Review: Spider-Man 2 (15)

"With great power comes great responsibility" is what Spidey's uncle told him, but the same could apply to director Sam Raimi.

After the massive success two years ago of Spider-Man, he faced a sticky task in making a worthy sequel. But he's done it - and then found a little extra.

Where Troy failed and The Day After Tomorrow missed, and while Shrek 2 almost made it, Spider-Man 2 is the summer blockbuster we've been waiting for.

Again the slick effects, intense action, and masterful characterisation lift Peter Parker's transition from dork to hero well above the average gloop of comicbook superhero flicks.

Last time Parker (Maguire) had forsaken his love for Mary Jane (Dunst) to protect her from the evil that his Spider-Man side would attract.

Things have got worse. Parker is depressed and tormented by his powerful alter ego. He's knackered, fails his exams and gets sacked.

Mary Jane is now with Harry Osborn (Franco) whose father Spidey killed at the climax of the first film. Tired of it all, the Spider-Man outfit ends up in the bin.

Then scientist Dr Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) has an accident in the lab and turns evil - very evil - using the four mechanical tentacles now attached to his back to terrorise New York. Parker rediscovers his great responsibility.

The mad scientist line is classic comic book villainy, but Molina freshens it up with a superb pot-bellied performance.

The tone is light without being too knowing. Comic moments offset the immense effects of Tarzan swinging through Manhattan, while Parker's angst and palpable chemistry with Dunst make this a more rounded film than the later Batmans or X-Men.

Audiences will be left twitching in Raimi's web, paralysed with pleasure.

Mono rating: nine out of ten