Thursday, May 8, 2014

The Amazing Spider Man 2

Movie Name: The Amazing Spider Man 2
Year of Release: 2014
Director: Marc Webb
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Colm Feore, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti, Sally Field, Embeth Davidtz, Campbell Scott, Marton Csokas, Louis Cancelmi
Genre: Action, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:
Following the successful (and mediocre) "The Amazing Spider Man", Marc Webb returns with a sequel that continues to track the adventures of the well known comic book character.
The film introduces us to Peter Parker, who has settled into his life and alter ego as the crime fighter Spider Man. Peter's relationship with Gwen also continues, even with a bit of friction, due to the death of Gwen's father (and Peter's promise to him). Spider-Man is faced with antagonism coming from two distinct villains, namely Electro, a man who is made of electricity, and The Green Goblin, in actuality a childhood friend of Peter's who in attempt to cure a fatal ailment, uses an untested serum that transforms him into a deranged menace.
Marc Webb's "The Amazing Spider Man 2" is a deeply flawed film, one that suffers from a screenplay that is cliched in every possible way, where characters motivations are close to non-existent, and where the action and visual effects are overblown and hyperbolic. What Sam Raimi managed to do in "Spider Man 2", with a balance of action and character dynamics, is somewhat forgotten in this ill advised sequel - both antagonists have little, if any, motivation to become deranged villains. Their characters are paper thin, something that even good actors such as Jamie Foxx and Dane DeHaan, can't overcome. The structure and pacing of the film are equally unbalanced - by the time the epilogue and final action sequences come along, the narrative simply feels incoherent and rushed. The best thing about the film is the relationship established between Peter and Gwen - there's a level of complicity between them which feels authentic and heartfelt. The actors have little to work with - even the reliable Sally Field feels lost and trapped in a thankless role. A sadly missed opportunity.

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