"Spider-Man 2" improves on the original, thanks to Sam Raimi's decision to take advantage of a post-9/11 need for solidarity and heroes and work it overtly into his film. It also benefits from a scene-chewing performance from Alfred Molina, as this installment's villain, Doc Oc.

However, no improvements were made in the casting of the leads, with dough-faced Tobey Maguire returning as the web slinger and Kirsten Dunst as his vapid muse.

This one won the Academy Award for Visual Effects and also found itself nominated for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

Grade: A-