Spider-Man 2 [DVD] [2004] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

This movie has it all. Action, drama, and romance all nicely balanced into a well crafted story.Set 2 years after the first movie, Peter Parker is finding that life as Spider-Man is having some seriously bad reprecussions on his life. His friendship with Harry is strained due to Harry's hatred for Spider-Man over his involvement in his father's death. The love of his life MJ is engaged to John Jameson, and is sick of Peter continually missing her broadway play, Peter is failing his college courses, and is getting fired from his part time jobs left, right, and centre.Finally deciding he can take no more, Peter decides to give up being Spider-Man, so he can live his dream of a normal life. This couldn't have come at a worse time however, as a new super villain emerges in New York. Doctor Otto Octavius, scientific genius and idol to Peter, has developed a new fusion reactor in the hope of generating cheap electricity for the world. He has developed four mechanical arms or tentacles, to manipulate the fusion reaction.However, the experiment goes awry, and ends up killing Octavius' wife and fusing the arms to his spine. What emerges from this disaster is Doctor Octopus, or Doc Ock as the Daily Bugle calls him. A ruthless super villain hell bent on rebuilding his fusion reactor at ANY cost.Alfred Molina plays the multi-armed super villain, and he is outstanding in the role. He is able to convey sympathy, charm, and outright menacing evil. His confrontations with Spider-Man are visual delights, especially their battle on board a speeding train.Spider-Man 2 is a must see for any comic book fan, and movie fan, too. The supporting characters like Aunt May and Jonah Jameson all have bigger and more integral roles to play in the story. Maguire, Dunst, and Franco are wonderful as always. And Molina is a terrific addition to the cast as the big bad super villain.