The Amazing Spider Man 2 (2014)

[jye4ever]

S3 still blows for the most part, few good to great scenes mixed in.

Wife and I revisited ASM 1 today and we both agreed that ASM 2 blows it out the water, Lizard was such a horrible design and the movie is actually pretty boring.

I have to say, the urge to revisit ASM 2 remains strong.

 

[jye4ever]

All I remember is that as Harry was dying he had to wait for Sandman to finish his speech before he got to make his own.

Death is funny that way.

 

[Biojex]

View attachment 108773

He's on the forums isn't he?

 

[jye4ever]

 

[a-dev]

That's Jye actually. He's very advanced for his age.

 

[jye4ever]

that's some funny **** a-dev.

 

[Silrian]

I don't know how Spidey Comics became so popular..... The tone of the comics is very much the same. But your opinion is not a lone voice. Many feel the same way. Which is why I am not sure how the comics got popular or should I say remained popular.

Also I thought the "Tone" of the Harry story was always Serious.... No jokes there told by Spidey and then it ends with the death of Gwen. But never once is that story arc treated lightly.

Electro was handled with humor in the New York scene... But pretty much (other then awful German Scientist) he was treated as a serious threat by both the film and Spidey.

Pretty much the Tone was only lighthearted when Spidey fought Rhino in the beginning and end.

I just can't believe how much this film has divided the fans in two... Usually I can get where the other side is coming from ie... why some like MOS. Other then the German Scientist and Max's Riddler comparisons I just don't get the complaints. Oh well... Good for me... I got to enjoy the new SM movie

Just on a general note, to me I can't look at scenes that isolated. When I look at a film, I look at an entire film. The point of film as a medium is that it's a whole that exists because of the crafted chronology and attachment between the scenes you see. In written media it's true that it's way easier to highly switch tones and approaches, but imo that's not a good thing in a film and if you do choose to do it you need Coen Brothers level of directing to pull it off (which, I'm sorry to say, Webb just doesn't have, not anywhere near it). A film should have a through-line, a solid tonal foundation from which it can venture into different spots if done fluently.

ASM2 lacked that entirely for me. Not too hard a thing to understand I'd say... But I'm glad you enjoyed it, I will remain here a sad panda that I couldn't.

 

[DiFabio]

Having rewatched S3 lastnight with the wife, I will say that Harry's death was just as sad as Gwen's, if not more so.


The movie was not as bad as I remembered . . .

Yup, I agree.


Even though I didn't really like 3 at the time, I remember the scene with Harry left a lump in my throat. It was a lot more touching than Gwen, but then again, the audience was following three films of development with those characters.

 

[JAWS]

I had avoided this thread for some time to stay away from spoilers. I wish I had peaked and saved myself a bit of money.

Today I saw ASM2 and I can't get over how much I hated it. Hated the soundtrack. Hated the back between forth goofy and dramatic. Hated all of the villains. Hated the god-awful sledgehammer foreshadowing in Gwen's speech. There were a FEW little moments where the movie held the promise of something better (Sally Field's "You're my boy" scene was actually touching) but there's so... much... sh-t in the rest of the film.

Tobey Maguire's last Spider-Man movie is suddenly looking better by comparison.

This is an example of how out of touch I feel with another ones opinion.... And I am not saying you are wrong... I just can't in anyway see where you are coming from... It's unusual for me. I can usually get a feel or understand others feelings towards a film. I fail to understand the hate... even when it's spelled out because I completely disagree. But like I said I am not saying either party is right or wrong... Just an observation about myself and this film.

Word. We got a perfect costumed Spider-Man on screen (in look and attitude,) some great action and chemistry, an emotional death and an enormously uplifting and endearing finale. I find it amusing that people are trying to take a movie with such strengths and pretend it's worse than SM3 or B&R. All right go enjoy that crap, I'm so glad I get to enjoy the hell out of this one.

So far this year we got the best superhero movie ever (TWS) and arguably the best Spidey film. I didn't see that coming. Bring on DOFP and GOTG!

