The Amazing Spider-Man 2

F*** Magazine

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

Director: Marc Webb
Cast:  Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, Sally Field, Chris Cooper, Marton Csokas, B.J. Novak, Denis Leary
Genre: Comics, Action, Fantasy
Run Time: 142 mins
Opens: 1 May 2014
Rating: PG13 (Violence)

Has it really been a whole decade since Spider-Man battled Doc Ock atop that train? The time sure has swung by. In this new Part 2, Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Garfield) sorts out his complicated relationship with Gwen Stacy (Stone), still haunted by the death of Gwen’s dad Captain George Stacy (Leary). Peter’s childhood friend Harry Osborn (DeHaan) returns from boarding school to see his dying father Norman (Cooper), founder of Oscorp. Lowly Oscorp employee Max Dillon (Foxx), who has an unhealthy infatuation with Spider-Man, is transformed into the villainous, all-powerful Electro during a lab accident. As Harry develops a vendetta on Spider-Man and turns into the Green Goblin, he and Electro unite to bring the web-slinger down once and for all.

Spider-Man fans greeted 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man with much scepticism and this reviewer found himself surprised by the film, the chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone its strongest point. That continues to be true for the sequel. Unfortunately, this follow-up is often a downright cheesy affair when not focusing on Peter Parker’s interpersonal relationships. The scenes between Peter and Gwen and Peter and Harry are great, but when the movie turns its focus to the superheroics and the bad guys, as it must, prepare to cringe a little. One would think that comic-book movies have progressed past the point of cartoony, maniacally cackling supervillains. This movie is wall-to-wall maniacally cackling supervillains.



Now, we aren’t saying all comic-book movies should be grim and depressing, far from it. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is, if nothing else, pretty fun. However, director Marc Webb has repeatedly expressed a desire to keep the new film series grounded in some form of reality, hence the more “realistic” and less outlandish appearances of the costumed villains in this movie. Yet we have Spider-Man yanking down the trousers of Russian mobster Aleksei Sytsevich (Giamatti) to reveal rhino-print boxers. We have a container of volatile capsules that narrates “Warning: Plutonium 238 is a radioactive material and is highly explosive”. We have Spider-Man whistling his own theme song as he fights Aleksei (the theme song is also his ring tone). And all this just in the first Spider-Man-centric action sequence following the prologue featuring Peter’s parents.



Garfield and Stone continue to be a delight when together onscreen. Garfield has embraced the role and does display some pretty impressive physicality; it’s not easy for an actor to make it clear to audiences that it actually is him under a superhero suit and mask, something Garfield achieves. He makes Peter Parker very endearing and it’s impossible not to break into a smile seeing how much he’s enjoying himself. It is during Peter and Gwen’s shared moments that the talent that Webb displayed in (500) Days Of Summer is evident. This is also the best Spider-Man’s outfit has ever looked in the movies.



It’s often said that “sequels are all about the villains” but the rogues that Spidey faces off with in this film are not all that remarkable. Jamie Foxx’s Electro is essentially Jim Carrey’s Riddler from Batman Forever, with shades of Richard Pryor in Superman III. He’s the put-upon dweeb who’s ignored by everyone and makes the world pay when he gains superhuman abilities. We’ve seen this countless times before, and as far as supervillain origin stories go, falling into a vat of electric eels isn’t one of the greats. DeHaan showed a lot of promise in Chronicle and does make a great bratty rich kid here, sharing a good deal of chemistry with Garfield. However, there is far from enough time dedicated to the strained friendship between Peter and Harry, with Harry becoming a full-fledged monster in the same movie in which he’s introduced. Giamatti is completely wasted in his minor role as the Rhino, hamming it up as a beyond-stereotypical Russian mobster. There’s also no real “uniting” of the villains, who tackle Spidey one at a time. To top it all off, Dr. Ashley Kafka, who was female in the comics, is played by Marton Csokas as an eccentric German-accented mad scientist with a silly hairdo.



In terms of the spectacle, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 does boast some sizeable action set-pieces, most notably a confrontation in Times Square in which Electro feeds off the electricity coursing through the New York power grid. Webb injects a dynamic style to the sequences but some tricks, most notably a prolonged bullet-time breakdown, do seem a little tired. The penultimate battle at a power plant seems almost completely synthetic and does carry with it a niggling “video game” feel, the CG animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks falling short of photo-realistic. That aside, the 3D here is excellent; there’s just enough stuff hurtling out of the screen to make one feel like the premium ticket price is worth it without jabbing audiences in the eyes, and sequences of Spidey swinging through the air are adequately exhilarating.



