The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (12A)
Directed by Marc Webb
4/5

Two years after his hugely successful Spider-Man reboot, which raked in more than $750 million worldwide, comes Marc Webb’s sequel. Overloaded with super villains, its dramatic thread is shockingly moving for a superhero film.

Peter Parker, now wrestling with abandonment issues, embarks on resolving the mystery of his parents’ disappearance after dumping him with his aunt and uncle. And he is haunted — literally — by his girlfriend’s dead father (Denis Leary) who he promised he would keep safe by staying away from her, a promise which Parker battles with throughout the film.

Andrew Garfield returns as the geeky but charmingly funny and surprisingly sexy Parker/Spider-Man who slips into his alter ego with natural ease while Emma Stone is back as his soulmate Gwen Stacy, stealing every scene with a much meatier and substantial role in this sequel.

Stacy is smart, feisty, incredibly sharp and witty. She is also her own woman and more importantly she is Parker’s equal. Refreshingly she is no damsel in distress that needs constant saving like Mary Jane.

Garfield and Stone’s chemistry is electrifying while their characters’ rollercoaster relationship is the emotional glue that holds this film together.

But Spidey is faced with one too many enemies, who include Jamie Foxx as the slow-witted Max Dillon — with the worst ever comb-over — who transforms into the glowing, blue-faced Electro after a shocking accident with electric eels at work. His love-hate of Spider-Man is reminiscent of Jim Carrey’s Dr Edward Nygma/Riddler in Batman Forever.

Also making their mark are Dane DeHaan who breathes fascinating new life into the Green Goblin, alias Parker’s troubled best friend Harry Osborn — head of the powerful and evil Oscorp company — and a rather wasted and unrecognisable Paul Giamatti as The Rhino.

Webb keeps the CGI action moving at a breakneck speed in 3D.

Yet what I admire is his conviction to go from the fun and exciting to a truly dark and uncompromising ending which apparently is faithful to the Marvel comics but remains a shocking surprise.