TWS was so great. I was telling my friend that as far as first time viewings go.... I enjoyed TWS more then The Avengers. He looked at me like I had two heads LOL.. Now I am not saying that TWS will hold up as well to repeat viewings (I hope it does) and I will continue to enjoy it more then The Avengers but man I had a blast with that film.... Best Superhero movie ever??? I will have to see it a few more times... Top 5?? Without question.

S3 still blows for the most part, few good to great scenes mixed in.

Wife and I revisited ASM 1 today and we both agreed that ASM 2 blows it out the water, Lizard was such a horrible design and the movie is actually pretty boring.

I have to say, the urge to revisit ASM 2 remains strong.

I really believe had the Lizard been designed better (give him a snout) and I would have enjoyed the film 25% more As is I still like it and think it's better then the 1st Raimi Spiderman (I will take Lizard design over Jet Jaguar... er.. I mean Green Goblin, any day) but not as good as ASM2 or SM2.

Just on a general note, to me I can't look at scenes that isolated. When I look at a film, I look at an entire film. The point of film as a medium is that it's a whole that exists because of the crafted chronology and attachment between the scenes you see. In written media it's true that it's way easier to highly switch tones and approaches, but imo that's not a good thing in a film and if you do choose to do it you need Coen Brothers level of directing to pull it off (which, I'm sorry to say, Webb just doesn't have, not anywhere near it). A film should have a through-line, a solid tonal foundation from which it can venture into different spots if done fluently.

ASM2 lacked that entirely for me. Not too hard a thing to understand I'd say... But I'm glad you enjoyed it, I will remain here a sad panda that I couldn't.

Just to clarify... I am not saying I think you are wrong in what you are saying... Because who the hell am I to tell anyone their opinion about a film is wrong But I don't get peoples arguments about the film as far as tone goes. Taken as a whole or as single scenes. But read on because you will see that I am not saying that I think that makes me right. It's just something I am failing at not you

It's like we saw two completely different films and I usually don't feel that way.

For me if a movie has a bad scene or two but the film succeeds as a whole I can forgive those moments, ie.. Nazi scientist, Riddler Max. It was not enough for me to complain about the changing tone or the awful acting. Not when the rest of the film nailed it so well. It's like when Roger Ebert allowed Deputy Chief of Police Dwayne Robbinson to ruin the rest of Die Hard for him (he gave it two stars because he hated that character so much) He liked the rest of the film but could not handle that character... A character I thought was just fine.... Die Hard is perfect and Ebert is an idiot but I am getting off topic My point is Robinson was a small part of Die Hard and I can't understand how it ruined the rest of the film for everyone else.

Like I pointed out everything else in the film takes itself seriously except for when Spidey is being a wise guy. the film showed that being Spider-man probably would be fun... But that dark crap can happen even to the best of us.

I respect peoples opinion about films even when I don't agree with them (Except for JAWS, if you don't like JAWS then you are wrong and a jerk ) I just don't in anyway agree with these tonal issues people are having... Does not mean I am right and I am not being close minded.. It's just one of the few times that I don't "get it" Everything you said about Spidey I would hate about a film. I hate bad humor in my films. (Watch White House Down to see a great example of being all over the place tone wise) But I don't see that at all in Spider man. But like I said that is my issue not yours.... Or it is your issue because I get to enjoy Spider-man and you didn't ...

 

[Khev]

TWS was so great. I was telling my friend that as far as first time viewings go.... I enjoyed TWS more then The Avengers. He looked at me like I had two heads LOL.. Now I am not saying that TWS will hold up as well to repeat viewings (I hope it does) and I will continue to enjoy it more then The Avengers but man I had a blast with that film.... Best Superhero movie ever??? I will have to see it a few more times... Top 5?? Without question.

Ha ha, I hear you. I just thought I'd indulge my Cap bias with respect to TWS. Needless to say it's been a good cbm year for me so far.

