THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (2014) Dir. Marc Webb

I'd like to welcome back to CA towers after a long hiatus, Richard Long, who returns with a look at 2014's The Amazing Spiderman 2. You can check out Richard's review after the jump....


Written By Richard Long

I want to begin with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy. At the time Raimi had reinvented the superhero movie

genre. Besides The X men there hadn't really been anything as good in the genre since Batman Returns.

Raimi's vision of Spider-Man was perfect. Effects in the film business had reached a point were it was possible to make a Spider-Man movie without the dreadful effects the Paul Hammond era. But much more than just effects, Raimi, a master film-maker created a world and characters in which we believed. Unlike Batman which became soaked in Tim Buton fantasy realms, Spider-Man was heartfelt and believable. I've never been to New York city, and I doubt its the same as it is in the movies but within the Spider-Man Trilogy it shines with life and characters and that is all down to Sam Raimi.

I grew up watching the superhero cartoons, Superman movies and episodes of the Hulk. I wasn't a comic book geek, I don't know the story of Civil War or how many times each of the X-men has died and came back. The majority of my superhero knowledge has always came from movies. That is why Christopher Reeves will always be my Superman, Hugh Jackman Wolverine and Toby McGuire my Spider-Man.

Step forward then to the Amazing Spider-Man. When I discovered this was being made without Raimi or the amazing Toby Maguire I assumed it was going to be different direction from what has already been established. It wasn't. Instead it went back to basics and some parts almost felt like a remake. It wasn't a bad movie, but it didn't shine either, showing a story we had all experienced not so long ago.

Now almost everyone who saw its sequel said to me it was too long, needed editing down, had poor villains and was filled with plot holes. Even Mark Kermode seem to have problems with it but nothing is new there.

So I went in to this movie with the bar held low. But that soon changed.

Our first sight of Spider-Man has him free falling into the city and what a glorious sight this is. We can see his suit blowing in the wind and what follows is some of the best visual effects I've ever seen in a superhero movie. The cutting from POV shots to those of Spider-Man swinging from afar really give me a sense of what it feels like to be the web slinger. It was jaw dropping like all of the visual effects in the movie.

Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a film about loss. All the characters are longing for someone or something that is gone or is escaping them. Trying to cling to something that in the end they will all loose.

Peter Parker is losing his girlfriend, Max (Jamie Foxx) is losing his faith in humanity, Aunt May feels she is losing her nephew and Harry Osbourne is losing his fight with a genetic disease as well as losing his father and Gwen, Peter Parker's girlfriend has lost her father and is troubled by losing her love or chasing her dream. It leaves all the characters vulnerable and in those moments we see some truly fantastic scenes.

Andrew Garfield is an incredible actor. He comes across as a geeky Peter Parker but works it naturally in ways perhaps Toby Maguire couldn't. Scenes with Gwen are moving and tender but there's always that young kid still learning and yearning to grow up. This even shines through as Spider-Man. One liners never feel cheap because we are reminded this is a young kid who like most thinks he knows everything. But he's never arrogant and has moments especially towards the people he loves remorseful and tender, not playing the part overtly angry which would have been easy given most young men are either portrayed in this kinda of film as rebellious James Deans or Holden Caulfield. Garfield mannerisms are awkward and at times it feels like he could be that guy who sits next to you on the bus or the kid that services you in shop.

Jamie Foxx nails his role as villain Electro. I felt genuine pity for him as does Spider-Man. Here is a man used and walked over until he finally through no fault of his own becomes a unstoppable force.

Dane DeHaan is amazing also as Harry Osborn. There is one short scene were Harry and Parker laugh and joke and it feels very real. There relationship and banter is flawless and naturalistic that I found myself laughing along with them.

And the film is made up with these naturalistic human scenes that perhaps people wanted more action but I never felt this. The whole film doesn't feel long, regardless of what anyone said, I enjoyed every moment. Each scene felt required and never slow. The romance between Peter and Gwen felt real and when Spider-Man holds his love on top of a building it was moving and heartfelt, something not always done well in Superhero movies. Its also a stand out scene as its here when the city fades to black.

The action is superbly done. Electro seems to have a sound effect and music cue with everything he does and it just works. In fact the whole electronic soundtrack is very fitting. Mixed with a few folk and ballads and the music, dare I say electrify everything.

Effects in the movie our stunning but they'd be nothing without such a strong story as this. Harry Osborn becoming Spider-Man's arch enemy is displayed brilliant with contorts to his face into a frightfully believable villain when perhaps a lesser actor or not as confident director may have choose the easy option of a mask.

The finale like most Superhero movies is stunning and my only regret is I didn't see this at the cinema.

I would recommend this movie, its cityscape feels alive and beating unlike the last half of Avengers Assemble which never felt like the fight was taking place in a city but more a computer game.

Many of people told me to avoid this and I am glad I didn't. I really felt moved by this film and excited. It was funny, sad and moving. Whilst I adore Toby McGuire, I feel Andrew Garfield is a perfect choice of web-slinger.