Pretty close to Amazing...

Rating: 9/10 (4 May 2014)

The Amazing Spiderman 2 is comes pretty close on the promise of that second word in its title. From fantastic visuals that include easily the best Spidey swinging sequences to the potent chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, the film possesses plenty of absorbing elements.
The character of Spider-Man is in his element in this version; more confident, in tune with his abilities, and constantly reaching for that comic banter. As Peter Parker however, he is more conflicted as he constantly battles between abandonment issues of the past and progressing forward with Gwen Stacy. The latter relationship is in fact the heart of the film; there is some cheesiness but both Garfield and Stone are so adorable & genuine together that it's easy to let them carry on falling over each other. Garfield is probably the best actor I have seen along with Robert Downey Jr. & Christian Bale to play a superhero, showing a tremendous range of emotions & earnestness.
The villains of the film are a bit too comical for my liking, especially in their motivations. But hey, at this point I'm not sure what I want to see from them as long as their powers allow them to put up a decent fight. Jamie Foxx is given an excellent sequence at Times Square when he first comes head-on against our titular character. Marc Webb's direction in that scene is excellent as he creates an epic showcase using slow motion and wide-shots. He also manages to form a dramatic finale and one 'big' moment in particular that many superhero movies fall short on in terms of impact and resonance.
Overall, The Amazing Spiderman 2 never felt over bearing to me despite all the characters involved. It got me excited for the grander Spider- Man universe with the help of gripping story-telling, exhilarating action sequences, and emotion.