Week 10: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

 "The Amazing Spider-man 2" is a tough one. A Movie I can't actually figure out whether I liked or not. Parts of it were actually amazing. While other parts were far from it.

I Think the main problem with this second Spider-man movie (Or is it fifth Spider-man movie?) is that the film before it still feels like a re-run. Yes, as good as "The Amazing Spider-man" was. It still felt over-shadowed by three previous movies that didn't really deserve to get ignored. I left that one thinking "Oh well, at least they've got the setting up out of the way, and can get on with doing something different in the next one." Trouble is, they haven't. This one also spends most of its time setting up future movies. While other parts bring nothing new and feel like more repeats. I mean, wasn't that "Washing machine" gag done in the other "Spider-man 2?" 

The biggest mistake "The Amazing Spider-man 2" makes though. Is one that this series should already have learnt not to do. And that's under-using its villain. The main bad guy off this one is suppose to be Electro. A Bad-guy that was always going to be a tough sell, and they don't quite manage it. In the Cartoons he looks so ridiculous that they've had to entirely redesign him, which is cool. But the character is ruined after an amazing intro by being under-used yet over done.

The "Real" main villain of the movie is Harry Osborne and although this is one of the things that has been done before, he is arguably the best thing in the movie. The minute DeHann was cast I knew he would be great, and he is. His "dual identity" too, has been redesigned, but for the better. With a new take, that makes the future of the series at least look promising.

But what about this movie? It likes building up future ideas, but there must be something else good about it by itself? Well, Andrew Garfield is still pleasing fans as Spider-man, and his chemistry with Emma Stone is still strong. Providing the movie with most of its laughs, charm, and in some parts, genuine tears. But we watch Spider-man for the action, right? And most of the action too, is still cool. Even if the series has far from reinvented itself, and is still spending a bit too much time on Spider-man's love life, than his crime fighting.

Rating: 8 out of 10