ock in their final battle? He takes his mask off. How does the conflict between Peter and MJ get resolved? He takes his mask off.

For a character who spent decades in the comics risking life and limb to protect his secret identity at any and all costs, it's a weird choice to suddenly have what-feels-like-half-of-the-city find out who he is in this film. It also just becomes an easy out for the film's narrative.

Anytime the stakes are ratcheting up and it seems as if Spider-Man really might not be able to overcome the odds, he just takes his mask off and everything is fine.