And you don't have forever, none of us ever do'
Webb’s Spider-Man is back, and reunited with Gwen Stacy, for
this 142 minute long adventure. Yes, it is 142 minutes long – that’s 2 hours
and 22 minutes. While the running time is problematic for a variety of reasons,
there are some redeeming factors of The
Amazing Spider-Man 2, which has received a mixed reaction from critics
since its release, despite grossing over $700 million to date. Back along for
the web-slinging adventure is of course Andrew Garfield who dons the iconic
suit to play Spider-Man, and Emma Stone, who portrays the confident and
determined Gwen Stacy.
In the prologue of the first film, we saw that Parker’s
parents abandoned him in mysterious circumstances, and this sequel opens with
that perspective, as we are able to see what truly happened to his parents.
Flashing forward to present day, The
Amazing Spider-Man 2 follows Peter Parker (Garfield) as he continues to
battle crime in the city whilst being involved in a relationship with Gwen
Stacy (Stone). However, this relationship is put under continual strain as
Peter constantly questions whether he should be following her Dad’s wishes
(about not being together) as he keeps seeing visions of her Dad around. With
the arrival of Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), Parker’s old friend, Parker’s life
quickly descends into chaos as he struggles to deal with new villains, not to
mention the questionable future he might have with Gwen.
If you there’s one thing you can count on audiences and
critics alike to do, its compare original films with the
reboots/spin-offs/sequels. So, for those who delight in battling it out between
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and
Webb’s series, it has to be said that the two series seem to falter when they
over-pack their plot with too many villains - in this case, the incredibly tedious
Spider-Man 3 on Raimi’s part – which featured Venom, New Goblin, Sandman and a
dose of Green Goblin (seriously, why?) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s Green
Goblin, Electro and Rhino (seriously people, is it too much to ask for just one
villain per film?).
Whilst the excessive amount of villains makes The Amazing Spider-Man 2 seem a little
overdrawn and laboured in some places, it is still entirely more bearable than
Spider-Man 3. Not to mention that Dane DeHaan’s performance as the Green Goblin/Harry
Osborn is pretty impressive. His character is so deliciously twisted and DeHaan
does an amazing job at emulating the intrinsic quirks to his character through
his subtle movements and facial expressions; from his recoiled reactions,
maniacal laughter and strained voice, his is able to fully capture the illness
of his character and the desperation he faces which eventually proves to be his
undoing. Jamie Foxx also suits up for the sequel, starring as Electro/Max
Dillon, an electrical engineer who just wants to be noticed and idolises
Spider-Man. Foxx is unassuming and introverted as his character initially, and he
is able to convey the transformation his character goes through with ease.
Headlining as the ‘Amazing’ Spider-Man is of course Andrew
Garfield, who teams up with Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy in order to bring down the
villains in this latest extravagant action film. Whoever cast those two as
Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy has surely been congratulated on numerous occasions
as the two have undeniable chemistry on (and off) screen and this is a true
delight to watch. In a sequel which has ultimately more heart and emotional
weight than the previous instalment, it seems greatly fitting that these two
should be the epicentre for emotion, with all their natural chemistry. Garfield’s
Parker is as unashamedly awkward as ever and his pairing with Stone’s Stacy is
no less than perfect, as she isn’t afraid to say what she wants and what she is
thinking, especially when Parker cracks one of his cheesy jokes. It’s fair to
say that watching those two is ultimately one of the highlights of the film and
their performances together carry the film across its excessive running time
(not to mention they are ten times more watch-able than Dunst/Maguire).
In a world where CGI animation and visual effects seem to
have become the norm, it is difficult for a film, which relies on the ‘amazing’,
to establish itself amongst the numerous spectacles out there. For audiences
who have come to expect such wondrous visuals it becomes increasingly difficult
to entertain, and this will inevitably be the case for some audiences and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. However, Marc
Webb’s follow-up to 2012’s The Amazing
Spider-Man is undoubtedly incredible in the visual sense, even to those who
may now see special effects as common-place in movies; from the dramatic
clock-tower sequence to the ‘Electro’ magnetic battle (see what we did there),
the film is beautifully envisioned on screen.
Whilst The
Amazing-Spider Man 2 suffers from its over-packed narrative and extensive
running time, it is on a whole a more emotionally heavy piece, backed up by the
outstanding performances from its actors, and the overwhelming chemistry
between its two leading characters. This elevates the film above average status
and combined with its dazzling visual effects, makes sure that whilst The Amazing Spider-Man 2 may not be as ‘amazing’
as people would have hoped, it is certainly worth watching and still thoroughly
entertaining.
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