Spider webs are surprisingly deep...

Rating: 9/10 (22 July 2004)

"Spider-Man 2" is even better than its predecessor. The characterization goes much deeper and the relationships get more complicated. Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker lets us know something that most superhero movies don't: being a superhero is a real time-sucker. His yearnings - for his own life, to be a better student, for Mary Jane Watson - are poignant and you find yourself agreeing that yes, he should be able to live life without the responsibility of keeping people safe and alive. But looking away is hard to do...
Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane has really grown since the last movie. She's confident, has a thriving career, and won't put up with Peter's crap even if she does still love him. By the end (and a happy ending at that!) she's proven that she's not a damsel-in-distress but someone who doesn't need to be shielded from the difficulties of life.
Solid performances by all of the cast, many hints about future flicks, and all-around good fun. The only complaint I have (and it's not a very big one) is how many times Peter whips off that mask for people....