The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

On the plus side, it’s better than the first one. This sequel is paced like a charging hellhound and readers of the comics will sink into the edge of their seats when the film dives into one of the all-time most pivotal moments of old Spider-Man lore. You’ll get no spoilers from me on that matter, but the big fans will see it coming like Greek tragedy.

On the downside, this film colors so safely within the superhero movie formula that it undermines its own cliffhangers. We’re two movies in (with more to come) and these highly paid Hollywood professionals still only dazzle us with effects. The unresolved questions in their script are pedestrian and the forthcoming answers will probably be the same. I’m yawning already. Also, spend a minute thinking about this movie afterward and it might dawn on you that all of its hard-hitting moments are shameless copies of The Dark Knight. Like that film, this is about half occupied with the hero’s rocky relationship with a woman in which he loves her and she’s not so sure about him—and it all eventually crosses wires with the main storyline. Also, like that film, this one plays the trick where the third act introduces a surprise guest star major villain who’s on a revenge kick against the hero.

They ditched Sam Raimi for this?