The Amazing Spider-Man 2

By: John Delia

Exciting, adventurous and electrifying The Amazing Spider-Man 2 delivers the expected plus more.  The Marvel Comic book character one of the most endeared by kids and adults alike returns to the screen with its most explosive story ever in this non-stop zip line edition. Andrew Garfield proves himself as the superhero while Dane DeHaan shows us another side of the Green Goblin. Emma Stone turns up the heat again with a nice performance as Spider-Man’s love interest and Jamie Foxx shows us the evil that can come from bonding with electricity.  It all comes together with a Hollywood finish that will have you begging for more.

The film opens with an exciting scene involving Richard (Campbell Scott) and Mary Parker (Embeth Davidtz) leaving young Peter with his Aunt and Uncle and then aboard an airplane fleeing for their lives. Flash forward to teenage Peter (Andrew Garfield) as Spider-Man swinging through the streets of New York on his way to his high school graduation.  Just when he gets a call from Gwen (Emma Stone), who is about to give her valedictorian speech, he sees a lot of commotion on the city streets. So begins another thrilling Spider-Man movie as the superhero goes up against ex-con Aleksei Sytsevich (Paul Giamatti) driving a truck containing stolen plutonium.

Turning up the CGI, 3D effects and crystal clear digital cinematography Director Marc Webb offers part two of his Amazing Spider Man franchise. His fast moving film speeds through a labyrinth of situations while continuing to make Marvel’s comic book superhero someone to cheer about.  Even through Spider-Man takes on the Green Goblin similar to Spider-Man (2002), it’s not the same show.  Here Webb inserts Electro (Jamie Foxx) into the thriller tantalizing moviegoers with a different kind of adversary for the defender to fight.  Taking this script to another level from his first (2012), it’s his best effort of the two. 

There’s a triple plus in this remake of Spider-Man that makes it exceptional for this continuing franchise.  With the brilliant computer graphics becoming even more seamless, we are treated to some awesome web magic.  Seemingly stronger and more elastic, the superhero uses his ability to hook onto buildings with ease, wrap up his antagonists and save people from potential harm.  He free falls like he’s superman flying through the air to his next rendezvous with destiny and in IMAX 3D I felt like I was floating with him. 

Secondly, it’s a very good intriguing script that keeps you on the edge of your seat with new material including a nice flashback that fills a few holes for viewers who have not read the comic book. Add to this an electrifying character portrayed by Jamie Foxx that prompts Spider-Man to find a solution to neutralize the super-villain.  And, there’s a good measure of nicely placed comic relief to give the audience a breather before continuing the nearly two and a half hours of action scenes.  

Finally, as a replacement for Tobey Maguire, Garfield is strong enough to take over the role of the masked web slinger.  While I was not a fan of his performance in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Andrew Garfield has taken over Peter Parker with a flawless performance.  Delivering a character with high energy, sincerity, romance and even some comedy, Garfield establishes himself in a league with Thor’s Chris Hemsworth, Captain America’s Chris Evans, and even Batman’s Christian Bale.

On a lesser note, more is not always better when it comes to lengthy filmmaking and it rears its ugly head with The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The film takes on three villains (each with their own back-story), has an on-again off-again romance going between Peter and Gwen, involves a corporation take-over, the continued unresolved issue about the death of Peter’s parents get explored and includes a mystery surrounding Gwen’s father (although if you saw the first episode you know why he’s in this one, sort of).  The nearly two and a half hour movie doesn’t drag, but there’s so much going on it tends to exhaust the brain by the time the credit’s role.

Screen story writers Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner  and James Vanderbilt use three villains from three different issues of the Spider-Man comic book series in this episode.  The character Electro appeared in issue #9 February of 1964, Norman Osborn as the Green Goblin in issue #14 July of 1964 and the Rhino is taken from the pages of issue #41 October 1966.   The three exciting characters work well in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with the writers connecting the adversaries with Oscorp as their common thread. 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of sci-fi action/violence.  The film has been released in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D so check your local listings for the format in your area.  I really enjoyed the IMAX 3D that gives the best possible sound, digital picture and an awesome visual experience.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very electrifying adventure for most teens and adults. (4 out of 5 stars)