Spider-Man 2 (2004) (PG-13) ★★★½

A sequel that easily outshines the original, the well-crafted Spider-Man 2 finds the web slingin' superhero's life in turmoil--as his continued responsibility to rid the world of evil clashes with his growing need for normalcy.

Story

Sometimes it sucks being Spider-Man. Two years of playing superhero has finally gotten to Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), who finds himself in the middle of an identity crisis. Not only does he feel underappreciated as Spider-Man, he's also broke, flunking out of college, and, of course, still can't get the girl. He wishes more and more he didn't have this ''gift,'' so he can live a normal, mild-mannered life and declare his love to Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst). She wants to love him, too, if she could only get some kind of signal, but Peter keeps pushing her away (for her own good, of course) until she decides she has to move on with her life. Poor Peter. The reluctant hero is also on tenuous ground with his best friend, Harry Osborn (James Franco), who is now working for his late father's company but whose growing vendetta against Spider-Man clouds their friendship. While Peter wavers on giving the whole superhero gig up for good, across town there's a new, even more powerful nemesis in the making. Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), a scientist working on a breakthrough fusion-energy invention for Harry's company has a freak accident (is there any other kind?) in his lab, which leaves him with four deadly mechanical tentacles fused to his back--and his mind diabolically twisted. Suddenly, the city is desperate for Spider-Man's help as the madman, dubbed Doc Ock, runs amok. For the love of god, pull yourself together, Peter, accept your fate and put those Spidey powers to good use!

Acting

As if there are still any doubts, Tobey Maguire's performance in Spider-Man 2 reaffirms the fact he fits the Peter Parker/Spider-Man persona perfectly. It's in his eyes, his red-rimmed, soulful eyes, which show every sentiment. Maguire is not afraid to embrace Parker's sensitive, albeit nerdy, nature. Beneath the buffed out exterior and superhuman abilities, he's still a lovable geek deep down (watch him trip over his feet when he walks down the street). As Mary Jane, Dunst is thankfully no longer just the damsel in distress, but also a thriving and successful actress who displays her own fair share of emotions over their unrequited love. Spider-Man is, in essence, a love story, and these two talented actors continue to spark like the best of them (although rumor has it they can't stand each other in real life. Oh, actors.) The intense Franco chews it up with gusto as the angst-ridden Harry. But what truly makes Spider-Man 2 rise above the original is the malevolent Doc Ock, played with relish by the brilliant Molina (Frida). Far more menacing and formidable a villain than the Green Goblin (sorry, Willem Dafoe), the multi-tentacled mad scientist just plain scares the bejeezus out of you. Yet, he also elicits sympathy, if you can believe it, watching the relatively sane man buried deep within the madness struggle to break free. Heck, just about everyone's conflicted in this flick.

Direction

It's no wonder Spider-Man 2 surpasses its predecessor. Thanks to comic-book guru Stan Lee, who created something operatic in the Spider-Man story, the film's heartfelt and inherent conflicts--tortured souls, undying love vs. duty to fellow man, villains with a conscience--just keeps getting more and more interesting. And luckily, director Sam Raimi rarely strays from the main source. From the opening credits, where scenes from the first film are shown through glorious artwork, Raimi crafts the movie to combine the best in visuals with the compelling story, fashioning a thrill ride with heart. One of the best examples is when Spider-Man uses all his strength to stop a speeding train and falls exhausted, only to be caught by the people on the train and carefully placed on the ground. Exposed and vulnerable, Spider-Man's faith is renewed when the folks around him tell him they'll keep his secret safe. Classic stuff. The only minor drawback is the time it takes for Peter to get over his identity crisis; the ''will he, won't he?'' drags a bit. Maybe we just get a little anxious for Parker to realize people really do need Spider-Man and to finally go webbed head-to-mechanical tentacle with the nasty Doc Ock. It's what a must-see summer blockbuster is all about, baby.

Bottom Line

Spidey and gang are back in Spider-Man 2--perhaps in need of some therapy--but ultimately bigger and better than ever. Can you feel the money leaving your wallet yet?