There’s half of a good movie here. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is not terrible, but we’ve come to expect more out of our comic book films since Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. If those movies haven’t aged well, it’s likely that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will also soon be seen as campy and dated. The 9-year-olds in the audience might well have the time of their lives but, for viewers who are experiencing comic book movie fatigue, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be little more than annoying. The Stan Lee cameo is also pretty lacklustre, especially when compared with his appearance as the school librarian in The Amazing Spider-Man. Sony is looking to build their own “Spider-Man movie universe” in an effort to keep up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with supervillain team-up movie The Sinister Six coming soon. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is cause for at least a little worry.

Summary: While Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone continue to be great together, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is mostly cheesy and cartoony, entertaining in some spots but cringe-worthy in others.

RATING: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

Jedd Jong

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Interviews - Emma Stone

For F*** Magazine

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 INTERVIEWS

EMMA STONE

The effervescent, energetic Emma Stone, both feisty and sweet, is certainly a hit with moviegoers, her breakout roles in Zombieland, Superbad and Easy A ensuring she would become an A-lister in no time. Her on and off-screen romance with Andrew Garfield has also captured the imagination of many fans, and that the pair have never been trashy tabloid targets probably adds to their appeal as a couple.

By Jedd Jong

Sipping on an iced coffee, Stone spoke to F*** about Gwen Stacy’s pivotal role in this instalment and the trials in her relationship with Peter, what it was like working with Shailene Woodley (who was ultimately cut from the film) and how she’s not chomping at the bit to jump into an action-driven role.

Do we get to see Gwen think her way out of situations like that scene where she’s stalked by the Lizard in the first film?

Yes, very much. She definitely makes her opinion known and gets herself very involved in what is happening.

Are there similarities between Gwen and the real Emma Stone?

I would say so, yeah, I think there have to be in some ways, to find a window into the character you have to find parts of yourself that are like them. I would say there are quite a few similarities, but I don’t have her mind for science. (Referring to a reporter who surprised her with a biochemistry question at the press conference the previous night) Rude! That’s what Google is for, amen. We have some similarities but I would say she’s a little more logical than I am, I’m a very emotional person and she doesn’t let emotion rule her as much. But that’s why she’s a scientist and I’m an actor!

Does being an emotional person help you in your acting?

I think being too emotional in life can sometimes be a hindrance for me but I would not trade it, ever, I would never trade the stuff I feel from being a sensitive person, but it can be hard when you’re sensitive sometimes. But it’s alright, I’m happy that I’ve gotten to find a job that works that is a productive outlet. It’s great, it’s a gift.

It seems like Gwen is more emotional in this film than in the last, we see her leaving Peter.

Yeah, I think it is hard for her, to be making a decision to leave that relationship behind, obviously it’s not working and the timing is all wrong. I relate to those emotional aspects of Gwen but again, she’s got a mind for science. She’s a bit more Type-A.

When you were first picked to play Gwen, did you feel any pressure from the character not being as well-known as Mary Jane?

Well that actually alleviated the pressure because I wasn’t playing Mary Jane, so it didn’t feel like people had a pre-conceived version of the story. I think for Andrew, Tobey (Maguire) had just played the character and for me, Kirsten (Dunst) played a different character. Bryce Dallas Howard played Gwen Stacy in the third movie, but it wasn’t really Gwen’s arc as it is in the comic book and we knew we were telling a different story, so I was lucky, it took the pressure off.

This is your first sequel. What was it like making a sequel to a big blockbuster?

I like it more than the first part, actually. We all were really on the same page, we all knew what story we were going to tell and I think there was less “how are we going to do this from scratch? How are we going to re-tell the story?” We had told it, and now we were going to explore all the different avenues of these characters and these new villains and Gwen’s story, which is a hugely important story to Spider-Man history, so there was a different feeling on set. We were all kind of really happy and looking forward to being that every day. We knew what we were telling.

There’s a lot that happens to Gwen?

Some stuff happens. Yeah, some things occur, she’s going through a lot and it’s a big, important part of the story.

Shailene Woodley was cut from the film, but can you talk about what it was like working with her on the set? Was a strong MJ-Gwen rivalry being set up?

No, there wasn’t a rivalry being set up. We actually had a really beautiful scene that I’m so sad is not going to be in the movie. There was a scene where MJ and Gwen had a really beautiful moment where they were talking on the porch. I love Shailene so much! She is one of my favourite people. She’s…I’m just…she’s so herself, and I’m so grateful I got to meet her and I cannot wait to do something with her. I really wanna do a Thelma and Louise with Shailene!

Are you looking forward to taking on more action-oriented roles?

