Spider-Man II opens to rave reviews

Spider-Man II spun into cinemas in the US today, with producers hoping for another box office record-breaker.

Nerd-turned-superhero Peter Parker was back to battle the villains of New York, and has already won rave reviews.

Parker, played by Tobey Maguire, abandons plans to hang up his Spider suit and go back to a normal life to do battle with the multi-tentacled Dr Octopus.

USA Today raved: “With special effects so convincing you don’t even think about them, a head-case hero and a three-dimensional villain who is his equal, Spider-Man 2 has something for everyone.”

The New York Daily News said: “The chases and battles are stunningly rendered with Spidey ping-ponging off skyscrapers and landmarks, courtesy of special effects.”

The first Spider-Man smashed box office records, taking £63.4 million in its opening weekend – outselling previous record-holder Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by nearly £14 million.

Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and other co-stars return in Spider-Man II, and Alfred Molina plays Spider-Man’s new nemesis.

Considering the enthusiastic early reviews, Spider-Man II could sweep away all the previous debut records.

The film opened in more than 4,100 cinemas in the US – more than the 3,615 for the first Spider-Man.

“On box office, I’m just too superstitious to speculate. I just know we have a better movie, said Avi Arad, head of Marvel Studios and Spider-Man II producer.

“The way the reviews are looking, no one is going to look at this and be saying, ’You didn’t live up to the first one’.”