Tobey Maguire & Kirsten Dunst return with Sam Raimi at the helm of another Spiderman adventure promising to be bigger, better and more spectacular sequel than the original Spiderman.

The introduction is very good, with a comic book style depiction of all the events of the first Spiderman film, from Peter Parker’s spider bite, to the confrontation with The Green Goblin, and the final scene in which Norman Osbourne is buried. It’s really nice to see something different in the opening credits, but it does tend to drag on for a little while longer than is comfortable, still its good to see a touch of originality as well as hope that the film will retain a comic book feel to it.

Peter Parker is still the hapless nerd who doesn’t seem to be able to do anything right. All this despite the fact he has super human powers, and yet he cannot keep his job, he cannot study well enough to pass, and his love life is essentially a mess, as he never really seems to have the courage to express his feelings to poor old Mary Jane Watson, a lady forever in waiting for the nerd to confess.

In order to successfully pass his course, Peter needs to provide a paper on fusion. It just so happens the subject of Peter’s paper is Dr Octavius, and he’s working on a project with Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborn, who is still bitter about his father’s death. Harry offers to introduce Peter to the Dr to enable him to finish his paper. A likable and mutual respect develops between the two scientists, and Peter is offered to attend the event that will create enough cheap power for everyone. Peter accepts, knowing little about the impending disaster which will change both the Dr and himself.

Dunst is still boring as ever, providing the expected wet top shot, probably for the teen audience, which I couldn’t care less for

Sam Raimi manages to create a sequel that is better than the first, there are plot holes, there are question marks about certain issues that don’t quite add up, but what he’s managed to do is create a better sequel. Having said that, it does seem to have the flavour of repetition. What I mean by this is, it all seems a little familiar, with Parker the helpless fool, Mary Jane wanting him to express his feelings, and the whole circle of repetition begins again, albeit with slight changes.

The writing does factor in a conflicting desire for Peter to have his own life, and to be a super hero that protects the innocent. It’s actually handled reasonably well. It’s also interesting how they’ve written in the psychological effects of not knowing what he wants. For example, Spiderman has trouble climbing walls or shooting web, factors affected by his personal conflict.

I watched the film with my kid brother, seeing as it was his birthday and I didn’t know, and he twisted and turned in excitement, and almost faded to sleep when there was a huge amount of dialogue, which for kids is a bit dull. Still when the on screen action did take place, he was enthralled, glued to the picture, watching every movement and willing Spiderman 2. So, for the kids factor, it does hit the mark, and there’s a lot of spectacular action that would mesmerise a child.

For me, I felt the fights interesting, but gimmicky, particularly seeing as CGI in films is becoming better, it felt a little too artificial when watching Spiderman 2. It all seemed like a blue screen gag, and never really felt real enough. You have to suspend disbelief, of course, however, it helps when what you see on screen gives you reason to. It’s a little underwhelming to say the least, and much of it isn’t that entertaining to be honest.

There will those that whine that this doesn’t follow the comic, just as I felt about the first film. But I’ve come to an acceptance, that the films should be treated as another universe with Spiderman, much like Spiderman Unlimited for example, or the various X-Men guises. Treat it as a separate world, and you won’t be too disappointed. I say too disappointed, because I was fairly disappointed at the rather passive Doc Ock, although Molina’s performance was really quite enjoyable. Artistic licence is used to create a whole different story line, mixing early and later issues of the comic to create the continued panic in Peter’s life.

Peter Parker is still the hapless nerd who doesn’t seem to be able to do anything right

Dunst is still boring as ever, providing the expected wet top shot, probably for the teen audience, which I couldn’t care less for. She still can’t act, and she still look as wooden as ever. Still, I guess Mary Jane was fairly one dimensional in the comics too. By contrast, Rosemary Harris who plays Aunt May was great. Old, depressed, lonely and yet the good hearted woman who forgives and forgets, and keeps Peter in check, helping him focus on his duties. Simmons as Jonah Jameson is equally great as the detestable and infuriating scaremonger, so you have to wonder why someone like Dunst, who gets a high profile co-starring role can’t deliver anything approaching acting.

The special effects are a touch hum drum, not really providing the thrills like the first film did, instead giving a seen-it-all-before-but-bigger-this-time feel to it. It’s fine I guess, but it’s a cheap thrill that doesn’t last, and doesn’t really make you say wow. It no longer feels like a comic book, rather a drawn out story with lots of special effects in an action film that just happens to be Spiderman. There are many moments where you wonder if the film is Spiderman or Superman, and whether Peter Parker is actually Clark Kent in disguise.

I would like to have seen more originality, more pace and more entertainment from the sequel. It’s a better sequel, no question, but not by a huge margin. It doesn’t have the same impact as the original, but overall it’s better structured and better in flow, even if much of it seems to be stretched to fill a few extra minutes.

Spiderman 3 is an interesting prospect, if it provides a better paced storyline, and more menacing, and actually evil characters, then it could finally provide a quality Spiderman film. Spiderman has always been about the struggle between Peter keeping his life normal, while fighting down right evil bad guys who have no mercy for Parker or anyone he cares about. I guess it’s hard to add evil in a PG-13 film, but there are ways around it, and Raimi is smart enough to provide something.

Verdict: Better sequel, but not by much. Lacking soul, and modestly entertaining.