In the build up to blockbuster season, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 seemed to take the backseat in my mind to time travelling X-Men and city smashing monsters. The result of this is a movie that kicked off May with a bang that will be tough to match. Spider-Man/ Peter Parker is a compelling character, which is why he has been a pop culture mainstay for so many years. But never has a Peter Parker come across as human as Andrew Garfield’s portrayal in his second turn as the web-slinger. But the British actor doesn’t deserve all the credit. In fact, there are a number of pieces to this puzzle.
The film picks up with Peter enjoying being Spider-Man, as well as his relationship with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), only to quickly be forced into conflict with the emergence of a number of powerful villains. To be honest, the development of the villains is pretty par for the course with what we’ve seen from all the superhero movies. But with the average development of Electro (Jamie Foxx) we get an incredible audio-visual experience with a Time Square battle between him and Spidey. I can’t think of a special effects scene that had me in awe like this since last summer’s Pacific Rim. But beyond Electro, the company Oscorp, with Norman and Harry Osborne, is presented as a villain factory of sorts that will prove troublesome in future franchise installments, which is a cool twist.
But even with high flying stunts and immersive special effects, the most successful moments follow the young love of Peter and Gwen. Sure, the on again off again element is dull and tiring, but their connection is as real as any on-screen couple you’ll ever see. Maybe the fact that the actors are dating in real life has something to do with it. On the same note, the film’s emotional climax far outweighs the fisticuffs that accompany it. If The Dark Knight changed the tone of comic book movies for the better, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has changed the genre’s ability to convey emotion. Poor Peter Parker. The character has been around since 1962 and in all that time, he just can’t seem to catch a break.
Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.
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