The Amazing Spider-Man 2 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - User Review Thread! - SPOILERS! - Part 5

[spiderral]

Not sure anyone is interested in reading reviews any more but here's mine:

Spoiler

The best part about comic books is that they’re an evolving group of stories that are part of a larger narrative. The characters are centralized in a world where you can have such a spectrum of wide-eyed events, crazy villains, bold ambitious creations and plenty of colorful themes. Think of some of the most outrageous comic book stories and there’s no limit to how inventive and ‘out there’ they can go—only bound by what the writers dare to dream. Part of the reason and a big part it is, for how and why I love Spider-Man is that after you wash all that stuff away, you’re left with some very basic elements. Life thru the eyes of a teenage kid thrust into the middle of something grand whilst trying to maintain everything ‘normal’ he can hold on to—it’s all about his daily struggles to make ends meet and have meaningful relationships. At the core, underneath all the spectacle, you have a very warm and charming story.

This is what I love about the Amazing Spider-Man 2. The movie resembles a comic book, not one in particular, but the comic book nature of storytelling. ASM2 is every bit a story told thru the eyes of Peter Parker. We’re meant to feel his highs and lows, the eccentric nature of his existence and the struggle to maintain even the most simple of relationships.

ASM2 is by far the best portrayal of the title character of Spider-Man ever to grace the screen. Garfield deserves some serious credit here as he absolutely nails down every aspect of Spidey, from his movements, to his voice and more importantly to the delivery of the lines; this is Spider-Man at his absolute best. The quips are excellent and his interactions with everyone and anyone is a joy to watch whether it’s a Russian mobster or high-fiving some firemen as though they’re been best friends for years. The best part is how much of a hero Spider-Man is in this film. Saving people, protecting kids from bullies, giving people hope and even fighting crime thru the haze of a flu. But that’s Spidey, rain or shine. Garfield is just as great outside the suit giving us a conflicted, troubled, very likeable and relatable Peter. The duality of the character is beautifully portrayed here and Garfield does such an awesome job of keeping us connected to this crazy paced life that Peter endures.

Aside from Garfield’s terrific performance we also have an excellent batch of performances from the many side characters in his life. Emma Stone is once again a high point as she gives us even more reasons to root for Gwen. She’s smart, independent, strong, and has a wonderful chemistry with Andrew’s Parker. This is easily the best romance/relationship to ever be presented in a CBM, bar none. Sally Field brings levity to the role of Aunt May and has some very touching scenes with Peter. Dane Dehaan is excellent as well—going from one extreme to the other, he’s believable as Peter’s once good friend to desperate to menacing, to chewing up the scenery.

Before seeing this film I read so many criticisms about the villains and how they were handled. After seeing the movie, my only real issue with them, is that I wasn’t given enough of each. Never mind Aleksei or the Rhino. There really isn’t much development needed. He’s a criminal for hire. We don’t need a deep back story on this guy…he opens the film in a way that I’ve always wanted a Spidey film to open. Spider-Man just being Spider-Man and taking down a thug causing problems. After being put away of course he’s now got a beef with Spidey and jumps at the chance for some revenge. Giamatti plays Aleksei over-the-top and it was pure fun to watch him.

The problem I initially had with Max/Electro is that prior to seeing the movie I thought he was going to be this guy that I sympathized with pre-transformation. A loser, down on his luck, but you were pulling for him. Nope. Not at all. Max reminds me of that guy you sometimes see at work, in a restaurant, on a bus, at school, or wherever and he’s just disconnected. I hate to use the word ‘normal’ but he’s so removed from being normal that when you see him, you don’t pity him or feel sorry, you just want to stay clear. As if interacting with him would cause nothing but trouble. He runs the gauntlet for social disorders. People avoid him and don’t even care to help him. To everyone he’s invisible. Zimmer made an excellent choice writing Max’s theme as a solo clarinet. The woodsy tone is such a dissonant sound compared to the rest of the score and it’s there for a reason. Max is so removed from the tone of the film you can’t help but want him to go away… and that’s what I really enjoyed about the villains in ASM2. There isn’t any massive scheming going on here. There’s no master plan of villainy trying to reshape the world by their philosophic views, there’s no villains here as anti-heroes with nuanced back stories. They’re just broken, damaged individuals, much like broken toys and that’s all we need to know about them. Harry as the Goblin is no different. My only real gripe is that I wanted more of them. There’s nothing really original about these two characters but that isn’t the point, in fact, they’re meant to be counterpoints to Spider-Man. Just more menaces that he has to deal with in his daily life—his daily troubles.

