Sam Raimi's follow-up to SPIDER-MAN finds Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) struggling to balance his everyday life with his alter ego as the web-slinging superhero. Still carrying the burden of keeping his crime-fighting identity from those closest to him--including his longtime love Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco), and his doting Aunt May (Rosemary Harris)--Parker must also face off against a dangerous new menace, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), a scientist driven mad by experiments involving powerful mechanical arms. When the deranged Octavius (AKA Doc Ock) forms an alliance with the vengeful Osborn, who blames Spider-Man for the death of his father, the wall-crawling hero is in for his biggest battle yet.

With SPIDER-MAN 2, Raimi retains--and improves on--all of the elements that made the first film so good, including an excellent story (crafted, in part, by acclaimed novelist Michael Chabon), tight pacing, and stunning special effects. Parker's internal conflicts are even greater than before, and Maguire adds emotional depth to every scene. Returning actors Dunst, Franco, Harris, and J.K. Simmons (once again portraying Parker's tough-talking boss, J. Jonah Jameson) are all pitch-perfect in their roles, and, as the once-noble Octavius, Molina is remarkable, relishing his villainous lines, while giving the character a surprisingly vulnerable side. Throughout the movie, Raimi expertly balances drama and humor with dynamic action sequences, making SPIDER-MAN 2 feel more like a continuation of the original tale rather than an obligatory sequel. For a Hollywood movie, that's a real feat.

Theatrical Release: JUNE 30, 2004

DVD Features:

Region 1
2-Disc Set
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.40
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, French
Dolby Surround - English, Spanish
Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional
Disc 1:
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Sam Raimi - Director, Tobey Maguire - Star, Avi Arad - Producer, Grant Curtis - Co-producer
2. Technical crew
Outtakes
Featurette - 1. Four (4) Web-i-sodes - original online featurettes from the film's theatrical release
Interactive Features:
Trivia - 1. "Spidey Sense 2" track with "pop-up" facts and trivia about the film and the world of Spider-Man
Music Video - 1. "Ordinary" - Train
Trailers - 1. Previews
Disc 2:
Documentary - 1. "Making the Amazing" - A 12-part documentary from pre-production to the Hollywood premiere
2. "Hero in Crisis" - A deeper look into Peter Parker and his personal battles in the continuing story of Spider-Man
3. Ock-Umentary: "Eight Arms to Hold You" - A special look at Doc Ock from the comics to the big screen
4. "Interwoven: The Women of Spider-Man" - A look into the lives of Mary Jane, Aunt May and the other women in Peter Parker's life
Additional Footage - 1. Activision's "Spider-Man 2: Spinning the Game" - A behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Spider-Man 2: The Game"
Interactive Features:
Multiple Angles - 1. "Enter the Web" - A groundbreaking multi-angle look behind-the-scenes at the climatic Pier sequence captured in real-time
Text/Photo Galleries:
Art Gallery - A collection of Alex Ross' paintings used in the opening credits of the film
DVD-ROM:
Weblinks

Tobey Maguire: American actor, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES/SPIDER-MAN series
Kirsten Dunst: American actor, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE/BRING IT ON
Alfred Molina: British Actor
James Franco: American actor, Freaks & Geeks/TRISTAN & ISOLDE
Rosemary Harris: British actress, SPIDER-MAN (2001)
J.K. Simmons: American actor, Oz/SPIDER-MAN movie series

Sam Raimi: Director, EVIL DEAD

Laura Ziskin: Producer/screenwriter, MURPHY'S ROMANCE/SPIDER-MAN 3
Avi Arad: Executive producer, many Marvel Comics properties

Alvin Sargent: American screenwriter, PAPER MOON/ANYWHERE BUT HERE

Danny Elfman: Score composer

"[A] triumphant sequel to the hard-to-top 2002 original....An entertainment in which both the thrills and the therapeutic personal growth are well earned."
"[With] strong characters and honest feelings....Better than its predecessor, and also superior to most other comic-book-based movies."
"[T]he fun here comes when Peter and the spider are at their most integrated."
"Stuffed with great performances, eye-popping special effects...and real drama..."
"The special effects soar even more exhilaratingly than they did in the original..."