The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Blu-ray/DVD)

I will never understand the hatred this movie has accumulated, not because there are FAR worse superhero films out there, but because The Amazing Spider-man 2 is an honest-to-God outstanding exploration of the themes of abandonment and hope that has fantastic character arcs, stunning action sequences, and a great narrative that's surprisingly complex in its structure.In this sequel to the also-underappreciated "The Amazing Spider-man," Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone return as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, respectively, and, once again, their chemistry lights up every scene with joy, honesty, and love (it doesn't hurt that they were actually dating in real life). Peter is having difficulties adjusting to his life of happiness with Gwen as his girlfriend given that he had promised to honor her dying father, Captain George Stacy (played by Dennis Leary), and his last request to keep her out of his life for fear that she would suffer the violence Peter attracts as Spider-man. Though Gwen believes that it's only her and Peter's decision to be together, Peter is conflicted morally and ethically about continuing their relationship, despite completely loving her. Already, the movie gives us a complex emotional core that isn't going to be simply solved with a bad-guy/good-guy fist fight (it's that complexity which I think most detractors of the film don't like).Alongside the main (no pun intended) thread of the film, Harry Osborn (played outstandingly by Dane Dehaan), Peter's buddy from his childhood returns to New York to run his recently deceased father's business, despite his hatred for the company and for his father's strict, cold upbringing. Harry is dying of a rare genetic disease that will eventually kill him like it did his father and needs Spider-man's blood (for reasons that are well-explained in the film) to save him. This also brings in a fresh set of moral/ethical complications for Peter since the last time he had given someone the key to his genetics, he helped create a monster that terrorized the city. There's also the sub-plot of Peter's Aunt May (Sally Fields) who is struggling both with the finances of their living situation (that Peter tries to help with) and her fear that Peter's dedication to find out more about his parents means that she will be left behind.Peter's narrative arc runs parallel with Harry's desperate search and Max Dillons' (Jamie Foxx) turn from rabid fanboy into supervillain. Mentally unstable and tragically pathetic, Max is a firm believer in the good of Spider-man ever since he was personally saved by the hero, giving him a delusion that he and Spidey are best friends. Due to an accident, Max is turned into a electricity-laden superpowered individual who views Spidey's attempts to stop him as a betrayal for his own personal glory (though this is a far more complicated matter in the film than how I'm explaining it). ALL of those story threads together AND Paul Giamatti delivering a fun, chewing-the-scenery performance as the Russian mobster Alexsi who actually becomes the important narrative bookends for the story that I won't go into here out of spoilers.There are some elements that feel a little off, like the overly-villainous Dr. Kafka, the rather quick ending to Peter's search for his parents, and the underutilization of Felicity Jones as Felicia Hardy, but all of the choices (even the ones that don't entirely "click") are done for the sake of telling the story and character development. I had been unfortunately spoiled on a "big scene" in the film that's an emotional roller-coaster, but the film is so expertly written that, watching it, I felt as though I were experiencing it as freshly as someone who had never seen the film before.This film (moreso than any other superhero film or Spidey movie) portrays Spider-man as the common man's hero. A guy not only willing to foil a robbery or save people from a car crash, but intrigued and happy to talk with the people on the street. The filmmakers show that it's more than his responsibility to protect the citizens of New York - it's his joy. It's also important to note that with the evolution of the series, the character of Peter Parker has become more confident and thoughtful without losing any of the charming every-man quality in the previous film. With more confidence growing up as a man, we also get a Spider-man who FINALLY nails the dramatic/comedic balance that the hero has been synonymous with over the years. Andrew Garfield performs Peter Parker with boundless charisma, enthusiasm, and effortless humor that, if not THE defining iteration of the character, is one of the best realized adaptations of the character in the history of the Spider-man franchise.As clichéd and tired as this sounds, "The Amazing Spider-man 2" lives up to the adjective in its title by being emotional, complex, thrilling, mature, and thought-provoking in a way that we don't see in superhero films, all while showcasing the need for true optimism and hope even in the face of overwhelming despair.To Marc Webb, the crew and cast of the film, the studio execs who took a risk on this material, and everyone who helped get this movie done and into theaters, I say, "Thank you." You've given me the Spider-man film that reminded me why Peter Parker is one of my favorite characters of all time, and why Spider-man is my favorite superhero.

