1. Stone and Garfield are pure gold! As in the original film, Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/ Spiderman) and Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) have an amazing chemistry that translates well on screen. In this sequel the real-life couple crank up their amazing quirky appeal and audiences will surely notice how genuine their attraction seems. It’s hard to believe that they are following a script as their dialogue seems all too real. The filmmakers seem to relish their on-screen chemistry as long portions of the film are dedicated to the struggle Peter has with fighting crime and putting Gwen at risk of his enemies discovering their relationship. Indeed, what this new Spiderman franchise will long be remembered for is the amazing romantic appeal of Garfield and Stone.
2. Jamie Foxx makes a good bad guy. Of course most fans of the series and of Oscar winner Foxx were eager to see his performance as popular comic book villain, Electro. While I expected the villain’s motivation to become evil to be more substantial, Foxx delivers an amazing performance as a nerd obsessed with Spiderman who, through an accident involving exposure to massive amounts of electricity, becomes a super villain capable of frying those who oppose him with a single electrical bolt. Foxx is quirky and amusing as the nerd and following the transformation becomes foreboding and menacing speaking in a deep, darker tone aided well by stunning visual effects. Foxx is truly captivating as Electro.
3. Special effects extravaganza. The true mark of a super hero/comic book film is its special effects and Amazing Spiderman 2 does not disappoint. From the sweeping vistas of Spiderman swinging from skyscrapers to Electro’s colourful bursts of electrical energy, the filmmakers seemed to have spared no expense to ensure that the film looks, sounds and feels extraordinary. What I particularly liked about this sequel is the new camera angles used as Spidie swings into action and the audience is able to see the streets below and gigantic buildings from the hero’s point of view. It creates an amusement park –like experience and allows the audience to feel the rush and excitement of the scene. Though the battle scenes between Electro and Spiderman have a video game-like appearance with fast, kinetic movements that can be dizzying at times, overall the action sequences are visually stunning.
4. Garfield is still better than MacGuire. Few will argue that Andrew Garfield is the best Spiderman to date and his winning streak continues in this sequel with his suave, yet quirky take on the ‘web slinger’. While Tobey MacGuire offered a nerdy, boy-next-door quality, Garfield is heroic, yet relatable with zany one-liners used to insult the many villains he faces in this sequel. I was hesitant about the number of villains in this entry; there was the chance they could overwhelm the story line and take the attention away from the hero. After all, the last Super hero film which featured three villains was the gigantic flop Batman and Robin in which over-the-top villains stole the spotlight. However, thanks to a truly well written script, Peter Parker remains at the forefront of the story with Electro being his main challenge while other villains The Rhino (an hilarious Paul Giamatti) and the Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan from the Sci-fi film Chronicle) merely make brief cameos and appear just to set up the plot for the evitable third film. Garfield is allowed to soar.
5. Shocking climax that will leave audiences floored (no spoilers). While I will not say what happens in the final climatic battle between Electro, Spiderman and another villain who makes a surprise appearance, I will warn that what happens at the end of this sequel is something few super hero movies would attempt. I was completely floored by the sudden turn of events and even heard audible gasps from the other audience members as few expected the writers to go for such a shocking end. I will say that the final battle is spectacular with a large-scale showdown between Foxx and Garfield executed brilliantly with amazing special effects aided well by a pulsating soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. What I particularly like about this sequel is the strong writing which creates a perfect balance between the super human battles and poignant relationships between Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and Aunt May. Sally Field is memorable as Peter’s main confidant and grounds the film with emotional heft. While I felt some of the emotional scenes seemed a bit too long, the overall mix of spectacular action, romance and poignant storytelling makes this sequel one of the best super hero films in recent memory with a memorable ending that audiences will be talking about for years.
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