Sequel entertains fans of the series and characters..

Rating: 8/10 (19 April 2005)

When the original Spiderman hit the big screen in 2002, it helped to reinvigorate the comic book movie franchise. While the sequel has its corny moments, Spiderman 2 stays true to the first film both visually and in the spirit of the characters. The film builds on the story from the first movie, where Peter Parker first learns of his unique, spider-like abilities.
If you're watching a sequel, chances are you've seen the first movie. Therefore, this go-around is geared towards developing the characters and their relationships. Peter, a.k.a. Spiderman, is having trouble dealing with his double life, balancing a job and classes with his duties as a masked crime-fighter. His love interest, Mary Jane Watson, has grown tired of waiting for him and is engaged to a wealthy space cadet. Parker's best friend, Harry Osborn, is still dealing with the death of his father, for which he blames Spiderman. Throw a new villain into the mix, Dr. Otto Octavius, and there you have it.
Director Sam Raimi uses the same style he did in the first movie, but makes significant advances in special effects. The moving tentacles of "Doc Ock," in particular, helped earn Spiderman 2 an Academy Award nomination for best visual effects.
As expected, Tobey Maguire delivers as Peter Parker. His shy, gawky demeanor is perfect for the role and fans of the series can only hope he stays on for the duration of the franchise. He was rumored to have been replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal for this film due to a back injury, but stuck with the project. His status for Spiderman 3 is up in the air.
Alongside Maguire, Kirsten Dunst's performance as M.J. is so comic book-like that you can almost envision a box over her head containing her lines. While not the best actress in some situations, she is definitely the perfect choice for this role, a part that requires a certain amount of overplaying at times.
Then, there are the character actors, most notably J.K. Simmons as Jonah Jameson and Alfred Molina as "Doc Ock." Both do a fine job and add something special to their scenes. Molina has a presence about him that oozes complexity. You can feel the internal conflict between "Doc Ock" and Otto Octavius, especially towards the end of the film when Octavius tries to pry himself away from the prosthetic tentacles that bind him.
Several potential villains are introduced subtly throughout the film as well, although I won't spoil the surprises for fans of the original comic book. Hopefully, those fans will get to see these new villains in many future installments of the franchise. As long as the core of Raimi, Maguire and Dunst stays in tact, moviegoers can always expect a treat from their friendly neighborhood Spiderman.