My thoughts on "THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2":
First off, I would give this film a B-. I don't think it reaches the heights of Raimi's "Spider-Man 2" but the critics have judged this movie so harshly and unfairly that their hatred for it is eyeball-rolling and laughter-inducing. While yes some things don't work and feel rushed, the story is focused and I love the theme of time throughout the film. You definitely want Peter to succeed and save the day even though you know Gwen will eventually die and time is definitely not on Peter's side throughout this film.
The Pros:
- Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone's performances continue to be nothing but stellar. They're funny, charming, adorable, and tear-jerking.
- The webslinging. I would've loved to have seen more P.O.V. shots but man did they up the ante with it. Soaring over the city to the action-sequences, I loved every minute of it.
-Showing more of Peter's intelligence and doing everything he can to one-up Electro.
- Dane DeHaan. Wow! Is this kid something epic or what? I wanted him to play Harry after seeing "Chronicle" and boy does the kid bring it. I LOVED his Harry Osborn/Green Goblin. Franco was always the pretty-boy but never struck me as threatening when he became the second Goblin, but the desperation, frustration, and angst Harry goes through--- the choices he makes--- how he sacrifices his friendship and everything for survival... perfect.
- People have complained about Paul Giamatti but I liked him as Rhino and look forward to the future with him in the Sinister Six. That end scene with him vs. Spider-Man... so much win for as short as it is.
-Michael Massee as Gustav Fiers/The Gentleman and Chris Cooper. Boy, are these guys some evil dudes, and whoever Oscorp's foreign backers are makes me giddy.
-The end credits teasing the Sinister Six (Kraven and Mysterio) has got me super excited!
Cons:
- Jamie Foxx's Max Dillon/Electro and Marton Csokas' Dr. Kafka are perilously close to falling into "Batman Forever"/"Batman & Robin"-territory. They're campy as hell and while Electro is a visually-stunning character onscreen, the portrayal of such an iconic character going from a nebbish and needy to a homicidal Dr. Manhattan-inspired psychopath just never wowed me other than the Time Square battle and end battle. He never quite reaches the level of Willem Dafoe's Norman Osborn/Green Goblin or Alfred Molina's Dr. Otto Octavius/Dr. Octopus, but more ends up being a forgettable villain like Thomas Hayden Church's Flint Marko/Sandman.
Marton Csokas is cartoony and comes off as a parody of German mad scientists seen in horror films. But luckily, he isn't in the film for too long.
- I would've loved to see more of B.J. Novak's Alistair Smythe, Felicity Jones' Felicia Hardy, and Colm Feore's Donald Menken, but there's always the sequels, kids!
-It does fall into "Iron Man 2"-syndrome where the world-building gets in the way of the actual story but everything feels centralized and interwoven even if they are many webs Webb is weaving with the different characters and plotlines.
So, those are my thoughts. Better than Raimi's "Spider-Man 2?" Hardly but I would give it a solid 8/10.
Again, screw the critics and enjoy. It's a fun, webslinging ride.

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