Sony’s original vision for its Spider-Man universe came to an abrupt halt with the release of 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'... and it’s not hard to see why.

Behind the scenes issues and the now-infamous email leaks certainly didn’t help, but the film’s reception fell well short of expectations. Rather than standing confidently on its own, the sequel feels overly preoccupied with setting up future installments and spin-offs, which ultimately makes for a frustrating viewing experience.

That’s not to say it’s without its strengths. Spider-Man’s suit is arguably the best we’ve seen in live-action, the web-swinging sequences are dynamic and immersive, and Andrew Garfield delivers a standout performance in the lead role. Unfortunately, these highlights are weighed down by an overstuffed narrative, an excess of new characters, and a number of creative decisions that simply don’t land. The result is an underwhelming and very disappointing entry in the Spider-Man franchise.

There’s a better film buried somewhere within it, but this sequel feels like a turning point for Sony, and not in a good way. Just look at the studio’s subsequent Spider-Man spin-offs to see how uncertain their direction became. Still, least we got to see Garfield back again with 2021's 'No Way Home', but its a real shame his journey came to an end just as it was beginning.

Full thoughts in this review.