The action scenes are wonderfully captured. The CGI has never looked better and the score backs up each moment within the film beautifully.

Even as the film plods along with its plot a bit messy and somewhat clumsy, ASM2 is a movie that understands the main character…”we must be greater than what we suffer.” This idea is at the heart of the movie and plays out like a song written for Spider-Man and the heroism that he embodies.

This movie is like a love letter to The Spectacular Spider-Man or even the 90’s cartoon. ASM2 is a self-contained character arc but it leaves things open-ended with a story that is yet to be completed much like a comic book. And that’s exactly what this movie is—a live action comic book. And I loved it.

Great review; it hits the nail on the head and is exactly how I feel about TASM2 too!

Nice review, what would your rating be?

Man this movie was awesome! I want to see it again!

I really just want it on Blu-Ray now. September needs to hurry its ass up!

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Great review, webhead. It went well with my morning coffee, thanks for the read.

Thanks! And glad I could assist in your morning coffee.

Yeah that review is excellent webhead,I agree with most of it except I couldn't stand pre-Electro Max XD. Maybe it will get better with my next view.

I couldn't stand him either and that was the point, imo. He's not sympathetic. You're not supposed to feel sorry for him or even root for him...he's just so 'out there' and so completely disconnected. The film is about needs and time. Max wants to get some attention yet he's invisible to everyone, not because he's so nerdy, it's because he's so incredibly disjointed...no one wants to see him or help him or recognize him. You just rather he go away instead.

Great review Webhead.Nice observation on Max.I agree.

Thanks Torch.

One of the few aspects I don't think I've touched on regarding the film was how much I liked the theme of "Spider-Man gives people hope".The scene of Spidey "saving" the kid from bullies and his subsequently standing up to Rhino in place of Spidey was really very heartwarming without getting maudlin.(upon seeing that ending,I instantly lamented why a scene like that wasn't at the end of MOS-but I digress)

But,that's also Peter's curse that he can't bring everybody hope.It's not in his power to save everybody.(again,another theme MOS should've done better-and yeah,that's the last time I'll bring that movie up)Harry & Max go from looking up to Spidey to trying to kill him.It just brings home how tragic it is that Peter's just a kid trying to do his best to inspire a little good will in people's lives,but it all goes back on him despite his best intentions.

Great post again. I thought I was gonna cringe at the scene in the end with the little boy but instead it really hit home. Spidey being a hero was touched on so well in this film. It's a great aspect of Peter's life that he always has the best intentions yet things always seem to backfire on him. He can't save everybody even with all his powers, yet another aspect that was shown to good effect.

Nice review, what would your rating be?

Man this movie was awesome! I want to see it again!

9/10

 

[Leafy]

Not sure anyone is interested in reading reviews any more but here's mine:

Spoiler

The best part about comic books is that they’re an evolving group of stories that are part of a larger narrative. The characters are centralized in a world where you can have such a spectrum of wide-eyed events, crazy villains, bold ambitious creations and plenty of colorful themes. Think of some of the most outrageous comic book stories and there’s no limit to how inventive and ‘out there’ they can go—only bound by what the writers dare to dream. Part of the reason and a big part it is, for how and why I love Spider-Man is that after you wash all that stuff away, you’re left with some very basic elements. Life thru the eyes of a teenage kid thrust into the middle of something grand whilst trying to maintain everything ‘normal’ he can hold on to—it’s all about his daily struggles to make ends meet and have meaningful relationships. At the core, underneath all the spectacle, you have a very warm and charming story.

