By Jeff Hughes (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: May 21, 2014
Spider-Man has been consistently ranked among the most popular superhero franchises since the character’s conception in 1962. Since that time he has gone through several changes as new comic, cartoon, and movie producers worked within the Marvel Comics universe, shaping it to their own design.
The latest superhero blockbuster, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, is another rendition of Spider-Man and his fictionalized New York City with its own unique influence from the filmmakers. Director Marc Webb does an excellent job of bringing the world of Spider-Man back to the big screen for another heroic adventure while remaining somewhat faithful to the most popular comic book renditions, even receiving praise from some of the nerdiest Spider-Man fans for his efforts.
For this outing, Spider-Man must face off against three villains, focusing the majority of his efforts and screen time on the iconic supervillain Electro, played by Jamie Foxx. This latest version of Electro departs from the traditional, campy yellow-and-green spandex and takes on a glowing, veiny blue look that is more like an Avatar alien, or Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen. Electro is a suitable, albeit initially unwitting villain. Webb brings several events from the comic books to the big screen as Electro is forced into confrontations with Spider-Man.
The Green Goblin and the Rhino also find their way into the movie, though their roles are less extensive than Electro’s.
Dane DeHaan is introduced as Harry Osborn, an old friend of Peter Parker’s, though the backstory explaining this friendship is somewhat lacking and cries out for a more comprehensive buildup. Harry is subsequently thrust into the Green Goblin costume, which was originally worn by his father in the comics, something Spider-Man 3 managed to present more faithfully.
The Rhino, played by Paul Giamatti, doesn’t find as much screen time as the other two villains of the movie and is far from integral to the storyline.
With an emphasis on the further exploration of Peter Parker’s family history, his romantic life with Gwen Stacy, and the inclusion of two other comic book villains, there was little time left for the character development of Electro, a villain worthy of much more attention than he received. This movie would have been better to focus on featuring a single villain rather than spending so much time jumping between subplots.
Overall The Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie was a typical superhero movie with all the trappings that come with that. Despite this, it was still worth seeing if only for the stunning visuals and sense of nostalgia that comes from watching such iconic comic book characters come to life on screen.
