Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2 Catnip for the summer movie crowd, this sequel, like its predecessor (Spider-Man), is punchy, stylish, comic book fun. Directed once again by Sam Raimi, S-2 concerns itself with Peter Parker's existential angst almost as much as it does with Spidey's derring-do. It can't quite capture the excitement of the first movie, which had the advantage of novelty, but all of the principals are back, and as appealing as ever. Alfred Molina does a neat turn as the villain, though I wish they could find a model for a villain other than a scientist turned mad when his high-tech inventions go haywire. Still, since this movie seems to offer a lot of resolutions, I can't help but be curious as to where the inevitable “Spider-Man 3” will go to keep us interested. Peter and MJ have a baby? Move to the suburbs? Suffer through a tax audit? Now that's suspense!