Since 2002 I have reviewed every Spider-Man theatrical movie
release. I love the character and outside of Captain America he is my favorite comic book
hero of all time. While I was among the rare and few who didn't like the latest
Captain America
movie, I was impressed at that movie with more than anything, the trailer of
the new The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 3D. It was with great anticipation that I
awaited the release of the movie, yet, with some reservation as I have been let
down so many times as was the case with Captain America The Winter Soldier. I
arrived an hour and 15 minutes early, only to have to stand in a very long line
to get into the theater. It wasn't long
after the movie started that all trepidation and concern flew out the window,
the visuals early on convinced me I was in for an amazing ride over the next 2
1/2 hours.
As many who have read my reviews across the world know, I am
blessed to live in the city with one of the top grossing theaters in the world,
The Warren Theaters which reportedly has the largest IMAX screen in the world.
It has wonderful sound, incredible seating and has great digital 3D
possibilities. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is in Real 3D and while all of these
special features in a movie going experience can be wonderful, they can also be
a let down. That is not the case of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. It is for movies
such as this that these types of theaters are popping up across the world. The
Amazing Spider-Man didn't let down in any way. It has some of the most amazing
3D effects, sound and visuals of any movie I have seen. Not since Avatar has a
movie been as visually stunning. I even found the 3D effects here even better
and more powerful than Avatar. They incredibly bring you into the action. The
movie is AMAZING! The sound pops, the
images are as if you are there and when the web slinger goes slinging his web
and swinging across the city, you will swear you are there swinging along with
him. One of the monikers in the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeve's
was "you will believe a man can fly." In The Amazing Spider-Man 2 it could
be; "You will sling webs with Spidy."
There are other things about this movie that was unexpected and yet, amazing.
In 2002 I didn't think they would find a more appropriate Spider-Man than Tobey Maguire. He seemed to epitomize everything about the
character. With the launch of the Amazing Spider-Man series, I was okay with Andrew
Garfield in the lead role, I just wasn't totally convinced and I still missed
Tobey Maguire. In The Amazing Spider-Man 2 however, something has happened, the
story, plot, character has clicked. Here Garfield
sets the screen on fire. He isn't just good in the role, he is great and one of
the amazing things is he has a great supporting cast deserving of Academy Award
Consideration. While rare, almost even out of place to say something like this
this early in the film year, I can't help it, Garfield is tremendous and as
good as ever is Sally Field as Aunt May. The caliber of acting in this film is
amazing, oh yeah did I also mention, Jamie Foxx, Denis Leary, Paul Giamatti and
I could go on? The story, sound, direction, and everything about it takes this riveting
superhero comic book movie from a strictly action and fun flick to an epic must
see, will be Oscar considered movie.
What makes this movie so good isn't just the above, it is the story and themes
including the concepts, of Faith, Hope, and Love. Sound familiar? It should as
it is a concept so strikingly represented in the Bible that one would have to
wonder, is The Amazing Spider-Man 2 a movie about a superhero named Spider-Man,
or is Spider-Man a parable about the potential for each of us, including the
need for resiliency and need of a savior? I try to give spoiler free reviews but here we
see the importance of sacrifice, the instillation of hope and the loss of loved
ones. We even see the imagery as presented by Jesus in the Bible of the role and
faith of a child. While Spider-Man or those on the forefronts of inspiring
others may have difficulties, it is important to remember the faith, hope, love
and inspiration provided to others, even a small child, who like the little boy
David is willing to take on the giants of the world, even when they are in a
Rino suit. Of course that hope provided can move us all to be a hero in some
shape fashion or form, it can also inspire and convince us that we are more than
a nobody, we are a somebody. Many in life would say, you aren't any one
special, you are just a regular guy or gal but Spiderman, the Bible, and God
tells us that we are more than that, we are in fact conquerors and we are
chosen by God to be more than regular, more than a nobody, we are a somebody. We must remember though, that as is the case
in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 we see with Electro, through the person of Max Dllion
played by Jamie Foxx, we have to be careful to not let pride, or jealousy enter
our thoughts, mind, or actions. Just as sure as there is the potential for good
among all of us, there is also the potential for evil, the things that take us
to the place of doing evil may seem minuscule at times but the end results of
evil are still death and destruction, even when the original intent may have
been good.
