Awesome movie... kinda slow in the middle

Rating: 7/10 (5 May 2014)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was one of the movies this summer that I have been looking forward to for a while. Every teaser and trailer leading up to the film got me more and more excited. Heading into the theater I was so hyped up for the film... But I guess my expectations got too high for this Spidey sequel.
The cast in this movie was excellent, Andrew Garfield embodies everything I remember from the Spider-Man growing up. He's smart, funny and kind of cocky. Emma Stone put on a solid performance as well, she and Garfield definitely have great chemistry on screen. Newcomer Dane DeHaan was a great choice for Harry Osborn/Goblin. I was pumped when they announced him for the character, mainly because of Chronicle. I was surprised how much Dennis Leary was in this movie though, I thought he was great in the first movie. Jaime Foxx was another person who did a phenomenal job in this movie, his transformation from a bumbling nobody to a villain to be reckoned with was impressive. Finally Paul Giamatti is a very talented actor and I felt as if he was underused in this sequel. He had a heavy accent and had barely any screen time, but his scenes were some of the best in the movie.
The movie starts off in the past with Peter's parents and how why they had to leave him as a child. I was surprised how badass his parents were for a couple of revolutionary scientists. After his parents' demise, the film jumps right into Peter doing his thing around the city as everybody's favorite hero. As he jumps, flips, and swings through the city after some criminals, he showcases his cockyness. A lot of physical humor as he's using his superior reflexes and agility to save the day and narrowly making his high school graduation at the same time. Then this is where the movie slows down a little, Peter has to deal with the promise he made to Dennis Leary at the end of the last movie to stay away from his daughter, Gwen Stacy. This throws a lot of guilt on his shoulders because he is blatantly disregarding the promise he made. Gwen and Peter go back and forth with this "we can't be together" for a chunk of the movie. This is where Harry comes into play and Peter starts to uncover more about his parents actually reasons for leaving. The movie kind of drags until Max Dillon has the typical pre-villain accident that turns him into Electro. Spider-Man's first battle with Electro in Times Square is awesome. That action was entertaining and unique, the CGI in this movie was well done, especially the slow motion and 3-D. I love when movies nail the use of 3-D and this sequel did, just as the previous movie did. Then Harry takes over Oscorp and digs up all of the company's technology and projects, basically to give him everything he needs to become the goblin. I really enjoyed when Harry teamed up with Electro and wreaked havoc on the city. The movie culminates into a battle at the electric grid where Spider-Man takes out Electro then battles Green Goblin back to back. Peter goes toe to toe with Harry and Gwen gets caught in the mix. As she is falling to her peril Peter shoots his web down after her, only to maneuver through ridiculous odds to only reach her a split second too late. He catches her but she smacks the floor just enough to end her life. This takes its toll on Peter as he gives up his webs and tights for a normal life. Only for it to be five months later and the mysterious man in the shadows from the end of the first one, unleashes Rhino onto the city. The movie ends with the clip played in every trailer of him swinging the man hole cover at Rhino.
I would give this movie a 7/10 because it had a great cast and great action, but it just had a big lull in the middle that didn't really do it for me. Yeah I get it, Gwen's gonna die so let's make sure she gets her screen time before then to make it more meaningful, but I'd rather have seen Spider-Man handle business in the streets. On a side note, I am most definitely excited for the Sinister Six movie.