Slightly less than 'Amazing'

Rating: 7/10 (15 May 2014)

But still pretty damn good.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is rich with action, suspense (even for those who are familiar with the story) color and vibrant character development. The sequel has enough fan-service with teasers and tidbits to keep us going until the third film.
Peter Parker is young and full of life. Easily thwarting the everyday crime that fills the streets of New York, but struggling with the promise he made to Captain Stacy in the first film. He wants Gwen and she wants him and that is not something easily buried. He is also wrestling with the demons that his parents left behind. With all of this pulling at the poor guy its a wonder he found the time and energy to deal with the villain of the movie.
Here's where I have a bone to pick with it: Electro; A powerful enemy who wields kinetic energy. But this villain is anything but electrifying. He whines about being unloved and unnoticed, and then turns into this blue lava lamp/jellyfish looking creature who decides to hate Spider-Man after a verse of song is sang in his head. I don't know who thought that that was clever, but it somehow made it into the movie. Harry Osborn also plays a part, and Dane Dehaan does a fantastic job of breathing new refreshing life into the boy, that is until his big reveal as yet another classic Spidey enemy. His look was somewhat Tim Burton in a very negative way. The last thing that I must critique is the over use of CGI dive and crane shots. A Spider-Man movie without them would be dull, but this director seemed to enjoy the effect so much that it is put in much too frequently and takes away from the human tale that is trying to be told.
Luckily, when those silly things interfere with your enjoyment of the film and threaten to be too much the story takes a turn back to romance and the chemistry between our Gwen and Peter saves the film from drowning in ridiculousness. Their love is the heart and center of the story and helps to shape Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man into one of the most sympathetic and redeeming heroes of this age of Marvel Movies. I therefore give "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" 7.4/10