Spider-Man 2
Harry Osborne, now head of Oscorp's research division, has invested in the research of brilliant scientist Otto Octavius, Peter Parker's idol. To perform a sustained fusion experiment, Octavius has developed a set of artificially intelligent mechanical arms, which are impervious to heat and magnetism. Though the experiment overloads and becomes unstable, Dr. Octavius refuses to halt it, with devastating results: his wife is killed; the neural inhibitor chip which enabled him to control the arms is destroyed; and the arms are fused to his spine. Unconscious, he is taken to a hospital to have the tentacles removed, but the tentacles kill the surgeons, and he escapes. Uncontrolled, the artificially intelligent tentacles begin to influence Octavius' mind, in an effort to preserve themselfs. Octavius then decides to rebuild the fusion reactor despite its last results.
Spider-Man 2 is based in the modern day, highly populated city of New York. The overwhelming theme of Dr. Octavius is the fear of experimentation and its destructive ability. Dr. Octavius attempted to make a stable fusion reaction to make a new renewable energy resource, “The power of the sun in the palm of my hand.” Dr. Octavius shows the classic moral case of “curiosity almost killed the cat” (and half of New York).
During the early 2000s, when Spider-Man 2 came out in theaters, humanity was making more and more progress in the field of biology. Around this time, we began discovering the controversial use of stem cell research. However, there were many advances in the field of robotics as well. The early 2000s, we began focusing more of out time into self-learning robots that could adapt to any situation (mostly for planet exploration). I may be giving more credit than is due, but it seems that Spider-Man 2 had some discrete references to modern day experiments.
Dr. Octavius is the typical good scientist gone bad. The movie starts with Dr. Octavius attempting to make a break through in fusion power for Oscorp (good). However after the tragic failure, Dr. Octavius devotes himself to re-attempting the experiment only about four times bigger. He robs a bank and does whatever is necessary to get a hold of the materials needed for the experiment (bad). He continues with the experiment knowing that there is a very high chance that he could kill himself, along with half of New York City.
Hans R. Schöler (2007). "The Potential of Stem Cells: An Inventory". Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Mike Cotton. "Spider-Man 2”.“Wizard: The Comics Magazine”. February 1967. Sandhana, Lakshmi (2002-09-05). “A Theory of Evolution, for Robots”. Wired Magazine. Spider-Man 2.1. Dir. Sam Raimi. Avi Arad, Laura Ziskin. Alvin Sargent, Alfred Gough. DVD. Colombia Pictures, 2004.
Spider-Man 2 could be used to reinforce the dilemma of the scientist and the responsibilities they carry. Dr. Octavius started out a good scientist attempting to use a fusion reaction to bring about a new renewable resource for the world. The experiment ends tragically and out of desperation he attempts to re-do the experiment but much larger. Dr. Octavius brings about his own demise by attempting an experiment he cannot fully control, much like that of Dr. Moreau.