Monday, January 05, 2015

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Part 1 of 2)


The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Part 1 of 2)
Despite some improvements in the character development and acting, the movie has some serious story structures due to more interference and last minute changes.  It comes across as being rushed.  The movie has some potential and good moments, but squanders them with pacing and dropped plotlines.  The movie tries to tackle too many things without giving anything the proper time they need to develop.  Amazing 2 is still better than Spider-Man 3 though, but falls under the same problems. 
The movie is weaker overall thanks to all the things crammed into it.
You would think Sony would learn from its mistakes from the Sam Rami films.  However, there are some really good things that this version gets right over the Rami films. 
Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man / Peter Parker:  Garfield is prefect as Spider-Man.  Unlike the other guy, Garfield lets his Parker/Spidey out to play.  He actually has fun as a superhero.  And, he makes wisecracks toward his bad guys just like the version from the comic books.  This is Spider-Man.  If they fold Spider-Man into the Marvel Universe, they need to keep Garfield as the hero. 
Emma Stone:  Her take on Gwen Stacy is a breath of fresh air.  Stacy never comes across as the annoying girlfriend or the “damsel in distress”-ish.  Truth be told, she is actually the one that is the bigger hero later in the movie.  Stone and Garfield’s chemistry is wonderful and playful.  They truly seem like a couple (at the joking stage), and they’re scenes are always nice.  Keep in mind I hated the Mary Jane scenes from the first series of films.  Stone is a lovely woman with some acting chops. 
Jamie Foxx:  I needed more development, but what Foxx was trying to do with the character was nice though.  He tried his best with what he had. 
Hans Zimmer replaces James Horner as the composer for the movie.  Horner was the composer for the first movie and I hated his work on it.  It was the recycled bullshit that he does in all his compositions since the 80s.  Horner, you need new material.  Stop ripping yourself off, because it is getting old. 
Zimmer mixes his fast moving themes with dubstep (with help from Pharrell Williams).  Given that Electro is supposed to be the main villain, the dubstep actually works extremely well.  I mean there is a lot of dubstep in this score, and I hate dubstep as music.  Zimmer uses a nice hero theme for Spider-Man that we hear on different instruments.  And, both Electro and the Green Goblin have strong themes as well. (Marvel Studios, take note.) Electro’s is very strong with its chants/rap lyrics with a traditional orchestral movement. 
They also got the movement of Spider-Man right using his smaller frame to dodge things.  Plus, we actually get to witness how Parker’s mind works and using it to his advantage.  He’s actually a very smart person that just so happens to be a superhero.   
His first battle with Electro is very good and displays his movements around the energy attacks nicely.   Plus, we get some nice humor too. 
Certain characters are introduced and promptly dropped all together and some didn’t even get screen time but were cast (Mary Jane).  One character is supposed to have a bigger part, but only get shoved to a very minor character and you can see it.  Why did they feel the need to have the entire subplot about Peter Parker’s parents?  It actively takes away from plots that need much needed plot develop. 
 Parker’s spider senses tell him Stacy is about to let one rip. 
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 Blame it on the alcohol 
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 What is the male version of “Butter Face”?

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