My initial reaction to ASM2 after viewing it in the theater was ..... ambivalence. Spider-man has been my favorite comic book character since childhood (I'm in the 50 range now), so ambivalence wasn't the reaction I wanted upon leaving the theater.Despite this, I purchased the DVD/BR disc anyway...hoping that my initial reaction was due to my kids' theater distractions, bathroom breaks, spilling drinks, no subtitles (I'm somewhat addicted to subtitles now), and the inability to pause/rewind for bathroom breaks & dialogue repeating (another comfort of home theater).Now having watched ASM2 uninterrupted, on my 51" plasma widescreen, w/subtitles, surround sound, and remote in hand for pausing/rewinding, I am pleased to state that ASM2 is a very good movie on its own merits, and a worthy sequel to ASM1.The visual spectacle of the Electro/Spider-man battles is on a scale well above that of Lizard/Spiderman battles, and easily equal to the Doc-Oc/Spider-Man battles of SM2. Its just a lot of fun to watch, and also to see how, as the movie progresses, Peter Parker (with Gwen Stacey's help) uses his intellect & science background to figure out how to combat a villain with Electro's powers, which is what he frequently did in the comics.The Peter/Gwen relationship scenes are fine...a little slow for my kids' liking (they just want the action), which to me is a sign that the writers took it more seriously, as with ASM1 ...it's not dumbed down for kids....it's very "adult". To me that is a good thing. Her ending is well handled & pretty much follows the comic book ending (spoilers: that he tried to save her but could not). Also, the scenes with Peter repeatedly "seeing" images of Gwen's father, Captain Stacey, and being haunted by it, and Peter's promise from ASM1 to "keep Gwen out of it", tie in nicely to ASM1.Dane DeHaan as Harry Osborne is great. He gives the movie its dark elements, and punky attitude, as his character should. He is a great contrast to Peter Parker/Spiderman, by the film's end. I think both visually & in the character's writing, this is a darker version of the Green Goblin than Wilem Dafoe's, both in and out of costume. Dafoe's Goblin was made dark by the serum, whereas DeHaan's Goblin was made dark by his desperate circumstances (spoilers: he was slowly dying from the genetic disease which killed his father Norman).Max Dillon was almost like a Frankenstein monster character.....hated, misunderstood, not given a chance, feared. He was brilliant yet childlike at the same time. The Goblin/Electro "team'up", if you will, is much more natural than the forced Sandman/Venom teamup of SM3. In fact, Electro literally gives life to the Goblin, while the Goblin gives freedom & direction to Electro in exchange. It's that desperation and anger/rage in the two villains's lives which makes it believable that they work together against a common enemy, Spider-man.Some have criticized Max Dillon's child-like mindset, but I get this now, as someone has to be in charge, that being the Goblin, which apparently is going to lead us to the Sinister Six, based upon the film's ending scenes.Same with Rhino I guess.....not the brightest bulb. His scene at the end reminded me of The Underminer villain scene from The Incredibles, a bit on the bombastic side, which is where some of the ASM2 humor comes in...the interaction with the Alexi/Rhino character, both at the beginning and end of the film. Although somewhat humorous in portrayal, Rhino was in fact firing bullets & rockets, so there was no doubt he was a killer.There was more humor in ASM2 than in the ASM1. At first I didn't like it,...I expected more of a consistent dark/serious theme through ASM2, as in ASM1. But in hindsight, I think it makes sense now....Peter Parker/Spider-Man is at the height of his game, liked by the public, in love.....it only makes sense that his natural sense of humor should come through. And it exists in the comics, so it's not as though the writers made it up. Also, I think it balances the movie out, as (spoilers) the movie begins with the death of Peter's parents, and ends with Grew Stacey's death. Some heavy stuff you don't always see in a superhero movie.Lastly, beware of the movie trailer for ASM2, as it contains scenes and plot lines which were later cut from the film. This definitely threw me off when I first viewed the movie in the theater, as I had certain expectations/theories going of where it was headed, what would happen, etc. So if you are considering giving ASM2 a chance, then don't watch the trailer, or block it out of your mind. If you do so, then I think you will enjoy what is a solid super-hero movie.