The second Spidey film directed by the aptly named Mark Webb has Andrew Garfield reprising his role as the conspicuous protagonist, this time he joined by an array of idiosyncratic enemies.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) was the first film in Webb's reboot of Sony's owned Marvel franchise; just five years after Sam Raimi's ill-fated Spider-Man 3. After viewing the trailer for this picture and finding out that there would be three adversaries, I was reminded of the aforementioned 2007 flop, so I my expectations before the film were of a mix bag.
The first villain we are introduced to is the mad criminal Aleksei Sytsevich; wearing a black tracksuit and dotted cut-line tattoo on his fore-head, driving a truck containing bio-hazardous chemicals; this is a man not to be messed with, especially as he armed with an AK-47. Paul Giamatti is almost unrecognisable. In total Giamatti's screen time only accounts to four minutes, including his appearance in the Rhino mechanic suit.
Friendship plays a major factor in this film with the class-dividing old buddy relationship between Peter Parker and Harry Osborne, whom has returned to New York and Oscorp after years at boarding school and travelling. The chemistry between Garfield and Dane DeHaan is believable compelling. The relationship and break-down of the characters is similar to that of Rami's version, but whereas it took three films for Harry Osborne to don the Green Goblin getup, he is introduced in this film.
Gwen Stacey, Parker's intelligent love interest is perhaps the most interest and intriguing relationship as the characters deal with the complexity of young love, personal issues, education and moving away as well as keeping his word from Gwen's father to 'stay away'.
Jamie Foxx's character, is the misunderstand character of the film, and despite Harry Osborn's decent into insanity, Max Dillon is a lonely and forgettable punch-bag whom you remorse for. His transformation from a intelligent 'nobody' to an enraged electrical charged super-villain is nothing more than far-fetched, but the character is portrayed in a convincing manner by Foxx, but this is also attributed by good character building. Electro portrays a powerful antagonist for the web slinger as he tests Parker's strength, memory and brain. The progression from a character is clearly mentally unstable and is obsessed with Spider-Man, a man that is recognized every where in New York, compared to himself whom no one knows exists is interesting, but I personally think the film picks up many flaws when we see the character's power evolve.
Overall the film is spectacular and is the most epic Spider-Man film ever made with a bold state of intent from Sony to Marvel Studios that this is their franchise and its here to stay.
Though 3D is nothing more than a gimmick in modern cinema, but admittedly it does have its moments in free-fall sequences and boy does this film milk them as the film feels more like a virtual reality simulator.
A must see over the Easter weekend; good character development, but is slightly flawed and rushed in parts.
8/10 - but I am being nice!