I really believe had the Lizard been designed better (give him a snout) and I would have enjoyed the film 25% more As is I still like it and think it's better then the 1st Raimi Spiderman (I will take Lizard design over Jet Jaguar... er.. I mean Green Goblin, any day) but not as good as ASM2 or SM2.

It's funny because the Lizard is probably my favorite Spidey villain and I thought he was awesome in ASM1. You'd think with so many people put off by his design that he would have rubbed me the wrong way. Go figure.

But otherwise I hear you about people apparently throwing the baby out with the bath water. Even if ASM2 was a "Phantom Menace" tonally with some cool guys and then idiot Jar Jar and annoying Orphan Ani characters it's not like any of the *important* parts of the movie were ruined by "silliness." The jokes were really all presented within the proper context of when you'd assume they would apply. It's not like the mad scientist was hopping around the top of the clock tower spoiling the tension of Peter trying to save Gwen. He was just a little throw-away character as a brief Schumacher tribute. Even if you think that is conceptually stupid he was there and gone and didn't hamper the good (and even great) stuff.

 

[Bardoon]

I don't know how Spidey Comics became so popular..... The tone of the comics is very much the same. But your opinion is not a lone voice. Many feel the same way. Which is why I am not sure how the comics got popular or should I say remained popular.

Also I thought the "Tone" of the Harry story was always Serious.... No jokes there told by Spidey and then it ends with the death of Gwen. But never once is that story arc treated lightly.

Electro was handled with humor in the New York scene... But pretty much (other then awful German Scientist) he was treated as a serious threat by both the film and Spidey.

Pretty much the Tone was only lighthearted when Spidey fought Rhino in the beginning and end.

I just can't believe how much this film has divided the fans in two... Usually I can get where the other side is coming from ie... why some like MOS. Other then the German Scientist and Max's Riddler comparisons I just don't get the complaints. Oh well... Good for me... I got to enjoy the new SM movie

"Tone" was part of why Spidey comics got popular but it was more about the Peter Parker AND Spider-man dynamics that made his comics so enjoyable. He has always been labeled as the world's "first" relate-able superhero.

He had his teenage problems, and despite becoming Spider-man, he was still a nerd with girl problems, money problems, a crappy photographer gig, bill problems, etc. etc. AND EVEN AS SPIDER-MAN he ran into issues like running out of web fluid, or being late for some type of appointment because he was busting crime. All these issues made him instantly relate-able to his audience in the 1960's,70's,80's and even up into today. He wasn't the prototypical "perfect superhero" that was a standard up into the 60's (where Marvel took off with new ideas). This is as a whole a part of why Spidey got so popular and those decades have translated into today. Obviously, decades of stories and such can get old but Spidey has kept a lot of his fans into today and is adding new ones with a formula that has worked well since the 1960's.

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Watched it over the weekend loved it my second favorite spidey film out of the 6 films after spiderman 2!

 

[chewblacca]

There are 6 Spidey films out? 3 Raimi and 2 Webb, what did I miss?

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

I don't know how Spidey Comics became so popular..... The tone of the comics is very much the same. But your opinion is not a lone voice. Many feel the same way. Which is why I am not sure how the comics got popular or should I say remained popular.

Also I thought the "Tone" of the Harry story was always Serious.... No jokes there told by Spidey and then it ends with the death of Gwen. But never once is that story arc treated lightly.

Electro was handled with humor in the New York scene... But pretty much (other then awful German Scientist) he was treated as a serious threat by both the film and Spidey.

Pretty much the Tone was only lighthearted when Spidey fought Rhino in the beginning and end.

I just can't believe how much this film has divided the fans in two... Usually I can get where the other side is coming from ie... why some like MOS. Other then the German Scientist and Max's Riddler comparisons I just don't get the complaints. Oh well... Good for me... I got to enjoy the new SM movie

Kafka was only one scene from what I recall, it was cringeworthy but it was over quick enough. I don't get the inconsistent tone complaint. From the top of the bridge onward there were very few jokes and quips as the drama was heightened, before that there was jokes and light tone but when it switched to dramatic I didn't find it Jarring at all.

