Franchise Reboot Continues to Flounder

Rating: 3/10 (9 May 2014)

It's been awhile since a movie has made me feel as bipolar as TASM2. At times I'm fully engaged, and at other times I'm wondering, "Is this the worst superhero movie ever?" The spectacle and intrigue are present, and the comic-booky look of the film provides some theme-park-ride-like fun. Nonetheless, TASM2's chaotic editing, over directing, and misguided stylization left me in a web of frustration. TASM2 catches up with Peter, aka Spider-Man, as he's settling into his hero-role, all the while dealing with regular teenage life (girlfriend, graduation, etc). But as is wont to happen in superhero tent-poles, a few big baddies show up to ruin Spidey's day. Giamatti cameos as The Rhino; DeHaan plays Harry Osbourne, heir to the evil Oscorp fortune; and Foxx is mild-mannered Max, who falls into a vat of eels and becomes Electro because, ya knowSCIENCE! Nothing and no one is given any amount of time to develop with simply too many stories and too many characters to manage. Worst of all is the atrocious score. For one glaring example, Electro's theme music is composed of goofy bumbling horns, backed by sinister choir vocals singing his very thoughts ("What's happening to me!" "I hate Spider-Man!"). A score shouldn't be overtly noticeable, but especially not overtly bad. Again, some stuff works. Garfield is still a better Spidey than Tobey Maguire ever was, and the icon heavy imagery during the final big battle is beautifully handled. Unfortunately these positives only serve to add to the irritation, that there is a decent reboot to be made here. Regrettably the spidey senses weren't tingling for this one.