The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a difficult one to review.

Building on the first film in every conceivable way, it's the classic 'more is more' approach from Sony and Marvel.

The new tracking cameras for Spidey's web slinging is Gravity-esque and remarkably stunning (especially in IMAX) and really gives you a feeling of being in his shoes.

The villains are better, as to be expected, and pose more of a threat although Jamie Foxx's Electro does go from Spidey-obsessive to supervillain rather too hastily, especially when he's so effortlessly likeable as geeky Max Dillon.

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone step up once again and really do make Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst seem cheesy and cliched by comparison.

However, this has classic 'middle-film-of-a-trilogy' problems. The lack of origin story means the relationship between Peter and Gwen can be better explored, and Aunt May plays a slightly more significant part here, but this is basically a giant trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 3.

The next villains are teased and Spidey even ends the movie mid-action scene.

There are some nice explanations of things and some tasty action scenes but this ultimately poses more questions than it answers.

Not even one, very ballsy, twist can save you from a slight lack of satisfaction come the credits.

This reboot of the series has done well to, somehow, eclipse the originals but it's still lacking something to put it on par with the Batman's and Avengers of this world.

It doesn't quite nuzzle up to Captain American: The Winter Soldier though and, therefore, has to sit alongside its predecessor in the scoring stakes.

The action is awesome, the laughs come thick and fast and you certainly won't be disappointed but this is a film to watch as part of a marathon, with the inevitable third movie giving you the satisfying ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️