Thor 2 for example had jarring switches from dramatic to jokey that were noticeable but I didn't find that with ASM2.

For the Riddler comparisons, I see the similarities but of all to do that kind of character I found Max to do it the least so don't get the emphasis.

Riddler, Syndrome and Killian all go from geeky fans to suave company owning, girlfriend kidnapping villains. But Max only goes from fan to villain, no company owning, no upgraded suave look and he doesn't kidnap or capture the heroes girl like those others.

 

[Wor-Gar]

... a brief Schumacher tribute. ...

*breaks screech!*

Hold the phone. Any film with a "Schumacher tribute" is an instant fail.













"We must agree. He-heh-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!"

 

[Khev]

*breaks screech!*

Hold the phone. Any film with a "Schumacher tribute" is an instant fail.

You'd think but not in ASM2's case!

 

[jye4ever]

Yeah, i'm ok with the Schumacher contribution in ASM2.

 

[jye4ever]

Kafka was only one scene from what I recall, it was cringeworthy but it was over quick enough. I don't get the inconsistent tone complaint. From the top of the bridge onward there were very few jokes and quips as the drama was heightened, before that there was jokes and light tone but when it switched to dramatic I didn't find it Jarring at all.

Thor 2 for example had jarring switches from dramatic to jokey that were noticeable but I didn't find that with ASM2.

For the Riddler comparisons, I see the similarities but of all to do that kind of character I found Max to do it the least so don't get the emphasis.

Riddler, Syndrome and Killian all go from geeky fans to suave company owning, girlfriend kidnapping villains. But Max only goes from fan to villain, no company owning, no upgraded suave look and he doesn't kidnap or capture the heroes girl like those others.

I did enjoy reading your previous dissertation on the Syndrome-Max connection.

Good observation on your end made for a good read.

 

[Biojex]

I don't think there were too many tonal inconsistencies. My only real issues with this film are a few editing and pacing hiccups.

 

[jnmx2000]

This is an example of how out of touch I feel with another ones opinion.... And I am not saying you are wrong... I just can't in anyway see where you are coming from... It's unusual for me. I can usually get a feel or understand others feelings towards a film. I fail to understand the hate... even when it's spelled out because I completely disagree. But like I said I am not saying either party is right or wrong... Just an observation about myself and this film.



TWS was so great. I was telling my friend that as far as first time viewings go.... I enjoyed TWS more then The Avengers. He looked at me like I had two heads LOL.. Now I am not saying that TWS will hold up as well to repeat viewings (I hope it does) and I will continue to enjoy it more then The Avengers but man I had a blast with that film.... Best Superhero movie ever??? I will have to see it a few more times... Top 5?? Without question.

I agree on TWS, easily marvels best and top 3 comic film to date. But my issue with ASM2 is that the parents subplot is unneeded and it drags down a otherwise speedy and light hearted story. My other issue is that they basically jammed the second and third act of the story into the final 20 minutes and that bothers me more than anything, act structure in a film is a big deal to me and this film had close to none. The real story was Harry trying to cure himself and he needs spider-man to do it. The plot of harry being kicked out of oscorp should have been scrapped and Harry should have found electro after spider-man tells him he won't give him his blood, which should have happened 25mins into the film. Then our second act would be Harry trying to use Electro and Rhino to capture spider-man and once spider-man is captured, he uses his blood, finds out it's peter as spider-man, when the blood backfires, he goes on a rampage and then the final act is spider-man trying to save Gwen from the Goblin while trying to defend himself against Electro and Rhino. Then after the final scene could be used in the same effect but use a different member of the sinister six to bring spider-man back out. Bam, you have a coherent plot that has a through line, a purpose, a structure, and you introduce 4 members of your sinister six. When I watched this film this is the only thing I could think of when I watched it and I couldn't take it when it was over, I have no interest in watching this again because I'll just think of the film they could have made.

That's why I don't like this film very much. you had to change very little to make a much better story, all the pieces where there, they just needed to be rearranged.