Not-So-Amazing
by allancarreon on May.03, 2014, under Film & TV, Geeky
Some random non-spoilery thoughts about The Amazing Spider-Man 2:
1. This Electro has such a Dr. Manhattan slash Palpatine complex.
2. It looks like the Sinister Six may have a female in its ranks next movie. Good.
3. Since obviously we need to maintain the animals motif, therefore: electric eels. Okay, then.
4. Apparently, some computers can last without losing power and shutting down even after about an entire decade of being in an abandoned hidden lair. Someone please find me one of those babies. The lights, too – they never died down, either.
5. Why do I start the movie finding Dane DeHaan unattractive then progress to finding him strangely cute by the middle?
6. Jamie Foxx, I have not seen such horrid scenery chewing since Governor Arnold in “Batman and Robin” and such cliched “I’m-an-unappreciated-worker” acting since Jim Carrey in “Batman Forever.”
7. Friggin’ bait-and-switch with the Rhino, but I suppose I should be happy given the terrible performance that Paul Giamatti turned in. Jamie Foxx seems restrained in comparison.
8. It’s such a shame that Peter and Harry’s friendship was underdeveloped and one you could not truly root for. Tobey Maguire and James Franco did it better, but this is not the actors’ fault but rather a writing case of putting in too much, too soon.
9. Speaking of writing, that is one of the most unearned denouements in the history of film. How can an epilogue be both so long and yet so rushed? Especially given the circumstances? Well, I suppose the same can be said about the entire story: long, overstuffed, and yet thin on plot and motivation.
10. At least we get excellent performances from Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Sally Field, and Dane DeHaan – who may be chewing scenery as well, but at least he seems to be having fun, unlike Foxx who is taking himself ve-ry se-ri-ous-ly.
Amazing Spider-Man 2 was passable, but it was an underwhelming and poor follow-up to an already so-so first film. It is interesting that Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 is considered one of the best superhero movies. Meanwhile, Webb’s sequel – which should have been pivotal given the source material – is a disappointment of the genre.
My Rating: 6.5 out of 10 Stars
Directed By: Marc Webb
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Colm Feore, Felicity Jones, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, with Paul Giamatti and Sally Field