The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
TOMATOMETER
Critics Consensus: While the cast is outstanding and the special effects are top-notch, the latest installment of the Spidey saga suffers from an unfocused narrative and an overabundance of characters.
Critics Consensus: While the cast is outstanding and the special effects are top-notch, the latest installment of the Spidey saga suffers from an unfocused narrative and an overabundance of characters.
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Movie Info
We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead. It's great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there's no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being … More- Rating:
- PG-13 (for sequences of sci-fi action/violence)
- Genre:
- Drama , Action & Adventure , Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Directed By:
- Marc Webb
- Written By:
- Jeff Pinkne , Roberto Orci , Alex Kurtzman , Jeff Pinkner
- In Theaters:
- May 2, 2014 Wide
- On DVD:
- Aug 19, 2014
- US Box Office:
- $202.9M
Cast
-
Andrew Garfield
as Peter Parker/Spider-... -
Emma Stone
as Gwen Stacy -
Jamie Foxx
as Max Dillon/Electro -
Dane DeHaan
as Harry Osborn/Green G... -
Chris Cooper
as Norman Osborn -
Paul Giamatti
as Aleksei Sytsevich
Related News & Features
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– Rotten Tomatoes
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Critic Reviews for The Amazing Spider-Man 2
All Critics (257) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (136) | Rotten (121) | DVD (3)
Despite the efforts of Electro, the franchise is running shockingly low on juice.
About the best thing one can say about this fiasco is that Webb has taken only two films to reach the same exhausted, exhausting endpoint that Raimi required three to achieve. It's progress, of a sort.
This is a movie that needs to remove a piece of jewelry.
The trouble with director Marc Webb's disappointing sequel is it wants to have it both ways: to take seriously human connection and loss and also spin the spectacular and pulpy... Spider-Man 2 never locates that sweet spot.
The studios and the producers have to split the difference -- between excellence and adequacy, between darkness and light, between seriousness and fun. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 might have been split too far. It doesn't taste like anything.
I think I'll pass on The Amazing Spider-Man 3.
Okay, I don't want to hang the failure of this mega-budget sequel on a single actor. It truly was a team effort. But, Garfield looks most unattractive as the webbed wonder.
There's a purely visual element to the storytelling that escapes many films of the genre - or, at least, everything but their action scenes.
This sequel masks the tragically personal--loss, grief, guilt--beneath sparking screwball romance. Swings a fine line between comic-book lightness and ever-approaching tragedy ... when time runs out, even for the most wise-cracking young hero.
If the previous installment was a bit darker and more somber, this one retains some of that edge but then injects a massive dose of pure comic book joy. This is what a Spider-Man movie would look like if Marvel Studios made it...
The film is a narrative disaster, but the character work is mostly solid and the terrific action scenes are worth the price of admission.
... pales in comparison to its predecessor as it emphasizes spectacle more than story.
Another lesson on why introducing too many villains dilutes the richness of detail available when focusing on one. A delightful reboot diminished in its second act.
It's like they took one good and one bad script and mashed them together... proof that the box office has become all about the franchise...
Andrew Garfield is note-perfect, and the chemistry he shares with Emma Stone is reason enough to watch, but The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is too cartoony and childish for its own good. A disappointing backwards step for the series.
Despite the number of villains and conspiracies at work in the screenplay, they actually aren't what makes this film overlong and wearying. A leaner script and/or more judicious editing re: (Peter & Gwen's) relationship would have made a better movie.
Passes comic-book muster
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 throws everything at the wall to see what sticks, but most of it just goes "splat." It is an exhausting experience, and one that feels far less than amazing.
While there is much to enjoy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, it is also hard not to feel like it is working primarily as yet another set-up, building the foundation for future films at the expense of the central narrative
In spite of the numbing effect of this chaotic claptrap, the movie is still blessed with an incredible super power: the chemistry between leads Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone
With the studio seemingly more interested in mini-Marvel-esque universe building than basic storytelling, I'll be bracing myself for another underwhelming, rather than amazing, Spider-Man.
