The Amazing Spider- Man 2
Going going Gwen
Marc Webb’s sequel comes to Blu- ray with a deleted scene that would have made the ending shockingly different.
The cross- cutting story strands feel suited to TV
Release Date: 1 September 2014 | 12 | 142 minutes | £ 24.99 ( Blu- ray)/£ 29.99 ( 3D Blu- ray)/£ 19.99 ( DVD) Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Director: Marc Webb Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan,
Sally Field, Campbell Scott, Paul Giamatti
Marc Webb’s
second Spidey outing divided viewers. Critics were peeved by the tangle of plotlines and characters, as well as the hero’s agonised dithering over the girl he loves and dreads losing. ( For better or worse, Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy seems way stronger than Andrew Garfield’s webslinger.) For most of the way, the menace is Electro ( Jamie Foxx), zapping Times Square with electric- blue thunderbolts. Then a second Big Bad emerges and the film heads inexorably towards one of the most famous denouements in comic book history.
The Amazing Spider- Man 2 is the kind of film that might play better on home cinema. Not only can you split it into two halves, but the crosscutting story strands feel suited to TV. And the film has undoubted virtues, including two wonderfully charming star- crossed lovers in Garfield and Stone; a sense of humour that’s exuberant even by Spidey’s standards; an abundance of fine moments, both epic and intimate; and perhaps the best final scene of any superhero film to date.
Extras: Buy the DVD and you just get four deleted scenes and a commentary track. The latter doesn’t involve director Marc Webb, but does feature writers Alex Kurtzman and Jeff Pinkner and producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. It’s a cheerful, rambling discussion, but with some great insights into how the filmmakers shaped the story as the creators explain the underlying thought- process, especially when it came to handling downer source material in an upbeat spring blockbuster. The commentary also brings out several of the film’s emotional subtleties which even attentive viewers could miss.
The Blu- ray ( rated) adds nine further deleted scenes. Chief amongst these is “Peter Meets His Father” ( five minutes), a shockingly different ending in which Richard Parker turns up alive to offer wisdom to his flabbergasted son. It’s fantastic to see, and a great demonstration of how the filmmakers struggled with the material. At the same time, the scene simply doesn’t work for a multitude of reasons, as discussed frankly in the commentary.
The other scenes are often interesting, though sadly they don’t include the cut moments we all wondered about, featuring Shailene Woodley ( Divergent) as Mary Jane. What we do get are embellishments we could live without. In one alternative scene Max, rather than living alone, has a ghastly mother to contend with; Peter learns that he was under surveillance from childhood by Norman Osborn; there’s a wave goodbye from the bully- boy Flash ( Chris Zylka) from the first film; and more Goblin action at Oscorp, including the final comeuppance of the slimy executive played by Colm Feore. Understandably, several of these scenes feature unfinished effects.
The Blu- ray also has “The Wages Of Heroism”, a comprehensive six- part Making Of ( 112 minutes). Highlights include the sections on the stuntwork ( inspired by Buster Keaton) and on Peter Parker’s spinning bedroom; oodles of lovely concept art; Paul Giamatti being alarmingly enthused about playing the Rhino; and Emma Stone on wanting to play one of the most unique comic book heroines. Andrew Osmond When Gwen accidentally calls Spidey “Peter” in public, then claps a hand over her mouth, it was a real gaffe by Emma Stone!