No, I mean if there’s like a yoga character…I don’t think you necessarily have to be physically strong to be a strong female. I think being mentally strong and emotionally strong is really important too. A lot of people ask me if I want to play a female superhero, if I was jealous of the guys doing all the stunts and no, I wasn’t! I wasn’t ever into…

In Zombieland?

That was awesome, I had a pump shotgun, that was cool! And I had a great time, but I ran in that movie and on day two I fell and sprained the whole thing and a stunt double had to (take over)…I’m just not physically capable. But I like to dance, I like things like that. I have a different way of exhibiting strength. But I definitely feel like a strong person, maybe not physically the strongest.

You’ve starred in romantic comedies like Easy A and Crazy, Stupid, Love. and have taken on roles in action films like Gangster Squad and the Spider-Man films. What was the transition like?

I don’t know, it doesn’t really matter what the genre is. I think I’m excited for more challenges, there’s lots of things I’m interested in doing that I haven’t really gotten to explore yet even though I’ve been able to play characters in lots of different genres from the outside, there’s lots of things internally in characters that I like to play that I don’t think I’ve really gotten to explore yet so I’m kind of…I feel that’s sort of a turning point in my life, and I think lots of things will happen that will inform my future and I’m excited to try lots of different things no matter what the genre is, I think characters are what I’m really interested in right now and I’d like to play something truly bizarre (laughs).

Do we get to see more of Gwen and her siblings and the impact that Captain Stacy’s death in the first film has on Gwen’s brothers?

No, unfortunately.

Felicity Jones’ role has not been revealed yet, but could her character complicate things between Gwen and Peter?

No. I don’t think so, I think Gwen and Peter’s destiny is pretty clean-cut.

Did the cast bring anything surprising to the process on the set, and did it energise you?

Absolutely, well Jamie, working with Jamie and Dane DeHaan he’s so…fantastic actor. It’s very energising to have new people in the experience and Jamie obviously while was there, because you’ve seen all of these people for such a long time and then to have this new energy is really invigorating. To work with the same people again…I’ve gotten to work with Ryan Gosling twice, I’ve gotten to work with Ruben Fleischer the director of Zombieland again on Gangster Squad, I’ve been able now for the first time to start working with people again and it’s always different, it’s interesting, not better or worse just different, being in a different story, telling a different…it’s cool, it’s interesting.

With Jamie, I didn’t get to do that much…he’s singing right now (at the other press table) (Laughs). It’s the best, I think he’s so great, he’s so much fun, he’s so great. At the press conferences he’s just, like, the king. I didn’t get to do that much with Jamie but just being around him is really energising also.

When it comes to playing different characters, would you like to try playing a character who’s ugly, because you look so good all the time?

Ugly? I don’t that would be that difficult (laughs). I played Skeeter in The Help.

Would you mind undergoing a physical transformation of gaining or losing a lot weight to play a character?

Not really, I mean I wouldn’t really like to lose a ton of weight, I don’t really…I don’t think I need to lose any more weight…

But Skeeter was cute!

Skeeter…ugh (laughs) I don’t think I need to lose any more weight. So no, I would of course be open to doing things for a character but I wouldn’t really want to endanger my health. Some people are willing to really go the distance to endanger their health long-term but it’s not worth it to me to play a part and then mess with the rest of your life so if it were safe, yes, I would do that but starvation does not sound all that safe.

Three adjectives have been used to describe Gwen: smart, loyal and ambitious. If you could just one to describe yourself, which would it be?

Smart, loyal and ambitious…oh god, I have to choose one of those? I wouldn’t want to trade any of them for another one…I would hope loyal. But not to a fault, not to people who don’t deserve it.

You’ve worked and will be working on many different types of movies. What do you think of critics in general not having a very high opinion of blockbusters? Blockbusters aren’t really nominated for Oscars.

Well, Heath Ledger won an Oscar for Dark Knight. I mean I think that there are nominations…I would go with you on comedy too, I always wonder why people aren’t nominated for comedies in the same way. But they sometimes are, and there are certain movies that are nominated for awards…I don’t know, I’ve never really been all that concerned with all this awards stuff, I just did it because it’s what I love so it had never really entered the equation for me. Certain movies tend to appeal more to an awards audience and are marketed towards an awards audience and I don’t know if these movies necessarily are campaigning to be “awards movies” or summer-oriented, so maybe that’s why.

You always look fabulous, any fashion tips?

