Hero But Not Super
Film: The Amazing Spiderman 2
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone
Directed by: Marc Webb
Duration: 2 hrs 21 mins
Rating: * * 1 / 2
The super hero genre is getting way too crowded in Hollywood
and most of them (barring say the Avengers franchise, because it is relatively
new) are struggling. Sam Raimi did the best that he could with Spiderman a
decade ago but since then it is not exactly going places in terms of
creativity. But as far as the cash register is concerned, there is an audience
out there who will make sure it is ringing no matter how mediocre the product.
Couple of decades down the line in 2034, I won’t be too
surprised to see people queuing up to see Spiderman do the same stuff over
again. And I bet, even then, there will be some mystery about his parents death
and some girlfriend issue.
The story is in continuation of where The Amazing Spiderman
finished. Peter Parker aka Spiderman (Andrew Garfield) is carrying on with his
job of saving people in dire straits while he is also conscious of the fact
that he stay away from his girlfriend Gwen (Emma Stone). Before that, we are
also told about his parents past leading to the tragedy.
Oscorp, is a multi-billion dollar company doing medical
research and after the death of its founder, the young son Harry (Dane DeHaan)
who is Peters childhood friend, is also terminally ill. The plot just meanders
for a long time till one of the Oscorp employees Max (Jamie Foxx) meets with an
accident and turns into a mutant of sorts called Electro. From being an admirer
of Spiderman, for no discernable reason, he becomes enemy no.1
The climax has its moments but that, for a large part, the
story lacks fizz. For a considerable time, the villain is conspicuous by his
absence and when he finally appears, you are unsure if you should sympathize with
him or dislike him.
The film starts well and finishes with a punch but in
between, all is not well. There is
nothing special about the effects and even the 3D is not a patch on some of the
best we have seen on the big screen. After all, there is only so much you can
take of Spiderman gallivanting across the city.
Barring Emma Stone, the performances don’t have much to gloat
about. Till CGI takes over Jamie Foxx he makes his presence felt later he just becomes one angry Django.
When Spiderman’s girlfriend is far more exciting than him,
you know something is not going right. I guess superheroes also need a break. A
long one maybe.
Published in The Navhind Times on 4th May 2014
What counts here is not only that this movie is fun, but still keeps our attention to the characters that we've come to know and like so well. Good review Sachin.
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