Amazing Spider-Man 2 VS... Spiderman?

Went to go see Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 3D and I recommend seeing it.
Why? Because it was actually...

Wait... what's this I'm hearing?  Critics are mixed on it?  AGAIN?
Well, let me put in my 2 cents.

Before I go into the movie, let me tell you my history with the Spider-Man series-

I had to be less than 6 years old when I found out about Spider-Man.  I had just started to read and started to read (or at least look at) the comics in the Sunday newspaper.  I can even remember getting the magazines and reading other stories.

In 1994, when I was 8, the Spider-Man T.V. show started.
Now, I never fully read a Spiderman comic (besides the newspaper ones), but I learned from watching this show.  
To me, C.D. Barnes being the voice of Spider-Man was how I saw the character. 
I continued watching all the way up to Spider-Man Unlimited but that's when I started to stop watching Saturday Cartoons...

Until Spider-Man was announced for the movies-


 
I was so excited to see this live action and BE ACTION!  And what villain will be in it?  Will it be Doc Ock (which was my favorite) or the Lizard (which was the first villain I saw Spidey fight)?

And it was the Green Goblin...
*pause*  Why?
In the animated series, it wasn't until the 3rd Season before you even see him.  The Hobgoblin was more prominent than the Green Goblin, so why chose him?
Later I found out the history and everything, but still I couldn't get over them using GG as the first Spider-man movie villain.

And as good as people said Spider-Man was, I didn't.  I wasn't happy with it.  The fights were dulled and the action just didn't feel active.  It felt like a Bat-Man 60's movie, not a Spider-Man movie.
And the webs.  How could you fuck up the webs?  Organic Webs?  But the web shooters were classic and made sense...  Spiders don't shoot webs from their hands!
And don't get me started with Tobey Maguire.  I don't care what people said about how geeky he is or was, that WASN'T SPIDERMAN!  It wasn't the smart mouthing, wise cracking superhero I knew and admired.
So I was disappointed by it, and just pushed it away.
Also, because of 9/11 it became a sore thing to talk about...


Until I saw the trailer for Spider-Man 2 and then I was hyped again.



And it was glorious.
I don't care what people say about Alfred Molina, that was an amazing performance from him.  And the effects and fights... it was great.
Once again, I didn't like Toby and I didn't like the struggle of him losing his powers and everything, but it did help with him finding a reason to fight for... I didn't like it, but it helped with the story.  So I was excited about the next one!






...
...
...
We all know what happened after that.
The good points of that movie were anything dealing with Sandman (which was another odd choice for a movie villain, but I was surprisingly wrong cause it was strong choice).
But the bad points...  how should I put this...

1.   Harry getting amnesia and forgetting hunting down Peter.  And then the whole B.S. about him breaking up MJ...
2.   Which leads to MJ causing drama pointlessly and which all of that could have been avoided if they actually acted like a couple, which they DIDN'T.
3.   Toby/Peter acting badly when affected by the Suit.  
4.   PETER ACTING BADLY WHEN DANCING.
5.   Harry acting like a whiny bitch.
6.   Venom forced in.  And it wasn't worth it... 

I could go on, but that was enough of a reason to be pissed at this movie.  Later, I found out about the pressure Sam Raimi was dealing with him not wanting to put Venom in it, that he had a specific pace he wanted to go with, but pressure from fans and other "people" made him make changes that he didn't want to make.  SO he just went, "Fuck it, lets do it your way."  And it was a mess.


Years pass, and the effects from the 3rd movie had been making all fans worried... the talks of the 4th movie being made was talked and talked about...

Then five years passed and 2012 came.
And even though I/we were skeptic, we took a look at Amazing Spider-Man.

And THAT is what I was waiting for 10 years ago!

I loved it!  I told everyone to go see this movie!  Even with the Batman movies taking a serious approach to the mythology of heroes and duty, Spider-Man was a fun, emotional, and felt very much like the old comics.  Andrew Garfield was likable, geeky, athletic, and smart mouthing... HE IS SPIDERMAN!  Helping kids, being inspirational to people, helping others! Granted, not an all that good at being Peter Parker, but I like him as Spiderman.  And Gwen (Oh my God, Emma Stone) was pitch perfect.  She was interesting, intelligent, and helpful!  And it felt...
It felt like something I would be watching for a while.
Granted it was comic book logic and kinda silly, but the fighting... it was Spider-Man fighting. 
I really liked it.


And now we get to Amazing Spider-Man 2, and I knew that (  Gwen was going to die ) .  I didn't want to go see this movie because I really liked her character.  But I kept hearing people talk about other things about the movie, so I knew I had to go see it...

My opinion is this -

Go see this movie. 

BUT! 

Listen to my warning.  Don't expect a fight scene with Rhino.  Don't let Harry's attitude pull you out of the movie.  And see it in 3D. 

 
After this, I will go into spoiler territory. -





The Spider-Man fights are really well done.  Whatever problem people have with the Superman movie, it is the opposite with this one.  HE SAVES EVERYONE (except for one...) and he acts like you expect for Spider-Man to act.  Great web shooting tricks, and great comedy with it. 
Electro, before he transforms, is kinda cliche nerd, but it is showing someone who is so sheltered that he hides his anger and doesn't do anything... Until he gains power.  I see this as a great psychological view on giving power to the powerless, the old saying of the corruption of people with absolute power.  BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE GETS!  I mean, wow, the electric powers in this movie are amazing.  Great effects. 
I do find it weird that he basically becomes Dr. Manhattan... but I let it slide.
More importantly, where did he get his costume?
Harry Osborne... is weird.  And I mean that as he seems really selfish and not very smart.  I didn't like him, but I don't like his character in the comics anyway.  He seemed a little forced.
And Gwen...
Sigh...
Gwen is still a strong character.  And a strong presence.  She gives a speech that is as powerful as the "With Great Power" one.  And it's good.

Other than that, I know some people complain about the fact with 3 villains that the story isn't strong.  But I disagree.  The story is mostly Spider-Man's, dealing with new villains, the guilt of Gwen's dad (which was kinda awkward seeing Leery appearing in the movie), Gwen leaving, and new information about his father. 

But to the people who say this is the worst movie... you haven't seen shit.

Later~
Will