THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2: DOES WHATEVER A SPIDER CAN...AGAIN

There is something wonderful happening in movies today that some may notice but not understand. What it is is the emergence of comic books as solid story telling becoming movies that are equally as good. For years reading comics was something everyone thought only kids did. Now we have enormous amounts of people attending comic conventions across the country as well as movies that are not only raking in big bucks at the box office but presenting films that are actually better than most.

Perhaps the biggest studio and comic book company to cash in on this is Marvel. Their initial Spider-man movies were box office bonanzas. When they brought in Iron Man and the Avengers things got better. With the reboot of Spider-man people were wondering if they could capture the same magic all over again. The answer was yes. Now they continue that with the second Spider-man movie aptly titled THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2.

Having taken up the mantle of hero in the first film and defeating the Lizard, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) continues to be the good guy on the streets of New York. The film opens with him chasing down an Eastern European thug (Paul Giamatti) and his gang as they attempt to steal nuclear material from an Oscorp armored truck. Even though Spider-man captures them he's plagued by images of Capt. Stacy (Denis Leary), the father of the girl he's fallen in love with, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Each time he thinks he sees him he's reminded of his promise to steer clear of Gwen and to keep her out of harm's way.

In short order Peter tries to break things off with Gwen while at the same time dealing with several new problems. The first involves his old friend Harry Osborne (Dane DaHaan) who has returned home to his dying father. After he passes he's faced with trying to run Oscorp while at the same time battling a hereditary disease, the same his father died from. The only good thing in his life is his friend, Peter.

Oscorp has other issues to contend with that will also have consequences for Spider-man. Inventor and electrical tech Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) has fallen into a vat of super charged electric eels coupled with electrical transformers that have changed him from a normal person into an electrically charged human being. Captured he blames Spider-man for his being held captive by Oscorp and looks for a chance to face off against him again.

Through all of this Parker continues to hide his secret from his aunt May (Sally Field), discovers more secrets involving his parents and their ties to Oscorp and possibly has the solution to Harry's disease. But of course we know the last won't happen and Harry will try and do something to cure himself that will result in...well watch and see.

As always the effects here take center stage and make this movie a dazzling visual smorgasbord of high flying leaps and web swinging action. More than just the spider effects are those of the villain that Max becomes, Electro, and his ability to control electricity along with his electrical appearance. IF that weren't enough you later have...well I already said I wouldn't spoil that for folks who haven't seen the movie yet.

Right beside the action in this story is that of the affection between Peter and Gwen, a more human than hero story. It has always been one of the things that separated the Marvel comics from all others, this human side to every story being told. It weaves in and out of the action going on here and presents one of the biggest and most emotional surprises ever seen in a super hero movie.

I know there are people out there who sit and say to themselves "Do you expect me to believe this?" My mother is one of those. But that shouldn't prevent you from finding enough fun and story in this film to bypass it. Give it a try and my guess is you'll then anxiously anticipate number 3. Or maybe see GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (which is fantastic by the way). In any event, you may soon find yourself becoming a comic book movie fan.

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