The summer of 2014 has officially begun with the opening of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, in theaters everywhere this weekend. I’ve read many reviews on it and it looks like I’m going to have to give it two different grades. In the area of morality and appropriateness for younger audiences, I’m giving it a definite STAR. 

The only caution here is the expected high level of action violence that may not be suitable for the younger kids. Otherwise, I applaud the strong moral character of this movie. Here are a few review highlights to better explain:

MOVIEGUIDE.ORG says, “…The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is one of the cleanest superhero movies made in recent years. There’s only a light amount of mild foul language. Of course, there’s a lot of action violence, plus some scary moments, such as the scary looking electric eels that attack poor Max. So, caution is advised, especially for younger children. Even better, the movie has many strong moral points. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 teaches the importance of remaining hopeful in spite of hardship and tragedy. It also extols the importance of being a hero and a positive role model for children.” Full Review.

BUT IS IT GOOD? – As far as how well the movie is made and rather or not it keeps us entertained as it should, grading this movie is not as simple. There seems to be an equal amount of criticism and praise being thrown around from every direction. At ROTTENTOMATOES.COM, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 got only a %55 rating. Therefore, I have not other choice but to give this movie a SPLATTAR (half star and half splat).  Below are a few sample comments on the quality of the film as a whole. Go to Rottentomatoes.com for lots more.