Directed by: Marc Webb
Casts: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Sally Field
Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 1 May 2014
Peter Parker (Garfield) begins to enjoy his life as Spider-Man: swinging by skyscrapers, busting asses and kissing Gwen Stacy (Stone). However, he is also aware of the looming threat that being a web-slinger brings him and those close to him. While his uncertainties (and a now broken promise) haunt him and strain his relationship with Gwen, schizophrenic Oscorp electrical engineer Max Dillon (Foxx) landed himself on a tank full of genetically altered electric eels and was "reborn" as Electro. As if the high-voltage danger is not enough, his childhood best friend Harry Osborn (DeHaan) returns to his life, which is a cause for celebration until he decides to go green.
Praises: After months of heavy-duty marketing and promotional campaigns, am I excited for the new Spidey-sequel? Yes. Did the news that there will be three villains instead of one scared me? Well, after what happened to Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3, yes. With a wary heart and mind, I braced myself for either a genius pull-off or a messy clusterfuck. End result? Neither.
Everything you pictured Spidey to be - an ass-kicking vigilante, a cocky-suave joker, a hero, a romantic - it's all there. Peter Parker's swift transition of personalities each time he's on and off the suit is what makes the Andrew Garfield's version charming. He did it in The Amazing Spider-Man and he did it again a whole lot better here. I still love Tobey Maguire's rendition but the new Pete is slowly earning a firm spot in me.
The narrative, while being jumbled up, did get one thing straight - the genuine goodness of Peter Parker despite his tragic past that made him the friendly neighbour to New Yorkers. It's kinda similar to how Marvel Studios did their Captain America. His act of selflessness in spite of all the pain he goes through daily is heart-warming and certainly made me care a whole lot for the character. Like Steve Rogers, he isn't about being the perfect hero or person. He is flawed in many ways just like every other ordinary people. The audience is able to identify and relate to him that way, and how he chose to uphold the responsibilities that come with his power - that's what makes him a symbol of hope.
You sir, need a hair treatment.
Clearly, the Garfield-Stone pair up ousted Maguire-Dunst on so many levels. Their chemistry is way off the charts; though both are couple in real-life it still takes a lot of talents to appear inseparable on screen. Spidey promised Gwen's father seconds before his death that he would stay away from his daughter to keep her safe, yet their love for each other proves to be too powerful a magnet to defy. The guilt arose from there formed heart-wrenching romantic hurdles for the two and the plot could have made better use of that. But no, in between Peter has to deal with a mentally twisted son, dig deeper into his daddy's work and avoid getting zapped. Pfft.
All. My. Feels.
What I really love about Gwen Stacy is how much of a strong character she is. Compared to Dunst's Mary Jane, she is brave, intelligent, level-headed, strong-willed and holds her ground even in face of a zillion bolt of electricity. She has this powerful presence that can never be overlooked and though not bitten by any radioactive bug, she is quite a superhero.
Who doesn't want a girl that's better in science than you?
Needless to say, the rest of the casts are solid in performance. Dane DeHaan's take on a deranged Osborn descendant is astounding and undoubtedly the actor has got a path of strong career ahead of him. Though I don't sit well with the way his character was written, DeHaan actually makes it okay. Now that's something, considering the fact that Harry was shrunk down to just being another plot tool.
Inner feral unleashed!
If you're looking for a good blend of action and humour then I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I had some good laughs; kudos to the writers for keeping up with the spirit of its comic origin. Visual wise I got to say it's the best one yet in the franchise. The battle scenes involving Electro are just breathtakingly gorgeous, a feast for graphic-junkies. They're exactly how I imagined a fight between him and the wall-crawler should be and I'm utterly pleased. Oh the dubstep that plays in the background? Totally awesome.
Can't touch me! Dum dum.... dum dum dum!
Complains: Sadly, Marc Webb and the writers got too ambitious. Perhaps they thought they could succeed where Raimi fails, obviously ignorant of the fact that you can't have a plethora of good baddies without the ample room to first develop them individually. Each has a story of their own to tell and none of it seems cohesive with one another. The inconsistent pacing and tone are jarring; at one point it's all funny, next it's dead serious and then it gets emotional. We don't get to stay in one long enough to register our thoughts and after an hour or so it just gets too tedious to catch up.
So Pete, do you think I look good in green?
Like I mentioned earlier, I wasn't happy with Harry's role in this sequel. Not only that it is ridiculously underserved, but also the fact that his friendship with Peter feels empty. They haven't met in eight years, their initial reunion was full of awkward conversations and the two doesn't seem to give off that best-friend-vibe, even after a game of skipping stones. So was it a tragedy when Harry turns rogue on Peter? I don't quite think so. They barely knew each other already; maybe if they're given more time to re-establish what they had then the outcome would be different.
Once you exit the cinema, ask yourself this: does Electro even need to be in this film? Much like Sandman in Spider-Man 3, he holds no significance in the story other than being the muscle for a larger malice. You did think that as the central antagonist, his character would be better fleshed out. Try taking Max Dillon off the equation and what do you get? Still the same nifty tale of a crime-fighter college freshman seeking to make things right with his sweetheart and long-lost buddy, all while unravelling the mystery surrounding his father. No matter how you look at it, Electro is a case of misplaced villain, an oddball that don't synergize well with other aspects of the narrative. Further character continuity and development for Electro would be nice, also with perhaps more insight to the reason behind his mental state and behavior. There's only so much that Jamie Foxx could do to impress.
Fan of the ending, I am not. Such choppy execution is intolerable; the very notion that it seems hurried to bridge the film towards sequels featuring the Sinister Six not only deprived it of a satisfying conclusion but also paving in several plot holes. I would prefer the denouement to be a poignant reminder of the sacrifices Peter has to make, with proper resolution in coming instalments. And don't get me started on that Rhino...
Rating: 7.3/10
Hit or Miss: Marginally better than the first, I enjoyed The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro for all it's worth - a fun movie to catch after a hard day's work or over the weekend. But to call it amazing is too far-fetched of a thought. Hit.
You're hideous in green, Harry!
I. AM. SPAARRRRRRRKLEEEEEES.
Fan of the ending, I am not. Such choppy execution is intolerable; the very notion that it seems hurried to bridge the film towards sequels featuring the Sinister Six not only deprived it of a satisfying conclusion but also paving in several plot holes. I would prefer the denouement to be a poignant reminder of the sacrifices Peter has to make, with proper resolution in coming instalments. And don't get me started on that Rhino...
Damn you Sony... damn you.
Rating: 7.3/10
Hit or Miss: Marginally better than the first, I enjoyed The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro for all it's worth - a fun movie to catch after a hard day's work or over the weekend. But to call it amazing is too far-fetched of a thought. Hit.
2 comments:
nicely written, i agree with you! I love the movie too :)
thank you! :)
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