Spider-Man 2

Rating: 8/10 (7 July 2005)

Director Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead) brings a fantastic sequel that is just as good as, if not better than the first. Basically Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is still saving the city as web swinging super hero Spider-Man, but he is also trying to stay best friends with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), after refusing to be closer. Spider-Man is the biggest reason for his personal life problems, and pretty soon, for some reason, he starts to lose his powers, and eventually dumps the suit, oh, and Mary Jane gets engaged to Captain John Jameson (Daniel Gillies). Meanwhile, (before "quiting") he witnesses an experiment by Dr. Otto Octavious (Alfred Molina) to create new energy, "the power of the son", and this experiment involved four mechanical arms put in his spinal cord, and when the experiment goes wrong these arms, or tentacles, are welded on him. He is now to be known as Dr. Octopus, or Doc Ock. Peter meanwhile is getting more used to a life without rescues and crime fighting, but with the threat of Doc Ock and other city problems, he sees that Spider-Man should return. There is also the story of Harry Osborn (James Franco) who has a grudge on Spider-Man, since he believes he killed his dad, Norman (a brief return by Willem Dafoe), or Green Goblin, and with Doc Ock's help he may get the opportunity to get his revenge, and in return, Ock gets to build the disastrous energy machine again. Also starring Rosemary Harris as May Parker, J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, Donna Murphy as Rosalie Octavius, Happiness's Dylan Baker as Dr. Curt Connors, Bill Nunn as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson, Cliff Robertson as a brief Ben Parker, Ted Raimi (Sam's brother) as Hoffman, The Evil Dead's Bruce Campbell as Snooty Usher and director John Landis as Doctor. With even better special effects, action, great music by Danny Elfman (he also did Batman), and the better love story, and Mary Jane discovers Peter's big secret. It won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, and it was nominated for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, and it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Special Visual Effects and Best Sound. Very good!