3-Part Structure in Spiderman II

     Spiderman II, one of my favorite movies, follows the standard Hollywood 3-part film structure pretty generally. The first act introduces Peter Parker as he continues in his battle with evildoers across New York. It establishes the difficulties that he is having in maintaining his personal life in conjunction with his superheroic duties, which foreshadows his decision to put away the Spidey-suit in the second act, as well as showing the growing contention between Parker and his friend Harry Osbourne, whose father was the villain of the first Spiderman movie and so, naturally was destroyed recently. Finally, this act lays the groundwork for the film's conflict by introducing Dr. Octavius, a brilliant scientist-mentor who is working on some kind of "break-through."
     The second act begins with the outcome of said break-through, in which Dr. Octavius's scientific exhibition ended in failure and the death of his loving wife. Bewildered and now attached to a set of mechanical arms that manipulate his ambition, he decides to get more of the precious resource needed to perfect his experiment by way of crime. This is a major turning point in his character, as up until now he has been shown as a morally sound man. This decision/plot point propels the film into a series of confrontations between the good doctor and Peter Parker as the latter tries to thwart the villain's plans. Stakes are raised and tension blossoms as further plot points transpire (Harry sells Peter down the river to the new-christened Doc Ock) and Peter's girl MJ proceeds with her planned engagement to an astronaut. The act and film climax when the nefarious villain obtains his necessary materials and constructs a device that if mismanaged could destroy the world, and kidnaps MJ for effect, but of course is overthrown by Spiderman.
     In the third act, the film winds down to a comfortable resolution. MJ leaves the astronaut at the altar, Peter settles down to the fact that he has to be Spiderman for ever, and the city once again hails him as a hero. However, there is one more plot point in which the young Osbourne discovers his dad's old stuff and vows revenge on Peter Parker, who he recently discovered is Spiderman's true identity. Thus, the story temporarily wraps up with a lull in terrible events, and a promise of more to come!