Rating: 
Summary: 128 minutes long, most of which is dialogue.
Review: The first half of this movie is the best half. Instead of non-stop action sequences there is a lot of humor and much richer character development stemming from the first film. However, I still think Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst look more like kissin' cousins than potential lovers, but they are obviously friends and the chemistry is good. The dialogue in the first half of the movie is sharp and witty and fun. There is even a scene where a street-urchin violinist stops what she is playing and plucks the Spider-Man cartoon theme song from yesteryear as the new Spider-Man walks by. But by the time Bruce Campbell's now gratuitous cameo appears the script takes a left turn and becomes way too serious. In fact, I don't ever need to hear all the reasons why Spider-Man and Mary Jane can't be together ever again. I heard them all in the first film and I heard it three times in this second film. Enough! The second half of the movie tries to make up for all its unnecessary dialogue by incorporating a couple of good action scenes and special effects that range from good to mediocre. It is frequently all too obvious that this Spider-Man is a CGI creation. As an avid movie-fiend I want to suspend my disbelief, and I am more than willing to let a few discrepencies slide if the story remains interesting. But "Spider-Man 2" has way too many flat spots, particularly in the second half of the film, to make it an engrossing experience. There is even a grotesquely deliberate set-up for a part 3 in the not-too-distant future. The fact that by the time I wrote this review, 185 merchants were trying to unload this DVD on the public should say something about the low replay value of this film. Anything over 100 merchants is grounds for suspicion. Give this flick a 'pass.'
Rating: 
Summary: Very good
Review: The movie did had it's slow moments,but overall it was good.The special effects along with the stunts and music gets high marks.Alfred Molina was very good as the evil Dr Ock.When I saw Willem Defoe's character in the movie,I wished that his character had been brought back to join with his son in fighting Spiderman.More sequels,please.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning Sequel
Review: There are many films whose storylines have encouraged sequels - many fail to be as good as the original, an audience's expectations raised due to the freshness of characters and plotlines. There are only two that come to my mind that surpass their predecessors: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and "The Godfather: Part II". I can now add an easy third to my list, and "Spider-Man 2" is, without a doubt, that third movie.The story continues with Peter Parker (so superlatively played by the boyish, nerdy Maguire) struggling through college, his grades rapidly declining because of the countless hours spent swinging about the city saving lives. His one true love Mary Jane (Dunst) is now a Broadway actress and model, her face plastered on billboards and posters everywhere. Aunt May has fallen on hard times, the bank threatening to foreclose on her home and Harry Osborn (Franco), now the proprietor of Oscorp, is still bent on revenge against Spider-Man for the death of his father Norman (the Green Goblin of 2002's "Spider-Man", played by Willem Dafoe). Time to throw a superb supervillain into the mix. Enter Dr. Otto Octavius (Molina), another scientist earning Peter's utmost esteem with a breakthrough experiment that will change the face of nuclear physics for years to come. During a presentation of his latest invention that would make Oscorp a multi-million dollar enterprise again, the exposition goes horribly awry and "Doc Ock" is left with four mechanical tentacles bolted into his spinal column, each solid steel "arm" independently functional...and menacing. Torn between the sacrificial life of a superhero and the normal life he truly wants, Pete decides to throw in the towel, surrendering his Spider suit to the trash and coming clean to Mary Jane about his feelings for her. Or does he? With Doc Ock up to no good and Harry's growing animosity for the masked crusader, Peter has his work cut out for him and there is no simple evasion of his civic duty. So many aspects of this film aid in the surmounting of the original, primarily the overwhelming amount of CGI that was handsomely paid for ($54 million alone was spent on digital effects) on a $200 million budget. What will really take your breath away are the two fight sequences between Doc Ock and Spidey, a melee atop a clock tower and a confrontation aboard a speeding "el" train gasp-inducing. You'll become so engrossed by the intense physical combat onscreen that you'll forget that the two men you see fighting are not really men at all - they're computer-generated images (for the most part). We even get an illustrated recap of the first film during the opening credits with original artwork by Alex Ross ("Kingdom Come"). Fanboys will be especially proud of director Sam Raimi's homage to the comic, the shot of Peter depositing the Spidey suit into an alley dumpster taken directly from a panel in Issue #50 entitled "Spider-Man No More". Raimi was so eager to get started on the sequel that he signed on to direct more than a month before the first film was even released and shooting began before the final draft of the script was completed. Alvin Sargent, along with Michael Chabon, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar penned the screenplay with the guidance of Spider-Man creators Stan Lee (who has a cameo) and Steve Ditko and took the story out into left field. Whereas "Spider-Man" relied on character establishment and a little schmaltz to win over its audience, "Spider-Man 2" gets dipped in a vat of serious drama, allowing every actor to really show their wares. Maguire is excellent - Raimi knew what he was doing when he cast the then 26-year-old after seeing his portrayal of Homer Wells in 1999's "The Cider House Rules". His participation in the sequel became hesitant when he was injured during a stunt in "Seabiscuit" and suffered severe back pains for several months. A second injury (a broken arm) further delayed shooting, but Maguire rode the storm and kept Jake Gyllenhaal (the actor in mind to replace him, not to mention Dunst's current squeeze) from taking the role that was rightfully his. Raimi made another wise casting decision