This is what I love about the Amazing Spider-Man 2. The movie resembles a comic book, not one in particular, but the comic book nature of storytelling. ASM2 is every bit a story told thru the eyes of Peter Parker. We’re meant to feel his highs and lows, the eccentric nature of his existence and the struggle to maintain even the most simple of relationships.

ASM2 is by far the best portrayal of the title character of Spider-Man ever to grace the screen. Garfield deserves some serious credit here as he absolutely nails down every aspect of Spidey, from his movements, to his voice and more importantly to the delivery of the lines; this is Spider-Man at his absolute best. The quips are excellent and his interactions with everyone and anyone is a joy to watch whether it’s a Russian mobster or high-fiving some firemen as though they’re been best friends for years. The best part is how much of a hero Spider-Man is in this film. Saving people, protecting kids from bullies, giving people hope and even fighting crime thru the haze of a flu. But that’s Spidey, rain or shine. Garfield is just as great outside the suit giving us a conflicted, troubled, very likeable and relatable Peter. The duality of the character is beautifully portrayed here and Garfield does such an awesome job of keeping us connected to this crazy paced life that Peter endures.

Aside from Garfield’s terrific performance we also have an excellent batch of performances from the many side characters in his life. Emma Stone is once again a high point as she gives us even more reasons to root for Gwen. She’s smart, independent, strong, and has a wonderful chemistry with Andrew’s Parker. This is easily the best romance/relationship to ever be presented in a CBM, bar none. Sally Field brings levity to the role of Aunt May and has some very touching scenes with Peter. Dane Dehaan is excellent as well—going from one extreme to the other, he’s believable as Peter’s once good friend to desperate to menacing, to chewing up the scenery.

Before seeing this film I read so many criticisms about the villains and how they were handled. After seeing the movie, my only real issue with them, is that I wasn’t given enough of each. Never mind Aleksei or the Rhino. There really isn’t much development needed. He’s a criminal for hire. We don’t need a deep back story on this guy…he opens the film in a way that I’ve always wanted a Spidey film to open. Spider-Man just being Spider-Man and taking down a thug causing problems. After being put away of course he’s now got a beef with Spidey and jumps at the chance for some revenge. Giamatti plays Aleksei over-the-top and it was pure fun to watch him.

The problem I initially had with Max/Electro is that prior to seeing the movie I thought he was going to be this guy that I sympathized with pre-transformation. A loser, down on his luck, but you were pulling for him. Nope. Not at all. Max reminds me of that guy you sometimes see at work, in a restaurant, on a bus, at school, or wherever and he’s just disconnected. I hate to use the word ‘normal’ but he’s so removed from being normal that when you see him, you don’t pity him or feel sorry, you just want to stay clear. As if interacting with him would cause nothing but trouble. He runs the gauntlet for social disorders. People avoid him and don’t even care to help him. To everyone he’s invisible. Zimmer made an excellent choice writing Max’s theme as a solo clarinet. The woodsy tone is such a dissonant sound compared to the rest of the score and it’s there for a reason. Max is so removed from the tone of the film you can’t help but want him to go away… and that’s what I really enjoyed about the villains in ASM2. There isn’t any massive scheming going on here. There’s no master plan of villainy trying to reshape the world by their philosophic views, there’s no villains here as anti-heroes with nuanced back stories. They’re just broken, damaged individuals, much like broken toys and that’s all we need to know about them. Harry as the Goblin is no different. My only real gripe is that I wanted more of them. There’s nothing really original about these two characters but that isn’t the point, in fact, they’re meant to be counterpoints to Spider-Man. Just more menaces that he has to deal with in his daily life—his daily troubles.

The action scenes are wonderfully captured. The CGI has never looked better and the score backs up each moment within the film beautifully.

Even as the film plods along with its plot a bit messy and somewhat clumsy, ASM2 is a movie that understands the main character…”we must be greater than what we suffer.” This idea is at the heart of the movie and plays out like a song written for Spider-Man and the heroism that he embodies.

This movie is like a love letter to The Spectacular Spider-Man or even the 90’s cartoon. ASM2 is a self-contained character arc but it leaves things open-ended with a story that is yet to be completed much like a comic book. And that’s exactly what this movie is—a live action comic book. And I loved it.

