Tobey Maguire returns as Peter Parker, a young adult struggling to find balance between his secret life of fighting evil and his somewhat traumatic personal life. Peter's struggle is keeping secret both his super-human life of crime fighting and his love for Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), a woman with whom he grew up and who has romantic feelings for him as well.

I couldn't get enough of this movie! The story begins quickly and seamlessly picks up where the first movie left off. In addition to being thrilled by the special effects and adventurous aerobatics, I found myself wishing Peter and Mary Jane could kindle their love. But it appeared Peter would have none of that because of his fear that his enemies would do her harm.

This movie would definitely be in my top ten. The special effects are spectacular and the story-line is deep with plots and subplots that will probably entertain both male and female viewers. I can't remember a single use of questionable language or an inappropriate scene. The only area that might concern parents would be the violence. Spider-Man, like any bigscreen super hero, takes hits and falls that no human being could actually survive.

Peter Parker is a gentle soul who you can't help but like and admire. In this edition of Spider-Man, he faces a new nemesis--the brilliant Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) who becomes the mad-scientist and multi-tentacled "Doc Ock."

Peter must not only save the city of New York, and the world, from Doc Ock, but he must prevent his best friend, Harry Osborn (Willem Dafoe) from learning that he is Spider-Man. In the first movie, Spider-Man killed Harry's mad-scientist father to save himself and New York. After learning Spider-Man killed his father, Harry seeks revenge and becomes obsessed with discovering Spider-Man's true identity in order to kill him.

Peter must navigate a world in which his best friends can become his worst enemies in the blink of an eye.

Though my eyes feel heavy now, they were wide open while experiencing the midnight showing of Spider-Man 2.

-Lee Wilson

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