The Amazing Spider-Man 2

A Well Rebooted Franchise

Director: Mark Webb
Release Date: 2014
Rating: 12
Running Time: 145 mins
Genre: Superhero/Action
Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx

Hats off to Andrew Garfield, when all is said and done, he portrays a pretty badass Spider-Man. Mark Webb's recreation of the web slinger's franchise is certainly able to raise the bar on what a superhero movie needs. Awesome fight scenes, squaring up to bad guys but mainly just being amazing, and there's no question about whether The Amazing Spider-Man franchise brings this. If we compare this rebooted franchise to the last one 10 years ago with Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, it's interesting to look at what's stayed the same and what this new one has managed to do differently (better!). For one thing, the technology now is able to provide us with a real kick-ass superhero that's able to do so much more than they've been able to do previously, but for the Spidey fans who grew up with the comic books and cartoon TV series (like I was), it feels to be much more loyal to what it originally was. Plus this time there's a Peter Parker who is a believable late teenager, like he was originally meant to be, and like in the comics, he doesn't have webbing already, but instead manufactures it himself (but I'm getting into real geek territory now).

We meet Peter Parker two years on, after the first instalment of The Amazing Spider-Man, and he's just graduating high school and becoming a man. He's a typical young man just setting out in life, worrying about college, leaving home and suffering girl trouble with his girl friend Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), as well as just generally trying to stay on top of things. But as well as all of this, he's web slinging super hero trying to save Manhattan and all of it's citizens whilst also trying to prevent anyone from finding out his true identity (busy life)! In this new instalment to the franchise Peter's got to battle not one but two super-villains this time, with the power drive maniac (literally) Electro (Jamie Foxx) and another familiar face as well.

There's no denying the filming and direction of this film is incredible, it would've been hard to manage what Mark Webb is doing currently, 10 years ago, audiences are given a real insight into Spidey's mind, and it's pretty amazing. The acting in this film is fantastic, especially from a 30 year old Andrew Garfield playing a  man 10 years younger than himself. Though this is not the shortest film Marvel have produces (at just under two and a half hours), it's fair to say it's very dialogue heavy (obviously setting up the next, but hopefully not final chapter to this franchise), but no denying the action sequences definitely made up for it and kept everyone entertained throughout, along with some more brilliant Spider-Man one liners. Its true that perhaps Spider-Man isn't everyone's favourite superhero but I can guarantee he'll be up there after you've seen this because he is just so cool and likeable (like a young Tony Stark). Without a doubt Marvel need to continue making more Spidey films, and quickly before Andrew Garfield gets too old! Webb will definitely will need to get him into an ensemble superhero film soon because it would be epic to see Spidey along side Ironman and Hulk!

8/10