Spot on! Great review.

 

[Casius--J]

Thanks! And glad I could assist in your morning coffee.



I couldn't stand him either and that was the point, imo. He's not sympathetic. You're not supposed to feel sorry for him or even root for him...he's just so 'out there' and so completely disconnected. The film is about needs and time. Max wants to get some attention yet he's invisible to everyone, not because he's so nerdy, it's because he's so incredibly disjointed...no one wants to see him or help him or recognize him. You just rather he go away instead.



Thanks Torch.



Great post again. I thought I was gonna cringe at the scene in the end with the little boy but instead it really hit home. Spidey being a hero was touched on so well in this film. It's a great aspect of Peter's life that he always has the best intentions yet things always seem to backfire on him. He can't save everybody even with all his powers, yet another aspect that was shown to good effect.



9/10

My rating too!

 

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

Just watched this again. Reallllly enjoyed it, despite the story being all over the place.

Positives:
-Great emotional center (Peter/Gwen story) and core themes (hope, moving on vs obsession, how we live our lives vs life itself). This ultimately makes the movie for me.
-All the stuff with Spidey and the city was great. The brain-dead citizens didn't bother me.
-Great acting.
-Great action/VFX/cinematography
-Great music and sound. I like how it doesn't take itself too seriously at times. I don't mind the tone shifts.
-All the individual scenes (and characters) were enjoyable (except maybe the scene of lovestruck Peter walking through traffic).

Negatives:
-Despite giving the villains enough backstory (which are relevant to the main themes), there's not enough actual integration of the villains into the main character's story. When they meet, ideas at play aren't challenged/explored/validated by Spidey throughout the bulk of the movie, so they might as well have been Rhino-esque villains with little to no screen-time on backstory.

-The Richard Parker reveal wasn't satisfying/surprising, nor did it lead the plot anywhere (in this movie at least), nor did it create any interesting character development (again, in this movie). While Peter's inability to move on and Richard's 'responsible' time-strained actions are thematically relevant, the answers didn't add much of anything. I think the (mis)information about Richard's selfishness could have taken Peter's character and the story in a more interesting direction if Peter never proved it untrue and learned to move on from it. Or perhaps the information he discovers via Richard is even worse. Or perhaps the discover of Richard's noble actions would serve as a reminder of the responsibility mantra and Uncle Ben (instead of the following scene being Peter announcing his love for Gwen on the bridge. Maybe that's the point?). As is, he's rewarded for his obsessiveness with a pleasant answer and that's that. Very strange. I have to imagine that something was changed along the way.

-Some of the comedy didn't always work.

-"It's my birthday, and it's time to light my candles!"

-Having two Spidey montages (with the news in the background) was a little repetitive in the beginning.

Overall:
The story gets jumbled in the middle and falls way short of its potential, but the highs are really damn high. It's still near the top of my favorite CBMs at the moment.

8/10

 

[spiderral]

I don't get why including Peter's parents in TASM2 is being criticised as such a problem when so many people complained that they didn't do enough with them in TASM1.
Richard's experiments tie in to Norman and his work at Oscorp, Peter becoming Spider-Man and Harry becoming the Goblin.

 

[BestGirl]

I had no problem with the parents' storyline in theory. I completely understand why it has to be there; it was just handled in a fairly boring way. Some of it was silly, too, what with the secret subway lab. It just required better writing.

 

[Human Torch]

I think the parents stuff falls kinda flat because in the original comics it turned out to be this big plot by the Red Skull and Peter had to travel to the casbah (or whatever) to get the proof to clear their names.Here,it was just Peter dealing with abandonment issues (that he never had in the comics) and when he finds out the truth (his dad really loved him-duh) it feels a bit anti-climactic.

He isn't even allowed to confront the people responsible for his parent's deaths.(Norman...?)

Added to that the whole "because of Pete's dad only Peter could've became Spider-Man" thing which was completely unnecessary.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Great review; it hits the nail on the head and is exactly how I feel about TASM2 too!

Spot on! Great review.

Thanks!

My rating too!