"It's as if the lessons that were learned by the widely loathed, 2007 'three-quel' Spider-Man 3 were lost on the filmmakers and studio, who are condemned to repeat those mistakes of the past."
Even the most stylized genre movie needs the occasional infusion of real-person behavior.
If you're a teen, the effort to jam in so many storylines and action will fulfill you to the max, while asking too much of less forgiving audiences in the age-stretching and sensory overload.
Ever get the feeling you're being jerked around?
What corporate accounting looks like in cinematic form.
Audience Reviews for The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Super Reviewer
This superhero sequel has some of the best special effects you'll see all year, but all the computer polish can't save the sloppy narrative. It just feels like the new Spiderman films are reaching for some kind of epic saga, which is great, but the individual films feel like they'll be lost in a shuffle of sequels and multiple villains. The film gives a vibe of constantly thinking too far ahead, and trips itself up in the process.
MoreSuper Reviewer
A truly electrifying blast of explosive action, great humor, strong performances and superb special effects that will keep your eyes glued to the screen. Director, Marc Webb crafts another exceptional continuation to this fantastic rebooted series with a story that delivers more fun, character development and thrills to keep you spectacularly entertaining all the way through. It's just as awesome and amazing as its predecessor. It's fiercely gripping and tremendously epic adventure. A roller-coaster or emotion, style, suspense and non-stop riveting action. Andrew Garfield is sensational, he proves once again he is really Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Garfield truly embraces this character and the love and emotion and struggle. Emma Stone is fantastic. Dane DeHaan is excellent. Jamie Foxx is terrific. Garfield has beautiful and believable chemistry with DeHaan and Stone. Foxx is an electric villain. A two and a half hour pulse pounding thrill-machine that does not quit. It's a great movie that i thoroughly enjoyed and cant wait for the third picture.
MoreSuper Reviewer
While the Amazing Spider-Man 2 suffers from some of the same problems that plagued Spider-Man 3 (too many characters and villains), it is nice to finally get some new material after so much of the first Amazing Spider-Man was retread. For that reason alone I liked this one more than the first. The returning cast is more at ease in their roles and the newcomers are solid. I liked Jamie Foxx as Electro even though the characters motivation is pretty weak. Dane Dehaan isn't as good as James Franco was as the best friend Harry Osborn, but does a much better job with the transition to villain Green Goblin. The special effects in this are outstanding. One of my complaints with the first Amazing Spider-Man was that I thought the city looked too computer generated compared to the original. In this one, it looks much better. The action is nothing we haven't seen in other superhero films, but it is effective. The Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker relationship drives the film and is very well done. I found this film highly entertaining, despite its obvious flaws, and a step in the right direction. After only being mildly excited about the prospect of a sequel after the first Amazing Spider-Man, I am definitely looking forward to what they have in store next.
MoreSuper Reviewer
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Quotes
- Harry Osborn:
- Welcome back to the bonus round!
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man:
- What's your name? Jorge. Oh, uh I'm Spiderman
- Max Dillon/Electro:
- You wanna know how powerful I am?!
- Dr. Ashley Kafka:
- Yeah!
- Max Dillon/Electro:
- Well, so do I! I'm dyin' to know, Doc! But you better make damn sure you kill me this time! Because if you don't, I'm gonna kill the light! So everyone in this city is gonna know how it feels to live in my world: a world without power, a world without mercy, a world without Spider-Man. And every one of you is going to see me for who I truly am!
- Dr. Ashley Kafka:
- And who are you?!
- Max Dillon/Electro:
- Don't you know?! I'm Electro!
- Harry Osborn:
- I need some of Spider-Man's blood.
- Max Dillon/Electro:
- You Know Me ?
- Aunt May:
- I once told you that secrets have a cost, the truth does too!
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