Sam Raimi has really outdone himself this time! Marvel has been on a severe downward spiral and Spiderman 2 is just what the doctor ordered.

Lets start with the performances. Tobey Maguire, fantastic, great physical comedy as Peter Parker and the perfect synical humor as Spidey, bravo.

Kirsten Dunst plays a very solid role, not show-stopping, but to the best of her ability

James Franco is one of my favorite up-and-comers and I wouldn't be surprised to see more from him.

And Alfred Molina was fantastic as Doc Oc, not to over-dramatic, a great casting job.

J.K. Simmons was the original Spiderman's saving grace, and he doesn't let up a bit in the sequel, his acting is superb, every line he delivers is SPOT ON.

When I first read that Sam Raimi was being considered for Spiderman is was ecstatic. He blends his in your face style of directing that we have all fallen in love with after the Evil Dead's and Darkman etc. Raimi definitely puts his mark on this, a much darker turn for the upcoming trilogy. And what would any Sam Raimi picture be without everyone's favorite king of the b-movies, Bruce Cambell (who got an extended applause at the screening I attended). What Burton did for Batman, Raimi has done for Spiderman

This has been my favorite superhero movie since the original Batman. As Roger Ebert put it; "It's a superhero movie for people who don't go to superhero movies, and for those who do, it's the one they've been yearning for."