I don't get why including Peter's parents in TASM2 is being criticised as such a problem when so many people complained that they didn't do enough with them in TASM1.
Richard's experiments tie in to Norman and his work at Oscorp, Peter becoming Spider-Man and Harry becoming the Goblin.

Including that bit wasn't a problem for me however it could have been done in a more interesting way. It made enough sense but it was a bit dull. Also, it would have been nice to have more of an emphasis on Uncle Ben and the parents storyline kinda took away from that. But it didn't need to.

 

[dodgers2213]

The ASM1 promised the untold story of his parents, but we didn't get any of that. The parents story was pushed to this movie instead. But the payoff is rather weak IMO

If Richard Parker's grand reveal was the creation of the Venom symbiote, hot damn would I have been all in with the parents. But it ended with secret Oscorp arm's dealing. Just not interesting enough. All this could have been wrapped up in ASM1

 

[AnneFan]

The parents story was pushed to this movie instead. But the payoff is rather weak IMO

I actually liked how low key the conclusion to Richard's arc was. Peter alone in the secret lab, watching the video. Getting emotional and mental closure on that early, but important period of his life. He finally knew 100 per cent his father was a good man with good intentions. To the point he packs up the family photo (him, Richard and Mary) from his bedroom away at the end, there's a lingering close-up. He carries their memory but it's no longer an unresolved weight.

 

[ironman29758]

I actually liked how low key the conclusion to Richard's arc was. Peter alone in the secret lab, watching the video. Getting emotional and mental closure on that early, but important period of his life. He finally knew 100 per cent his father was a good man with good intentions. To the point he packs up the family photo (him, Richard and Mary) from his bedroom away at the end, there's a lingering close-up. He carries their memory but it's no longer an unresolved weight.

i just came back from finals and passed most of my tests(Still waiting on my last classes results) and looking for a job so sorry I didn't post as much as I wish I could and I just have to say this Annefan, well said.


I agree. I kind of wish they dealt with Uncle Ben's killer at least by the end of the first movie and we see or heard more about Peter's relationship with Uncle Ben, I like that little lightheated moment of Peter jokingly said Ben would just tell Pete to get a job but at least a picture of them at disney land like the Ultimate comics did or something. I understand they wanted to resolve the Parent's death and mystery but the conclusion honestly was kind of lackluster. But honestly hyping it up in the first movie, and not resolving immediately didn't help in any way. Maybe if Norman was the Green Goblin during the fight with Peter instead of Harry and Norman with Harry, Donald Menken and Gustav Fiers planning the Sinister Six we could see more of it but hopefully third movie.

Nice review/analysis Ultimate Webhead. I agree that this movie felt like a This movie is like a love letter to The Spectacular Spider-Man or even the 90’s cartoon and kind of worked as a self-contained character arc but still left some things to be dealt with. I enjoyed Aleksei over the top attitude but I wish his dialogue was different in the Rhino introduction scene and he didn't yell as much. I do wish they find a better balance between the villains(although it was better than some other attempts, I still hold Captain America and Dark Knight as the perfect way to showcase multiple villains) I also enjoyed Peter's day to day lifestyle in the beginning. I agreed with this post every way. kind of disappointing to hear the Rotten Tomatoes review , based on people I talked to, it should have gotten a higher score and felt kind of underrated but alas, what done is done

 

[UltimateWebhead]

I actually liked how low key the conclusion to Richard's arc was. Peter alone in the secret lab, watching the video. Getting emotional and mental closure on that early, but important period of his life. He finally knew 100 per cent his father was a good man with good intentions. To the point he packs up the family photo (him, Richard and Mary) from his bedroom away at the end, there's a lingering close-up. He carries their memory but it's no longer an unresolved weight.

That's a really good way to look at it. I totally forgot about him packing away their picture...I gotta go see this again.

 

[SpideyK]

The ASM1 promised the untold story of his parents, but we didn't get any of that. The parents story was pushed to this movie instead. But the payoff is rather weak IMO

If Richard Parker's grand reveal was the creation of the Venom symbiote, hot damn would I have been all in with the parents. But it ended with secret Oscorp arm's dealing. Just not interesting enough. All this could have been wrapped up in ASM1

Maybe the spiders aren't the only thing Richard put his DNA in.

