Going into the first Amazing Spider-Man, I
expected a cheap attempt to cash in on the name, and to keep the rights for the
character from reverting to Marvel. But, though the reboot felt unnecessary at
times, and awkward where the origin story intersected that of the early 2000’s
Toby McGuire Spider-Man, it was also full of honest effort, care, and spirit.
So, going into The Amazing Spider-Man 2, I had
high expectations.
They were largely fulfilled, and maybe even
surpassed. The casting continues to be perfect, the acting all but flawless,
the action spectacular, the plot mostly solid.
My biggest worry going into the film was the
presence of three villains, but it’s executed much more naturally than the
previous movie to attempt it—Spider-Man 3. In some places, the villain’s arcs
feel just a tad rushed. But the pacing feels like it was done as well as it
possibly could have been, given the basic story. (There are rumors that much of
the buildup is to lead up to spin-off movies, rather than the direct sequel,
which if true will affect my opinion of this issue greatly)
The relationship between Peter and Gwen drives
much of this film, as it should. The progression of the romance feels natural
and realistic to a degree perhaps surpassing the Iron Man films. Throughout
both movies, Gwen has been treated as a legitimate character in her own right,
with growth and motivations. She works to achieve her goals, whether that be
pursuing her academic career or helping Peter take down a villain. She is
always smart, brave, determined, and capable, and is essential to Peter’s
success.
The acting is on par with the best mainstream
dramas, and every interaction between major characters feels real.
Sally Field (Aunt May) and Andrew Garfield demonstrate both the warmth and the
disconnect between a parent and a teenage child, and produce both some of the funniest
and most emotional moments in the movie. Dane DeHaan is terrific as Harry
Osborn, making us immediately attached to the character (though I’m not quite
as fond of the treatment of the Goblin). Jamie Foxx does well to show the
development of Electro (his arc from nerdy, invisible scientist Max Dillon to
the near-omnipotent Electro deserved perhaps a few more minutes).
The plot itself gets a bit convoluted, and they
alter a lot of origin stories in order to fit everything in with Oscorp, as is
their wont. But it hardly distracts from the well-scripted dialogue, the
wonderful action, and the phenomenal acting.
Before I wrap up, I feel I should mention two
things that I noticed about this film really surprised me.
One, it contains perhaps the greatest use of
shaky-cam I’ve ever seen. Most of the action is shot fluidly, with a grace that
elevates the action almost to an art. But in the first scene, the action is
shaky and confused. I won’t spoil it—but it’s for a very good reason. This
coming from a man who hates shaky-cam.
The other is the soundtrack. I noticed this
before the first shot even came into focus. From the very first note, the
soundtrack is sublime. The development of Electro’s theme is superb in
particular, but the soundtrack has no weak point.
The Amazing Spider-Man is a very good movie,
with astounding moments that elevate above the average comic book movie. It
makes no major stumbles, and the few minor gripes I have are
washed away by the strengths. If the next movie lives up to the expectations
set by these first two, we will have a trilogy to be proud of. It’s a
must-watch for any Spider-Man fan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPOILER SECTION
What’s up with the Rhino? They get Paul
Giamatti, a world-class actor on level with Jamie Foxx, and feed him five
minutes of screen time? Yes, I understand that they’re setting him up for a
larger part in another movie, but come on! It’s true that the Rhino is not
typically portrayed as a serious threat on his own, though. SPECULATION: Maybe they’re setting
up the Black Suit arc. I’d love to see that executed properly.
When I say Electro is nearly omnipotent, I mean
it. He does things that I don't remember him doing in the comics, but that are entirely
within suspension of disbelief—such as using his electricity as an
electromagnet—and some things that caught me completely off-guard—dissolving his
body and running along power lines?
Felicia Hardy makes an appearance! Yay!
SPECULATION: Maybe we’ll see Black Cat. (Hopefully not as a love interest, at least in the next movie. I vote for NO love interest in 3.)
Alistair Smythe has a cameo, which may also point to interesting things in the future.
