The sequel to the reboot of the original
trilogy, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 swung
into theaters to less than stellar reviews.
The complaints critics spun against the movie is that it's unfocused,
there’s too many villains, a bloated running time and a convoluted plot; it’s pretty
much a remake of Spider-Man 3. However, at Escape To Cinema, besides writing deep, moody retrospectives on
films; I’d like to believe I can articulate and analyze why a movie failed to
meet the basic levels of entertainment. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 had some good
moments but it left so much on the field and reminds me of Omar Little’s
brother, it has no heart. Only 10 years
ago Spider-Man 2 was described as the
high watermark for superhero films after so many ballyhooed letdowns (The Hulk, Daredevil, The Punisher). So, in this first edition of Reboot-Sequel Smackdown!, I will
scrutinize the best and worst attributes of each Spidey film.
Story
Spider-Man
2
is a character driven story. The film
looks at Peter Parker juggling his responsibilities as Spider-Man while trying to
pay rent, hold down two jobs, and go to school (glad this came out at a better
time for the economy). For a summer
blockbuster, there are not a lot of action scenes. The focus on Spider-Man’s problems makes him
relateable and gives the movie a clear thorough line. This approach to the character is in line
with Stan Lee’s original intent.
The
Amazing Spider-Man 2
gets tangled in too many of its own threads.
Its more plot driven, telling the “untold” story of what happened to Peter
Parker’s parents, though this central mystery garners eye rolls and shoulder
shrugs at best. TASM2 feels like an extended trailer for future installments. Too much emphasis on villains killed the
Batman franchise the first go round and it seems Electro, Rhino and the Green
Goblin are guaranteed to return whether or not the audience cares. The best part of the movie is Peter and
Gwen’s relationship but it’s rushed along without any emotional payoff. Advantage: Spider-Man
2
Peter
Parker
Peter Parker is an awkward, teenage,
science nerd who's thrust into this great responsibility by fate. His powers only seem to make things worse but
he maintains his earnest goodness. In other
words, Tobey Maguire gets him. If Peter
Parker was brought into the three dimensional world, he would look like Tobey
Maguire.
Andrew Garfield is a fine actor but he's
not Peter Parker. The only awkward thing
about Garfield’s Parker is his constant need to climb and lean on stuff. Peter Parker isn't a skateboarding, hoodie
clad smart aleck with an affinity for stammering and pauses (TASM2 could have been 30 minutes shorter
without them). Advantage: Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man
I love Tobey as Peter Parker but he’s
just meh as Spider-Man. The trademark
wise cracks and snarky nature do not show up too much. Spider-Man uses humor to hide his anxieties
and insecurities when taking on powerful foes.
It could be because he's not in the suit a whole. However, when he dons the suit in SM2, a funnier Spider-Man isn't too much
to ask.
While in TASM2, Andrew nails Spider-Man. His humorous instincts are on
point; he just doesn't turn it off in his Peter Parker guise. His Spider-Man is cool. The point of Spider-Man is this nerdy dude
becoming a cool superhero, giving nerds and geeks alike hope. Advantage: The
Amazing Spider-Man 2
Villains
Alfred Molina lends much heart and pathos to his interpretation
of Doctor Octopus. He handles both sides
of the character with great delicacy; his ambition is the thorough line that
connects Otto Octavius and Doc Ock. He's
also a stunning visual villain without the aid of CGI. He's in the mode of a mad scientist, like the
Green Goblin, but his madness is steeped in his wife's death and his on failure
to see through a lifelong goal; which is very relatable and realistic.
TASM2 villains aren't bad; Rhino is
handled well. The Green Goblin believes Spider-Man
failed to save his life. Electro is
misunderstood and overlooked as Max Dillon.
In Electro's case, the filmmakers and Jamie Foxx tried too hard to make
him nerdy in his human form but Foxx found subtle narcissism in Max, which comes
out after his transformation into Electro.
The problem is with execution: Doc Ock is given quality screen time and
a character arc. After his initial appearance,
Electro spends half of the movie in a water tank while Harry's transformation
into the Green Goblin is rushed. TASM2 did not use its running time in an
adequate manner to establish its villains; I guess that's why the trailers
showed so much. Advantage: Spider-Man 2
Supporting
Cast
Both Spider-Man films were blessed with great
supporting cast. Spider-Man 2 standouts include the immortal J.K Simmons as J. Jonah
Jameson, and James Franco as Harry Osborn.
The most overlooked person in this movie is Rosemary Harris' performance
as Aunt May. She's still grieving over Ben
and blames herself for his death. She
delivers a monologue about heroes that's one of the more touching speeches committed
to film.
TASM2's
version of Aunt May isn't bad; Sally Field has her own speech that makes you
forget this is a Spider-Man film. Dane
DeHaan's childish, bitter, on-hinged take on Harry Osborn is the most compelling
part of the film. Emma Stone would have
made a great Mary Jane and it goes with saying she's a great Gwen Stacy. Man, this is harder than I thought...so I'll subscribe
to Uncle Ben's rule of life: with great power comes great responsibility. TASM2
has way too many unimportant characters that occupy precious screen time; there’s
a German doctor, some Oscorp board member pulling a Dark Knight and plotting a
takeover, a key demographic represe.... I mean an adorable child dressed as Spider-Man. TASM2
didn't deliver despite a formidable cast.
Advantage: Spider-Man
2
So, Spider-Man
2 wins the inaugural Reboot-Sequel
Smackdown! I can't really give it a
prize, or trophy or even an endorsement that means much coming from a broke,
unconnected writer but being an awesome movie is a prize all its own!
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