Ultimate symbiote, anyone?

 

[Spider-Ock]

Maybe the spiders aren't the only thing Richard put his DNA in.

Ultimate symbiote, anyone?

They might have cut the symbiote out for a reason. I think that Peter will find something similar to its ultimate version in that subway car lab. Maybe Harry will bond with it after Peter rejects it, thus setting him up as the main protagonist of Venom.

 

[spiderral]

They might have cut the symbiote out for a reason. I think that Peter will find something similar to its ultimate version in that subway car lab. Maybe Harry will bond with it after Peter rejects it, thus setting him up as the main protagonist of Venom.

Well, the symbiote was meant to be featured here but was cut:

Spoiler

 

[Huddsy]

Marc Webb really gets the character of Parker, but I feel like he's a bit overwhelmed from a logistical side of making a movie. Just my personal opinion.

 

[Duran Man]

I watched the movie this morning, and I loved it. It's better than the first, but along with that one, not as good as the first two Raimi films. Just as a fan of Norman Osborn, I was a little bummed that they killed him off so early in the movie (and in the franchise), but having already seen a great version of the character in Spider-Man, I'm fine with Harry as Peter's arch-nemesis in these films. I also felt that the Osborns' onscreen debut in the reboot felt abrupt to me, and it may have helped if we had seen Harry in the first movie (Norman was at least mentioned). There weren't many scenes with Peter and Harry interacting as friends, and unfortunately, I thought the one after they leave Harry's house dragged on. Another scene I thought dragged on was the one when Gwen told Peter she was going to Oxford just before Electro makes his appearance. Speaking of Electro, after I watched the movie, I was critical of how much of a "loser" they made Max (I originally would have liked for him to have some menace at the start), but after thinking about it, I appreciated it a little more, and made a parallel between him and Harry. Max, in addition to being a loner and unnoticed, appeared to be mentally ill, or at least there was something mentally wrong with him (such as having conversations with himself as Spider-Man). Harry was physically ill and dying, and over the course of the movie, we see these two gradually degenerate and devolve, particularly Harry.

The highlight of the movie for me was Peter and Aunt May's scene when she tells him he's "her boy," and I loved their other interactions in the movie (the "laundry sheriff" scene still cracks me up). Regarding the other woman in his life, Peter and Gwen's relationship, despite what I said about that one scene, continued to be fun and interesting to watch, and now tragic. I knew her death would happen in this movie, but seeing Spider-Man battle with the Green Goblin while trying to save Gwen made my heart race, and seeing her neck snap after Spider-Man catches her still made me gasp. Watching Peter try to wake her up in vain, saying things like "stay with me" as if she were falling in and out of consciousness, along with him standing over her grave over the months are the saddest moments I've seen in a comic book movie. One more thing that didn't sit well with me was seeing Peter dawn the mask and suit at the end of the movie. I understand that he was motivated by Gwen's speech, but I think I would have preferred seeing the movie end just as he was about to suit up or just after suiting up, rather than seeing him take on Rhino as the final shot of the movie. Ultimately, it isn't a big deal, but, again, it was something that didn't sit well with me.

I enjoyed Spidey's wise-cracking, as I did in the last film, and Electro's effects blew me away. Electro isn't one of my favourite villains in the comics, but I was certain that visually he'd be stunning onscreen.

I give The Amazing Spider-Man 2 an 8/10.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Solid review Duran Man.

 

[Duran Man]

Thanks.

 

[Naked Shia]

I will make a short review.

I liked it. It is really the first spidey movie, that really makes me feel like I'm watching Spider-man on the big screen. His energy, his humor, how he always try his best to save people, how he cares for people. That was great.

His chemistry with Gwen was genuine, like in the first one. But their scenes weren't interesting. The whole "i'm not with you but I want to" would have been better if they didn't already get back together at the end of ASM 1.

I get what they were trying to do with Electro. It was interesting. But it felt too cartoony to really work.