with British thespian Alfred Molina, a chameleon of an actor who first got recognition as Indiana Jones' greedy jungle guide Satipo ("You throw me the idol, I throw you the whip!") in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"; after the titillating scene where he is covered head-to-toe with tarantulas, Molina is certainly familiar with arachnids and the atmosphere of the "Spider-Man" set suit him well. He eats the lens as Doc Ock, playing the character with a combination of zeal and earnestness. After Willem Dafoe's over-the-top theatrics as the Green Goblin, Molina is a breath of fresh air and gives Doc Ock something very important - integrity. Other actors who were considered for the role included Sam Neill (eh...), Robert DeNiro ('scuse me?), Ed Harris (no thanks) and Chris Cooper (sorry, I just keep thinking Col. Frank Fitts, US Marine Corps). Aren't you glad Molina made the cut? Dunst, still equipped with her B-movie scream, also gets a chance to put her talents to the test and makes Mary Jane a stronger, more independent woman with much less of a "damsel-in-distress" approach than the previous film. James Franco is excellent this second time around as Harry Osborn, his bitterness towards Spider-Man spectacularly rendered through his dark, frigid glowering. Rosemary Harris, a mere appendage in the first, gets to shine considerably as Aunt May, the Oscar-winning actress's dramatic prowess manifested in her scenes with Maguire. J.K. Simmons is still a ball of fire as J. Jonah Jameson, senior editor of the Daily Bugle, with his perpetual anti-hero sentiments of Spider-Man and Elizabeth Banks (Betty Brant) and Bill Nunn (Robbie Robertson) reprise their roles with pride. The film ends once again on a climactic note, setting the stage for a spectacular sequel and you'll have a pretty good idea which villain will make an appearance. Sony Pictures greenlighted a third installment back in March of this year - the movie is slated for a 2007 release, but may even be pushed to 2006 if production goes well. Let us hope so, because if "Spider-Man 2" is a promise of an even greater film to come, we're all in for a real treat!
Rating:
Summary: Marvel's Finest
Review: This is one of the best movies Marvel ever made (next to The Punisher and X2: X-Men United)! The effects, action, and storyline is even more interesting than the first. This is movie is VERY exciting to watch. I HIGHLY reccomend it.
Rating:
Summary: Super hero, lover, Pizza Guy!
Review: Tobey Maguire stars as Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, in this clever, thrilling, and sometimes poignant blockbuster, sure to please all ages. Peter is something of a lost soul, living in a dump, forever in debt, habitually late to class, and losing jobs quicker than you can say, "Pizza Time!" - all the while moonlighting as New York City's greatest crime fighting hero. He's also hopelessly in love with actress Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), but unable to tell her due to his Spider-Man responsibilities and the fact that he's the shyest and most naive young man ever. Enter Dr. Octavious (Alfred Molina), a scientist who has discovered a new and very dangerous form of energy - which goes horribly wrong and changes him into an evil monster, complete with four super-strong metal arms. He conspires with the late Green Goblin's son (James Franco) to kidnap Mary Jane and destroy Spider-Man! Tobey Maguire gives Spider-Man a very real, EveryGuy face; an average-Joe who doesn't have all the answers (except when he's wearing that red and blue suit), but does have lots of problems and insecurities. Maguire, with his puppy dog face and endearing lisp, is the boy you'd like to take you to the prom (or adopt, depending on your age). Tobey's performance is just adorable and there are many heart-tugging moments as he wrestles with his decision to give up being Spider-Man and just be a regular fella. Kirsten Dunst is suitably wholesome and perky as his love-interest, and Alfred Molina is just right as the creepy and campy arch villain. The special effects are first-class and the whole movie is a feast for the eyes. I really enjoyed Spider-Man 2; its got enough oh-wow! action and enough ahhhh! sweetness to delight fans of both action and romance. The eye-popping scenes of Spidey sailing through Manhattan's skyscrapers (always accompanied by spectacular car crashes!) are great fun; I heartily recommend Spider-Man 2 for family-friendly thrills.
Rating: 
Summary: I wanted to like it I really did!
Review: Two years have passed for Peter Parker, established in his role as college student...and as a crimefighter. He can't keep up at school, pay his rent or make amends with his estranged best friend Harry, whom of which wants Spider-Man dead. Mary Jane is more skeptic than ever of the man in her life. Peter's idol, a renowned scientist named Otto Octavius, resurfaces following a failed fusion experiment. Peter, at times noticing he's losing some of his powers, and is feeling the effects of the stress in his personal life, realizes he must decide between being who he once was or retaining his secret identity to stop "Doc Ock" and save New York City.
Rating: 
Summary: Much better than the first film
Review: With a more character driven plot and bigger tools at their disposal, director Sam Raimi and his crew have gone above and beyond the first Spider-Man film; crafting what some have hailed as the best comic adaptation of all time. While I don't think Spider-Man 2 deserves that tagline (that honor goes to X2: X-Men United), the film sure is something special as more depth is given to Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire, ever perfect) as he struggles between being a super hero and his love for Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) as a new foe emerges. The entire cast excels here like never before, with Alfred Molina perfect as the tragic Doctor Octopus (who is a shockingly better villain than Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin) and James Franco's Harry Osborn slowly descending into madness and vengeance as the stage is set for a third film. The only real problem with Spider-Man 2 is that at times it can get too dramatic for it's own good, but the movie manages to keep steaming along as we see Spidey get pushed to his limits like never before. It's definitely worth seeing, and even jaded web-heads will admire the film.
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