After a superb set of opening credits that artfully recap the prequel, "Spider-Man 2" ("S2") picks up two years after the original left off, although the elapsed time is barely noticed. Among the familiar characters, Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) is fighting through college and criminals; Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is starring in a Broadway play; and Harry Osborn (James Franco), who still blames Spider-Man for his father's death, is running OsCorp. The company is aiding Doctor Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) in his attempt to create a form of fusion that produces perpetual energy. You can probably guess what soon happens.

As is often the case, this sequel has lost some of the novelty that carried the original. There are only so many ways Spidey can swing through skyscraper canyons, although a couple new twists do elicit oohs and aahs. In place of that originality are human emotions that expound upon what Peter was battling at the end of the first movie. As in the "Batman" films, this humanity makes "S2" better; in this case, better than the original.

Despite this humanity, and also addressing great movie themes like love, revenge, courage, and destiny, "S2" falls short of greatness, largely because of how those themes are addressed. Too often longish dialogue scenes are used to explain the inner conflicts of characters, rather than pictures and actions. The pace change isn't a problem, but the heavy-handedness is. Perhaps for once the audience was underestimated. We know that the Marvel comics are supposed to touch on themes beyond the action, and don't need them to be force-fed. Especially with a quality actor like Maguire, we can see the inner conflict, and that is enough. We don't need Aunt May's five minute speech filled with double meanings.

Peter's main issue is how to be "normal" while fighting crime. Primary amongst his concerns and the movie's plot is his love for MJ, because the ones he loves are constantly in danger from his enemies. But alas, due to the emphasis of the trite romantic story, the most interesting relationship of the movie, between Peter and Harry, is disappointingly (although understandably) under-developed. Young Osborn can't let go of his father's death. Because Peter is Spider-Man's personal photographer, their friendship is constantly strained, made more complicated by the plot progression. That is a very unique situation that I wish had been explored more deeply. But unfortunately, their relationship may not be further fleshed out until the third installment, which promises to be the best one yet.

I'm generally a fan of the superhero genre, but neither this movie nor its predecessor connected with me. Part of the reason is derived from the typical storyline. Not once during the course of the movie was I particularly surprised by anything. Part of the reason was Kirsten Dunst, whose performance in a cliché role wasn't bad, but wasn't good either. She tries just a bit too hard, as though in an objective role, attempting to nail the part, rather than be the part. My personal bottom line though is that Spider-Man simply doesn't do it for me. I can't fully explain it; that's just how it is. Fortunately the overall craftsmanship of the movie, including quality performances from Maguire, Franco, and Molina, is good enough to overshadow those issues.

Although not perfect, the special effects mesh nicely with the comic book nature that director Sam Raimi has created. The visuals add to the almost cartoonish edge without distracting from the reality. Danny Elfman (Men in Black) has again composed an excellent score for an comic-based movie. His syncopated tunes, rife with percussive orchestral notes, provides enjoyable background music while appropriately accompanying the action. In sum, the world of Spider-Man is now established, and all hands are very comfortable with their work, as evidenced by the uniform look.

Much like the original, "S2" is a good solid superhero movie, easy to watch and filled with action and melodrama. I didn't like it as much as many critics and fans, but I don't think you'll be disappointed if you spend $10 and two hours on "Spider-Man 2".

Bottom Line: Good, not great. Some will love it, but Spider-man just doesn't do it for me. 7/10.