Harry was weel played and inetresting. Had he been the whole antagonist, with him becoming the goblin during the 2nd act and fighting Spidey a first time during the 2nd act, the movie would have been way better imo/ That said, his only scene as the goblin was incredible. His laugh was frightening as hell, and you got a real sense of doom. Even though I knew Gwen would die, I was on the edge of my seat during the whole scene. Her death was incredible. Really moving. Garfield was awesome. From Green Goblin coming after spidey to the end credits, the movie is really good imo.

I also liked that spidey only took his mask off once, when Gwen dies. Unlike every single other spidey movie, where he would take his mask off every 5 minutes.

The fight scenes were disappointing for the most part. There wasn't much action. and when there was, it was hardly worth noting. The time square scene, while having some good bits, wasn't even really a fight. The second Electro fight was forgettable. The Goblin fight was way better, but mostly because the dramaturgy was great. The fight itself wasn't incredible.

The biggest flaw is the story. It wasn't really story. More a succession of scenes. The flow wasn't good at all. This is mostly due to them using Electro instead of making Harry the main antagonist imo.

That said, I really liked it, even if it was flawed.

 

[yllum]

Just watched asm2 for the first time, I know there are a lot of bad reviews for the movie. .but I kept an open mind going into the film

I have to say I really enjoy it alot..ok the motive or electro is kinda lame..but it does not affect how enjoyable the film is.In fact I enjoy it more than days of future past. Defintely better than asm1

Definitely gonna get it in blu ray!

 

[Frodo]

I think the parents stuff falls kinda flat because in the original comics it turned out to be this big plot by the Red Skull and Peter had to travel to the casbah (or whatever) to get the proof to clear their names.Here,it was just Peter dealing with abandonment issues (that he never had in the comics) and when he finds out the truth (his dad really loved him-duh) it feels a bit anti-climactic.

He isn't even allowed to confront the people responsible for his parent's deaths.(Norman...?)

Added to that the whole "because of Pete's dad only Peter could've became Spider-Man" thing which was completely unnecessary.

Imo, the stuff with his parents has always been problematic , even in the comics. If anything, the angle would work better in The Disney Shield lead MCU in which you had Sam Jackson's fury and Red Skull etc. Ultimately its really not an essential or even side issue in the Spiderman legend and myth.

Ben and May are like his parents and grandparents, and frankly, that's all you really need, or need to know. The parents aren't even part of his origin, so all they really are are footnotes as far as i'm concerned. I think they were trying to use the Nolan BB principle of exploring area's of the myth which hadn't been fleshed out or elaborated on.

However, the story of how Bruce became Batman was alot more interesting then the story of two characters which really don't add anything substantial to the Spiderman myth other than providing an answer to a question no one really cared about.

 

[Andrew Lucas]

Is there anyone here who disliked Gwen as a character?

That someone must buuuurnnn....just kidding...

 

[redmarvel]

I hate polls like this - is 1 "high" the best, "I'm #1" or is 1 "low" the worst?

For the most part I liked Spider-Man 2. Everything was pretty good except for 3 really big problems.

2 of the problems were caused by mis-use of scene shifts. When a director shifts a scene it should be to move the plot forward (what happens in between isn't important to the story), not because they don't know how to resolve the situation.

The first scene shift - after SM finds the hidden lab - what does he do about it? Does he leave the lab there with the chance that someone else might find it and use it's secrets against him? Does he destroy it? Does he take parts of it with him for later perusal? Does he use it as his secret lair? Does he figure out how to hide the evidence of it's existence again (put it back into hiding)?

The second scene shift - if you haven't seen the movie - major spoiler alert:

Spoiler

Gwen's dead in SM's arms at the bottom of the clock tower. Does he just leave her body and call 911? Does he carry her out to make it easier for the cops to find her body? Does he find her cell phone on her corpse and use it to call 911?

Final big problem. Harry Osbourne / Green Goblin knows PP = SM. In the comics when Harry was in Goblin mode he was too crazy to share the info - he just wanted revenge himself. When Harry was in "normal" mode he forgot he was GG and PP was SM (blocked it out). In the movie version the Harry / GG personality are not over-riding each other, they're in synch, so what's stopping him from sharing his knowledge with the world and ruining SM's life that way?