Fine!
Spiderman 2 isn’t without faults. In fact it falls into the clichéd superhero
trap a few times, but, and this is a big one, I loved the film. I loved it
because not for once during the entire screen time did I feel bored or at the
end thought that maybe it could have been just a little bit shorter.
With the origins having being taken care of in The Amazing Spiderman, Marc Webb gets around to play with the character in this sequel and it is clear he is having fun doing so. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone lead the cast as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy who are struggling to make their relationship work. It is important to note that I disliked the first film, and had given up on this new reboot, having adored the ‘original’ trilogy which had more depth and character. The same is true here was well, because the angst present in the relationship of Spiderman and Mary Jane in the first trilogy is still more intense than what we see here, nevertheless, The Amazing Spiderman 2 might take the relationship a little lightheartedly, but it fits the storyline and doesn’t come across as half-baked.
The Amazing Spiderman 2 once again dares to go ahead with three villains, remember Spiderman 3 from before, but the biggest difference this time is that it is all well planned and sketched out. Paul Giamatti’s Rhino is present only at the start and at the end; Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblin only makes an entry in the climatic fight sequence, and in a funny way this film is more of an origins story of the Green Goblin so we see more of Harry Osborn rather than Spiderman’s arch enemy; and lastly Jamie Foxx’s Electro might follow the tried and tested route of a superhero’s admirer turn bad guy, but he played it out well and managed to give Spiderman enough to keep his hands full throughout the film.
What bothered me about the film, as an afterthought, were the trademark superhero scenes that we have seen a few too many times. We have Peter Parker in his home, still in costume, trying to keep Aunt May out of the room as he tries to haphazardly change into normal clothes. Then there is a scene when Electro cuts the power to the city which results in air-control unable to help two planes from colliding with each other, but as always, at the very last second, the power is turned on and the planes have a near miss. In fact even the end, which sees a little boy stand against Rhino, since Spiderman has disappeared for a while, while the public looks in shock seems to be over dramatic and if my memory serves right might have been ripped off from an Indian film called Krrish 3, which mind you in turn had ripped off X-Men, so I guess everything just moves in circles when it comes to films.
Enough movie bashing for now, for I don’t want you thinking I didn’t like the film. Remember, I loved it a lot and it could primarily be because I watched it in 3D IMAX. I have always advocated against 3D till now, but this time, it added to the film, and so did the screen size, and the excellent sound. Granted there were some problems with the 3D, like tilting my head to the side even a little would make the picture a bit fuzzy, but I guess the cinema and the movie is just promoting right posture so maybe they do care about our health if not so much about our finances with the exuberantly rising ticket prices.
When it comes to the film, Garfield and Stone and almost all the other actors are comfortable in their characters. The tongue and cheek humor present throughout adds the right amount of comedy with the magnificent action sequences (that once again make the most of 3D technology) and the drama which in turn gives us the full package. What further impressed me was that the Green Goblin, when he does make an entrance, is a lot more repulsive to look at, as he should be, than his counterpart from the earlier films. Then, there is the shocking end, which had me in two minds till the very last second of the fall, wondering if the makers would take the leap of faith and let Gwen plummet to her death or not? I am glad to say that they made the right decision at the end.
The Amazing Spiderman 2 is an entertaining film that tightly packs in all the fun and excitement that is required for a good superhero film. It moved forward with the concept that started with The Amazing Spiderman making sure that it doesn’t get stuck in the past, something that makes the film all the more likeable. True, the experience of watching it on IMAX 3D added a lot to me liking the film, but it is also true that I came out of the theater having enjoyed it wholeheartedly, and in the end that is what really counts.
Rating 4.5/5
