Great sequel, possibly one of the best ever!

Rating: 9/10 (30 June 2004)

I have been thinking all day about this movie. I keep coming back across scenes and images that I thought were brilliant, and the more I think about it, the more I like this movie.
If you liked the first movie, you will LOVE this movie. Easily.
If you didn't like the first movie you MAY like this one. Many people who didn't like #1, have liked this movie. I won't say you will, but give it a chance.
Tobey MCGuire is more polished in this movie, and does a great job of playing up the angst and difficulty of balancing his super life from his private one.
James Franco proves with this movie why he is one of the best young actors today. His build as Harry from 1 to 2 is phenomenal.
JK Simmons has far too much fun playing JJJ, and once again steals every scene he is in as Jameson.
The real star of this movie is not Tobey, but Alfred Molina as Otto Octavius. He gives the role a depth and seriousness all the bowl cuts and bad euro accents the original comic book villain could never have. EVERY scene Molina is in is gold, and his villainous turn, while with a heavy dose of deus ex machina, even moreso than in the comic, is brilliant.
The fight scenes are FAR better than the original, and blew me away at every turn.
The first, to me, was more FUN. But Spiderman 2 is an out and out better film over all. I came out completely blown away, even with my high expectations.
Go see it. Now. You more than likely will not regret it.