Better than the original

Rating: 8/10 (13 July 2004)

Worked for me. "Spider-Man 2" combines great special effects, action, drama and even character development. I especially like the modest basis for Peter Parker: an average stiff with an above average task. I'm not a big fan of the superhero genre overall as it tends to be predictable and stale. "Spider-Man 2" won't exactly go down as a mystery thriller, but at least the characters have some personality and depth with an interesting enough story to hold it all together. With more action, better effects, added romance and a few surprises for the characters, "Spider-Man 2" surpasses the original. It should be a challenge for the writers to maintain the interest level heading into "Spider-Man 3" in 2007. "Spider-Man 2" seems to answer all the questions about its cast. What's left to build a story around? All in all, a fun ride for what it is. Worth my money. 8/10