Spider-Man 2 (2004)-

I really liked the Graphic Novel recap of the first film in the opening credits, not only did it summarise the events succinctly, but it was also beautifully drawn and a reminder of the stories origins as a comic book.

I don't think that there is any question that this film was better than the third instalment, but for me, it just falls a tiny bit short of the first. It tried a bit harder to achieve something better and it showed, which ultimately took a layer of shine off of it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm just picking at nits, because it's still a good film.

The use of Doctor Octopus (Ock) was a good choice of "Villain" and Alfred Molina did a great job of delivering the role.

Tobey also gives the same cute and thoughtful Spider-Man, but the inept Peter Parker bit was overused and didn't seem to fit with what we know he can do, because of his abilities. His pre-cognitive "Spider Sense" seemed to have failed him completely as he got bumped in to and repeatedly hit over the head on the way in to school. I realise that they were trying to show how he had taken on too much, but it just seemed to make him a loser and not the hero I tuned in for.

I've gone off of James Franco lately though, I'm not sure that we'd get along in real life, as he continues with projects that are definitely not my thing and he is actually very wooden in this one. Also, he is alleged to have called Tobey "Frog Face", which upset him, so I can't forgive him for that.

I'm not a huge fan of Kirsten Dunst either. I thought that she was amazing in 'Interview With A Vampire' (1994), but her character in this film was annoying and whiney. Maybe I have been spoiled by Zendaya in the Tom Holland Spidey films, as she is much cooler, but this MJ was frustrating to watch.

Other than that, it is a film that is easy to watch, with a relatively good story and the main issues of the title character and his battles with Doc Ock are what you need from a film based on a comic book.

The CGI has been improved from the last one and as a whole the film flows very well. I really like the train scene and Ock's lair is cool. Credit to the set department for that.

There are some really great moments in this one, some humour, action and Tobey is quite emotive in his role. It also has the same balance as the first, where it is just cheesey enough to be a fantasy story, but still grounded in a reality similar to our real world. One for all the family.

730.55/1000.