Spider-Man 2 is, beat for beat, superior to its predecessor. When Raimi is freed from the constraints of an origin story or studio meddling, he really let's Spidey soar. Alfred Molina as Doc Ock is far more compelling and a better match for Spidey and their battle on the train is as breathtaking as ever. Some of the original's ham-fistedness remains but it doesn't hamper it or age it nearly as bad as the first.