Stan Lee's all-too-human superhero returns to the screen in this highly anticipated sequel to 2002's blockbuster hit Spider-Man.

Rating: 9/10 (27 September 2009)

Spider-Man 2 is an excellent fusion of action, drama and romance. This is a superhero film with heart. Most importantly, this is a superhero film that can be taken seriously. Set two years after the original, the film focuses on Peter Parker struggling to manage both his personal life and his duties as Spider-Man. The main villain in this film is Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), who turns insane following a failed experiment and the death of his wife. Using his mechanical tentacles, Octavius is dubbed "Doctor Octopus" and threatens to endanger the lives of the people of New York City.
The film is an improvement over Spider-Man (2002). The first film was good, but the second is excellent. I will even say that it's the best superhero film ever (and yes, I have seen The Dark Knight). Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is going through a tough time. It's clearly shown that being a committed superhero means that he has a lot less time to spend on his other activities. He's a genius, but he isn't doing well at school. He's in love with Mary Jane but he often doesn't have time to see her. "With great power comes great responsibility" his uncle told him. Maguire, this time around, is completely believable as Peter Parker. He's a fully realized protagonist. Many people go through the same problems as him from day to day and that's why people can relate to him. In addition to that Parker shows that he can make an effort and change, thus showing that change is possible no matter who you are. Dr. Octavius also shows that he's capable of change (even though he's the villain). The fights between him and Spidey are amazing. A lot of thought went into every action sequence. The special effects are seamless. There's a good amount of humor, and the dialogue is fitting (in some parts even outstanding). The actors are good in their roles, Rosemary Harris as Aunt May is especially effective in one scene. In addition to all this, Spider-Man 2 is expertly directed by Sam Raimi, so not a single scene feels out of place. There's hardly anything wrong with the entire picture. The only downside is that the film is a fantasy (almost all superhero films are). Spider-Man 2 is a film that can capture the imagination, and unlike some superhero films (The Dark Knight, for example) it's faithful to the comic book. The film features the right photography of New York City, Spidey's web slinging, and peoples' fascination with power and science. The film shows that doing the right thing can be difficult, but that shouldn't stop anyone from doing so.