Ignore the Critics; This is the Best Spidey Movie Yet.

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2014)

It would be an understatement to say that I was never a fan of the Raimi films. Whether it was the lazy kidnap Mary Jane plots, William Dafoe in a Power Rangers outfit, a miscast Tobey Maguire, or Kirsten Dunst turning everything into a superhero soap-opera, I failed to understand the universal acclaim surrounding Raimi's first two movies (we shall not speak of the atrocious Spider-Man 3) in which the source material was largely abandoned for a more conventional movie approach.
With Marc Webb's direction, we finally have a film that understands the essence of Spider-Man. Its predecessor in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man was a fine effort, but with Peter now fully immersed in the role of Spider-Man, things get more interesting. There's plenty to love here, and fans of the comics will no doubt be pleased. The cast is outstanding; Andrew Garfield deserves an Oscar for "Best Actor to Ever Portray a Superhero." From his very first scene where he's knocking on the truck window of a Russian terrorist, the wisecracking nature of the Spidey we know and love from the comics is in full swing. Also returning from the previous film is Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, who once again provides dynamic chemistry with Garfield that is light years beyond Maguire/Dunst. The two of them shine on screen together and it's delightful to watch.
Electro is clearly the main villain in the film, but it is Dane DeHaan who really steals the show as Harry Osborne. Desperate to save his life, he believes Spider-Man's blood is his only salvation to his deteriorating condition. And this is what makes his portrayal so intriguing; he's essentially a tragic villain spawned by desperation and we sympathize with him. Though his Green Goblin is largely set up for the next film, he is infinitely more menacing than Dafoe's campy portrayal, and generates excitement for the future of the franchise.
Complaints of a bloated plot and an unfocused narrative have been common criticisms from film critics. This sequel picks up where the first movie left off on the origin story surrounding Peter's father, which is cool, how they've evolved the mystery of Peter's parents into an enticing back story. Meanwhile, we delve into Peter's trauma regarding the ghost of Gwen's father, his deteriorating relationships as a result of his responsibility in being Spider-Man, all while a slew of super- villains are served up by OsCorp (Well really only two). Sure, there is a lot going on, but some slight disorganization is certainly justified by the sheer level of ambition.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is everything I've ever wanted in a Spider-Man movie; it is the most faithful, thought invoking, and entertaining adaption to date of bringing the web-slinger to the big screen. The cast is phenomenal, the ambition is Dark Knight Rises caliber, and there's no shortage of heart; I was reduced to tears twice. Ignore the critics; this one is for the fans. And let's face it, we deserve it.