UP TO SCRATCH

SPOILERS DOWN THE PATH; THE DISCUSSION BELOW WILL NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE WITHOUT IT.

TREAD CAREFULLY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 picks up directly after the events of the 2012 reboot. Peter's continuing search for his missing parents; a subplot the first film decided to completely neglect and reserve for the sequel after it got bored of it, is how the story extends its arm here.To empty the positives out of the way first, Hans Zimmer score is great… for the majority! Spidey's new costume with big eyepiece is a refreshing change, not to mention the fireman hat as well. No matter how many times you see it, Spider-Man web-swinging through New York city is a glorious sight! Similar to the first instalment, the technology boasted here is A class for sure! Visual effects to generate the look of Electro is simply amazing. All the actions sequences, be it the initial flight crash, Times Square current brawl or the clock tower climax. Gwen Stacy's (Emma Stone) death is impactful and the way it's shot with Spidey's web extending its own arm to grab her as her head knocks the ground is truly well done! Not to forget, all the slow motion moments are graciously pulled off.

Now, let's get down to business. Electro (Jamie Foxx) and Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) are antagonists with the worst motivations and goals in a live action Spider-Man film ever! Their subplots don't make sense and the way those somehow weakly connects to hating Spider-Man and wanting to kill him is ridiculous to the bone! Not only that, the entire movie is hollow cavity filled with stupidity, here are some examples:

  • Gwen Stacy is surprised that she's the valedictorian yet she has a speech readily prepared to be delivered. On a side note, her speech is poorly cut and interlaced with Spider-Man's truck action episode; an editing decision that has no effect, rhyme or reason even from a juxtaposition standpoint.

  • No living human being announces a break-up like Gwen Stacy here. Also, Gwen Stacy is smart but she decides to barge in a battlefield, risking her non-superhero live every single time. She gives Spider-Man tips on how to defeat Electro, but doesn't know not to hold a metal bar during a huge electricity fight. She is on the verge of dying in the clock tower, but she holds Spidey's web with only one hand.

  • Electro physically disintegrating his entire body by travelling through power ports.

  • Sony VAIO laptop with fully functional Wi-Fi on a flying plane… in the 80s. Of course yes, because product placement is important.

  • Harry Osborn, a young lad is dying from the so-called degenerative disease that took his father until he is old to actually see an effect. And the disease comes and goes, everybody!

  • Electro is born by combining electricity and giant eels. Apparently, the process also closes the gap between his teeth. By the way, how could it be possible that a giant corporation like Oscorp does not have any safety procedure, with employees being uncooperative to do their own job?

  • Paul Giamatti. Enough said.

Most of the scenes are long winded and bloated with back and forth conversations that drag without structural plot points for the proceedings to hang its spine on. Aunt May's (Sally Field) laundry discussion and every banter exchange between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy fall into this category. Speaking of Peter and Gwen, their relationship doesn't grow into anything. Some of the performances and comedic sequences are pure cringe. Characters just stumble upon information whenever they need it. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 could have benefited from actually including J. Jonah Jameson instead of just a verbal mention. And the most disappointing aspect of all? This franchise was shelved, and we never got the chance to see its version of Sinister Six post an awesome tease!