With so many superhero movies out nowadays, it is hard to keep track of what can be considered good or bad. Marvel has been a mixed bag in the past with some great ones (The Avengers), and some duds (Ghost Rider). Nonetheless The Amazing Spider-Man 2 hit theaters on May 2 and is a movie worth seeing. Director Marc Webb’s film offers nonstop action, explosions, and destruction with a dash of humor and young love mixed in.

Being a sequel to the first Amazing Spider-Man, it is very easy to cast this movie as one that will be worse than the first one, but that is incorrect. It extends the story from the last movie but there won’t be a lot of confusion if you have not seen the first one. Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man/ Peter Parker) remains consistent to his character and gives a spot on performance of the life of a teen with the qualities it takes to save the world a couple times over.

The movie shows the development of villain Electro played by Jamie Foxx. Foxx, who has made his career as a stand-up comedian but is also an Academy Award winning actor, is an unlikely villain, but he is cast as a nerdy electrician searching for someone to show him a little love. He gives a great performance as someone to fear who could cause a lot of trouble for Spider-Man.  Foxx plays a fantastic villain.

Emma Stone returns as the love interest of Parker, Gwen Stacy.  She shifts the plot line to another aspect of Spider-Man’s life; this aspect of the plot is not really needed and does not add that much to the actual life of Spider-Man at times, but it is understandable that this is an important part to the movie; it just does not make it that much better.  Stone does do a good job in the role, but never works up to the “brains” of the duo that is tossed around by fans of the movies.

Should SPA students see it?

If you do not like superhero movies, you can probably skip this one and study for your AP exams instead. If you are on the fence about it, or just need an escape, Amazing Spider-Man 2 may be worth the price of the ticket.