The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Movie Review

"Everyone has a part of themselves they hide, even from the people they love most. And you don't have forever, none of us ever do."

-May Parker

I didn't have my hopes set too high for this sequel, but there's no denying how excited I was for it. My first complaint is not about the film itself but about the marketing strategy. I love trailers and could watch them all day but I feel like they went overboard with the trailers for this film. While I know I have the choice of whether to watch them or not, I don't think they should have revealed so much in the trailers because looking back I see that there were many key points in the film that were revealed. Now obviously it's out of context but coming in blind is a very different experience. The next thing I'd like to say is that I'm very confused as to why this film isn't going over well with the critics. I realize it actually releases today but the reviews are all but "amazing". I have to completely disagree with these critics and this does not come from a fanboy point of view but simply from a film fan point of view.

The most common complaint I've seen so far about The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is that it is overcrowded with villains. I can see how that CAN be a problem if the script isn't right for it, but I think Mark Webb did a fairly good job in that aspect. Jamie Foxx as Electro was a stroke of genius, Paul Giamatti as Rhino was hilarious, and Dane DeHaan as Harry Osborn/Green Goblin was decent at worst. I really enjoyed the story and felt like each villain, excluding Rhino, was developed well and not rushed. I found myself feeling bad for Electro at points and very curious as to what Harry Osborn was going to do next, knowing that he would eventually become the Green Goblin. The reason I'm excluding Rhino is because they are saving him for the upcoming Sinister Six film. Regardless of your opinion on the villains there is no denying how beautiful the special effects were. Electro looked fantastic and the scenes of Spidey swinging through the New York skyline were breath-taking.

As a stand-alone film I could see how one would argue that more than one villain is not the best idea. Electro also got way more focus than Harry Osborn, but as a film that is part of an expanding universe, I think this was completely acceptable. This sequel picks up very soon after the first film with Peter still very curious about his parents. The major difference is that he is very clearly settled into his role of Spider-Man and Garfield portrays it pretty well. The film is very light hearted at times and also very dark at others. For me it was very emotional and I quickly became very invested in his world. Also the love story is amplified much more than in the first one, and if anything, those were some of the weaker points for me. The dialogue between Peter and Gwen are crucial to the story but I felt like some dragged on for a bit too long. On the other hand this review would not be complete without mentioning Aunt May. Sally Field really stepped up her performance and delivered some heartfelt scenes. Being the only real family Peter has left, she plays an integral part in his life and transformation.

Again, I think Webb and Garfield did a great job in revealing to us Peter's internal struggles especially after the death of Captain Stacy. I do feel that maybe Peter's story may seem a little rushed but they've gotten the ball rolling and are looking to do big things with this Spider-Man property. Definitely falls behind the standards set by Captain America: The Winter Soldier but by no means is this a bad film in my opinion. No superhero movie will ever go without any negative criticism but I feel like the reviews have been extra harsh for this one. Definitely a tear-jerker despite having some knowledge of the impending events. In any case at the end of the day I enjoyed this film both as a superhero fan and as a movie fan. There's something for everyone in this movie. Love, mystery, suspense, action. All around a fun movie that surpasses it's predecessor. I give The Amazing Spider-Man 2 an 7 out of 10.