Raimi's Spider-Man and TASM feature the same villain archetype: a scientist whose obsession - controlling his company for Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) in Spider-Man, regrowing his arm for Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) in TASM - inspires him to (impulsively) serve as a human petri dish, giving rise to a dangerous Jekyll/Hyde monster.

Ifans as Dr. Connors also serves as a link for Pete to his past - and, becomes a mentor/friend to our young hero. Dafoe as Osborn did not have such a genuine bond with Pete in Spider-Man (his claims to the contrary) - and thus, his eventual death just packed less of an emotional punch (for me, anyway).

Moreover, Ifans' performance in TASM appears to fall less on the cartoony side - and more truly threatening - and easier to identify with (in opposition to Dafoe's enjoyable, but very over-the-top performance). As for the villain's mutated appearance: personally, I dig the full-blown Lizard's look.

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