There are other things about this movie that was unexpected and yet, amazing.
In 2002 I didn't think they would find a more appropriate Spider-Man than Tobey Maguire. He seemed to epitomize everything about the
character. With the launch of the Amazing Spider-Man series, I was okay with Andrew
Garfield in the lead role, I just wasn't totally convinced and I still missed
Tobey Maguire. In The Amazing Spider-Man 2 however, something has happened, the
story, plot, character has clicked. Here Garfield
sets the screen on fire. He isn't just good in the role, he is great and one of
the amazing things is he has a great supporting cast deserving of Academy Award
Consideration. While rare, almost even out of place to say something like this
this early in the film year, I can't help it, Garfield is tremendous and as
good as ever is Sally Field as Aunt May. The caliber of acting in this film is
amazing, oh yeah did I also mention, Jamie Foxx, Denis Leary, Paul Giamatti and
I could go on? The story, sound, direction, and everything about it takes this riveting
superhero comic book movie from a strictly action and fun flick to an epic must
see, will be Oscar considered movie. What makes this movie so good isn't just the above, it is the story and themes
including the concepts, of Faith, Hope, and Love. Sound familiar? It should as
it is a concept so strikingly represented in the Bible that one would have to
wonder, is The Amazing Spider-Man 2 a movie about a superhero named Spider-Man,
or is Spider-Man a parable about the potential for each of us, including the
need for resiliency and need of a savior? I try to give spoiler free reviews but here we
see the importance of sacrifice, the instillation of hope and the loss of loved
ones. We even see the imagery as presented by Jesus in the Bible of the role and
faith of a child. While Spider-Man or those on the forefronts of inspiring
others may have difficulties, it is important to remember the faith, hope, love
and inspiration provided to others, even a small child, who like the little boy
David is willing to take on the giants of the world, even when they are in a
Rino suit. Of course that hope provided can move us all to be a hero in some
shape fashion or form, it can also inspire and convince us that we are more than
a nobody, we are a somebody. Many in life would say, you aren't any one
special, you are just a regular guy or gal but Spiderman, the Bible, and God
tells us that we are more than that, we are in fact conquerors and we are
chosen by God to be more than regular, more than a nobody, we are a somebody. We must remember though, that as is the case
in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 we see with Electro, through the person of Max Dllion
played by Jamie Foxx, we have to be careful to not let pride, or jealousy enter
our thoughts, mind, or actions. Just as sure as there is the potential for good
among all of us, there is also the potential for evil, the things that take us
to the place of doing evil may seem minuscule at times but the end results of
evil are still death and destruction, even when the original intent may have
been good. 
It is at this place I normally state what I didn't like
about a movie, truth be told there really was nothing I didn't like about the
movie other than the idiots who sat behind me who couldn't keep their mouths
shut or apparently, (what I was told later but didn't observe during the movie) turn
their cell phones off, a huge pet peeve of mine. Thankfully I was with friends
and controlled myself, but as a reminder to everyone reading, please refrain
from talking during a movie and turn off your cell phones, I can't think of
many people who have earned the right to ruin or damper the movie going
experience of others.The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is in a word, AMAZING! Most people, including those who don't like superhero movies will enjoy this. It is more story than many will realize and it also has plenty of action with incredible special effects. The 2 1/2 hour movie will fly by as you will be so caught up with what is happening on screen. It is by and far, in my opinion the best of the Spider-Man movies which puts me in somewhat of a dilemma. I gave an earlier Spider-Man movie a 10 on a scale of 1 - 10. That being the case, how can I keep but giving this AMAZING, movie, which is better, anything less? So on a scale of 1 - 10, for the Amazing Spider-Man 2 I give a rather rare, but rewarding 10.
To see the latest trailer for the film, just click on the video below, if the video doesn't appear, just click on the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlM2CWNTQ84
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2 comments:
It finds many ways to entertain with its flashy visual effects and action sequences, and just be fun in general. Good review Mike.
Thanks Dan, I appreciate it.
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