about as good a sequel as one could hope for

Rating: Null/10 (1 July 2004)

Exceptionally entertaining sequel further chronicles the young Peter Parker and his struggles to balance his heroic obligations with keeping a job, maintaining his grades, and coping with his subdued love for Mary Jane Watson (Dunst). Things only get worse when his mentor Dr. Otto Octavius (fusion scientist Molina) survives a freak laboratory accident that turns him into a deadly menace known as Doctor Octopus. Despite being a sequel the film somehow manages to be more riveting than its predecessor with soaring action scenes and a story that's both emotionally gripping and intuitively insightful. Maguire is sincere as a matured, yet extremely vulnerable Spider-Man, while Molina delivers gusto in a memorable role as the brilliant and maniacal Doc Ock. ***½