Spider-Man 2

The second Spider-Man is a class better than the first one. It is darker, with a stronger story, and better music that adds a massive boost to the action scenes. I mean both the rock, nu-metal, and punk (the classic American soundtrack blend) as well as the excellent orchestral score by the always great Danny Elfman (Planet of the Apes, Big Fish), whose compositions are again a pleasure to listen to. The special effects belong to the absolute top of modern cinema. There is some of the traditional pathos and tears, but that belongs to Raimi's Spider-Man, or rather, we have all gotten used to it. (29/07/2004)

I was once so disappointed by Raimi's first Spider-Man that I decided to ignore the sequel. I found out today that the second part is better. Not by much, but it is. Thankfully, Sam Raimi at least got away from his specific style, which may have angered his loyal fans, but it did Spider-Man some good. Especially the action scenes are great this time, the special effects are more realistic, Dr. Octopus played by Alfredo Molina is a much better villain than Green Goblin, and the humor hasn't been forgotten... So it's not a bad film at all, although I remember almost nothing of it except after a few hours the aforementioned action scenes. It would have been even better with a different actor in the lead role or if Tobey Maguire hadn't taken off his mask at all. (11/05/2015)

Molina's supervillain is very much the lead here, pulling this sequel above the level of the first instalment in the form of a whiny Willem Dafoe hiding behind an ugly mask. Otherwise, Sam Raimi shows once again that he’s an excellent director with a story that is well put together, mixing humour with action in the best possible way. He also plays his cards right with the always likeable Maguire, the beautiful Kirsten Dunst and the mandatory great visual effects, thanks to which, especially in the spectacular ending, I didn't know where to turn my eyes. A beautiful example of a sequel that surpasses the first part, if only by a little. (21/07/2012)

The movie that I was looking forward to seeing in the cinema ten years ago. It definitely didn't disappoint me and I fondly remember this trilogy in general, but it's true that even though it was a big hit back then, it has lost a bit of its appeal over the past ten years. It's a classic blockbuster that now looks best on TV. The first installment left a bit more of an impression on me, despite the fact that I generally really like Spider-Man and Doc Ock looks simply amazing. (03/02/2014)

Much better after a second screening. The things that bothered me before – the pathos taken to the extreme in places and the auntie's curmudgeonly proclamations – simply belong to the Spider-Man franchise, and if you accept Raimi's rules of the game, you'll be satisfied. What I admire most about Raimi's series is the perfect blend of Spider-man's human side – constant doubt, regret, unhappy love and, thanks to Tobey's looks, boyish goofiness – and the comic book superhuman side. Moreover, the unconventional beauty of Kirsten Dunst and the charisma of Tobey Maguire are always impressive. And Dr. Octopus is one hell of a villain, Alfred Molina gave him the necessary evil spark with his maniacal expression. With the passage of a few years, I have to admit that this is one of the most accomplished comic book adaptations. (15/09/2007)