By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Is there going to be a eugenics war in Amazing Spider-Man 2? If this latest trailer is any indication, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is learning that Oscorp Industries has followed him for some time now. They are interested in cross-breeding experiments. Through bio-morphism and the study of regeneration, Dr. Curt Connors became the Lizard and thinks the world can be a better place if everyone in New York City is changed. Peter had to deal with that threat in the first movie and save the day.
With hype for the second movie now in full swing, this sequel will show what the power of substance abuse can do to other people. Apparently the serum that Connors “perfected” is still being studied. With him gone, what’s hidden and contained remains a secret to everyone but Norman Osborne. His son, Harry (Dane DeHaan) seems to be privy to some information, but as for how much he knows, viewers will have to see Amazing Spider-Man 2 (due to be released in theatres May 2) to find out.
Even the unfortunate electrical engineer by the name of Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) knows something of what is going on. After being saved by the web-slinger, he thinks he can be a hero too. Max admires the spider from afar, but as for exactly what his motivations are, not everything is known. When he goes back to work and says he can do “it” himself, that means he knows how Spider-man got his powers. Although accidental, Max falls into a vat of electric eels and his transformation is complete.
Jamie Foxx shows that he has the chops to play what may be a schizophrenic character. He transforms into being mild-mannered to menacing. Yes, trailers tend to show off more spoilers to the films these days, and this time what is revealed is good. Viewers can pay attention to why Dillon, as Electro, is after the wall crawler without dwelling too much on a lengthy origin story. This trailer succeeds at being a good prologue to the film.
And two more villains are waiting in the wings. They will no doubt be creations using technology hidden in Oscorp’s vaults. But who is going to be Rhino and the Green Goblin? or is that the Hobgoblin? But in the Super Bowl Ad, Part 2 trailer, there is a full frame shot of who is riding the bat-like glider. The character’s costuming is vague enough to have everyone guessing. Although this person has white-hair, which suggests Tombstone, the blurs put into this frame is nicely done to not reveal exactly who this character is. The Hobgoblin is the most obvious choice because there is a bit of an orange hue to the rider’s skin. Whichever version of the Goblin this is, the person behind it looks like he is wearing an exoskeleton. Another sequence showing it being put on does not show any prongs to attach any tentacles on, so that discounts the entry of Doctor Octavius into this story.
As for how important these added group of antagonists will be to the plot, perhaps their inclusion in the trailer is more of a teaser than anything else. A cliffhanger is to be expected that get fans screaming for the next film much like how The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug did over the December month.
Fans will be talking about who the remaining two characters will be. The Sinister Six is no doubt going to make an appearance. And as any would-be comic book narrator would say, “Sorry Spidy, but you got a posse after you. It’s too bad the X-men, S.H.I.E.L.D. or Avengers are not around to back you up.”