Hire Petra Flannery as your stylist, and you can too! (Laughs)

Earth Hour Singapore - Spider-Man at the Float@Marina Bay

For F*** Magazine

EARTH HOUR SINGAPORE – SPIDER-MAN AT THE FLOAT@MARINA BAY 

The Spider-Man musical was named Turn off the Dark but on the evening of 29 March, the cast and crew of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 helped turn off the lights on the Singapore skyline. In the culmination of a three-day tour of Singapore, stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx as well as director Marc Webb and producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach helped commemorate Earth Hour, observed from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. Organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, this year sees Spider-Man become the first superhero ambassador for the environmental event, a costumed Spidey himself also making an appearance. Radio deejays including Maddy Barber, John Klass, Charmaine Yee and Rich Herrera hosted.

Words and photos by Jedd Jong

“This is cool!” Emma Stone enthused. “It is amazing to be in Singapore, I think we’re all having a really really great time. We’ve been at the food stalls, I went on the Singapore flyer, it’s been pretty special. Thank you for having us and for giving us such a warm welcome.”

“I think it is a great honour for us,” Marc Webb said on Spider-Man being chosen as superhero ambassador for Earth Hour. “It’s about one person making a difference, it’s about a kid who everybody underestimates who brings change in the world…it’s a great way to start off a global event…it’s a really fantastic opportunity for all of us.”

“Wow!” Andrew Garfield exclaimed. “To be here right now with everyone here is steady lah!” Garfield said to wild screams from fans in the audience, using a colloquial exhortation. “Singapore lah is cool lah.” That’s not quite how you do it, but points for trying, Spidey. “We went to the Commonwealth School with Jamie and they were showing how much hard work they were doing with sustainability and to protect the earth…they’re doing really beautiful work and the Commonwealth School are an inspiration to all of us.” Garfield and Foxx made a surprise visit to the school on Friday, much to the delight of its students.

Foxx was accompanied on stage by his five year old daughter Annalise. “We got fans from two years old to 90 years old because of these guys and I’m just happy to be here in Singapore,” he said to more cheers.

Before and after the cast made their appearance, the crowd at the Float was entertained by a myriad of home-grown acts, including Masia One and Inverse Proportions, the Superfly Monkey Dragons parkour troupe, singer Roze Kasmani, the Invincible Cheerleading squad, the LuMen Dancers with their light-up suits, percussion group Samba Masala and soul funk group What Is Hip? The event was also graced by ambassador Burhan Gafoor, Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elaine Tan, CEO of WWF-Singapore, Andy Ridley, CEO and co-founder of Earth Hour and Dr. Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International.

Now, DANCE!

Chilling out and signing off.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Singapore Red Carpet and Press Conference

For F*** Magazine

The stars, director and producers of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 swept into Singapore on 27th March, greeting a throng of excited webheads at the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (MBS). Actors Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx were joined by director Marc Webb and producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. Bringing a little slice of Hollywood hype and glamour to our shores, the celebrities will participate in the Earth Hour "lights out" ceremony to be held this Saturday.

By Jedd Jong
Photos by Tedd and Jedd Jong

At MBS, they graciously posed for photographs, signed autographs and took lots and lots of selfies with some lucky fans. There was also an appearance made by Spider-Man himself, leaping through the red carpet area, in addition to some fans who turned up in costume as Spider-Man, Electro and Gwen Stacy as radio deejays Justin Ang and Vernon A hosted the proceedings.

Speaking briefly to F*** on the red carpet, producer Avi Arad promised a big action film that will also include Spider-Man's trademark wise-cracking humour.

Director Webb described building a replica of Times Square on Long Island to stage the film's central set-piece in which the villainous Electro, played by Foxx, causes a violent power outage in the middle of New York City.

Emma Stone revealed that she enjoyed performing the high-flying wire work stunts for when Gwen Stacy gets to swing on Spider-Man's arm.

Andrew Garfield said that the group was taken to Maxwell Food Centre (he called it "Maxwell Courtyard") to partake in some famous chicken rice, and that they had been chilling in the Infinity Pool atop the MBS hotel earlier that day.

Jamie Foxx also entertained the crowd with a spot of beatboxing.

Once in the MasterCard theatre for the press conference, we were treated to a small, sweet display of affection when Garfield playfully stroked Stone's cheek.

When asked by a reporter about playing a character who is white in the comics, Jamie Foxx emphasized the craft of acting and how today's world should look beyond race as a boundary. Garfield jokingly added that in his next project, he will play Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

F***'s coverage of Spidey's trip to the Lion City will continue, so stay tuned. Enjoy a bunch of photos from the red carpet and the press conference (showcasing many adorable Emma Stone expressions) below!

Shout-out to my brother Tedd, who was the photographer for the day. Off to do some heavy-duty interview transcription and will be headed to the Floating Platform tonight!