This is one of those occasions when the sequel is even better than the first film. Director Sam Raimi out-does himself and crafts an excellent sequel. Returning champs like, Tobey Maguire, Rosemary Harris, J. K. Simmons, along with another brilliant soundtrack by Danny Elfman, features a new bad guy in the guise of Dr. Otto Octavius/Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina). This film moves into the era a Spiderman, that was covered in the comics in the mid-to-late 1960s, leaving the inspiration of the Steve Ditko years in the first film and moving onto the inspiration found during the John Romita SR era of the comics.

It moves Peter Parker (Maguire), into his college years and a set of new challenges, like making it to classes, keeping a job, dealing with Harry (James Franco) and Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), dating each other, Aunt May (Harris), being evicted and spider-power issues. Sam Raimi manages to capture the pure spirit, that makes Spiderman/Peter Parker a great character. It further proves the Spiderman mantra, that with great power comes great responsibility. Aunt May shows some toughness too in this one. It is also good to note, that you can probably enjoy this film, even if you have never seen the first one.

9.1 (A- MyGrade) = 9 IMDB.