The Amazing Spiderman 2 [3D]

Plot: Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and girlfriend Gwen (Emma Stone) graduate from high school as Spiderman helps rescue people and fight minor criminals. Meanwhile former classmate Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) learns he is terminally ill, and that research carried out by Peter's father on spiders might be the key. He wants to get some of Spiderman's blood to use as the therapy. Peter says no, and Harry enlists electric-power man Max Dillion (Jamie Foxx) to help him get Spiderman's blood. Gwen comes to battle Max, and Harry shows up to aid Max. After a big fight, buildings are smashed, and people die. [imdb]    [photos]

Review: Amazing Spiderman 2 has a hot beginning with a flashback to Peter's parents running away on a plane -- great action, cool direction, fast pace; the next scene was Spiderman web-slinging among Manhattan skyscrapers in a stylized and unrealistic way. Something was the matter: it was unrealistic in a  comical way -- it really broke the mood. The whole film was like this: excellent scenes mixed with dumb scenes that broke the illusion -- making me realize it was all a movie.

The special effects were a highlight; basically the flying scenes and the fighting scenes were great. I liked all the electricity sparking around. I need to say that Spiderman in his suit was too skinny, and he moved too fast among the skyscrapers, and also his suit was often to bright for the background. Spiderman in costume was always a CGI character, and that didn't always work.

Andrew Garfield is not a strong enough actor to hang a major franchise on. Emma Stone was OK, but if Andrew would have delivered his lines better the whole movie would have been better. Yes, sharper dialog would have helped too, but the core problem was the acting. 

Garfield did not seem sincere enough, always too ironic. The comic relief never helped. (Most superhero movies have comic scenes, but this movie did not mix the comedy with the drama very well.)  I really liked the early scenes of Jamie Foxx -- a vivid character created in a few minutes. 

Good soundtrack: I bought two songs.

Bottom line:  Amazing Spiderman 2 is fun-to-watch. It isn't the greatest, but it is still good. 

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Sally Field

Directed by: Marc Webb

Rating: 2.0 stars: weakly recommended. 

More: There is a preview of the new X-Men movie embedded in the credits, so don't rush out of the theater.

Even More: Critics complained about similar AS2 is to other Spiderman movies. I didn't have that problem. The originality was good enough.

Yet More: I am tired of the Green Goblin -- happily he is not in the movie very long.

I can't stop: I really liked the Spiderman 3 from 2007. It was one of my favorite movies of the 00's.

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