143 - Electrifying

 So, it's the fifth Spider-Man film overall, and the second of the Emma Stone movies (she's the best thing about this one, too), and we get to see what would happen if Duane Dibbley got turned in to a super-villain. 

'Cos I'm sure loads of people would have taken one look at Jamie Foxx's Max Dillon and instantly noted the similarity between him and the Cat's alter ego. 

This one, Amazing Spider-Man 2, is a definite step up from the previous one. It's still clearly planting loads of seeds for the future, with an appearance by a character called Felicia, who's clearly meant to be Felicia Hardy who (in the comics) goes on to be the Black Cat. You also see Doctor Octopus' arms, and the Vulture's wings in the Oscorp vault. All part of setting up the Sinister Six... plans that would never come to fruition. 

I would actually that, five films in, this is the best of the films so far. Anyone coming up with the "too many villains" whinge can jog on; the main villain here is clearly Electro, and the others (at least once powered) are little more than cameos. 

The Green Goblin's barely in it, and when he does appear, it's quite devastating. My memory of the scene in the clock tower at the end was that it went on for a lot longer than it actually did (that was the one major fault I'd clearly mis-remembered), and it is absolutely devastating when Peter fails to stop Gwen hitting the ground, killing her. 

And the Rhino at the end... that's all about Peter getting back in to the swing of things, getting back to being Spidey and continuing to protect the city. Ending the film just as the fight between the two is starting is the right decision... life goes on. 

I didn't even mind the ongoing thread about Peter's parents in this one; at least they dived in to what happened a bit more, and gave a bit more about the shared history between Peter's Dad and Norman Osborne. 

I am torn as to whether or not I'm glad the scene with Shailene Woodley as Mary Jane was cut; it would have been good to see her, but I guess maybe it would have just been another seed too far. I'm sure I read that you can see her, very briefly, in one scene, though. 

The fact that they never got to do any more with this iteration of Spidey means there's so many plot threads that never went anywhere. I really would have liked there to be at least a third one, but circumstances prevented it... shame. 

Anyhow, next up on the list is a film I've not actually seen before... Venom.