"The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro," due out on Friday, May 2, manages to be as character-driven as it is action-packed. High-octane fights in airplanes and on the streets of Manhattan are nicely partnered with raw emotion and dynamic characters.

Now, this in no way suggests that Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan or Andrew Garfield will be beckoned to the stage come awards season, but the key players add a tasteful dimension to their characters by being decidedly vulnerable. Driven by more than the acquisition of money and power, the characters' plights are similar to moviegoers' own. While this superhero feature, like many, deals with the surreal, this film also focuses on the believable.

Breathtaking special effects debut early in the film with an impressive exchange on an airplane. Spider-Man gracefully sails through the air, shoots webs and moves with careful choreography through New York. He flexes his back muscles artfully as he dives into the depths, and Electro's lightning displays are captured in a masterful way.

The screenplay is written by James Vanderbilt and re-written by Alex Kurtzman and the Mexican/Cuban film and television writer and producer Roberto Orci. These men can be credited with weaving together a storyline that offers long-awaited insight into our hero's past and dares to show viewers both the sweet and sour parts of heroism.

"Spider-Man 2" also employs music to great effect. A Greek chorus urges Electro to commit treacherous acts amidst confusion and betrayal. Later, when Electro is at the power plant, he uses his powers to produce music, which dances along the large metallic coils at the station, to which Spider-Man remarks, "I hate this song." Pharrell Williams co-composed music with James Horner. Director Marc Webb and Williams also created a supergroup for the film's score, which included Johnny Marr, Michael Einziger and David A. Stewart.

Sony filmed the entirely of the film in New York state, including a car-chase scene filmed in Rochester. One fan who attended an "Amazing Spider-Man 2" preview in Times Square acknowledged the New York presence as one of the more remarkable things about the film, commenting that it was "all real." That "realness" plays into the authenticity of the film, which incorporated throwback subway tokens and employs an old NYC urban legend involving "Roosevelt."

Another moviegoer said, "The best part of the film was the special effects. That film was made for IMAX. Also, the storyline was a lot better than your typical superhero movie, and it had an emotional ending."

"The first one was good, but this one was much better. We learn much more about [Spider-Man's] past, parents and his history. I like the fact that we knew him better. The story line was so great because it was so personal. Electro felt ignored and stepped on, so you can relate to him, you feel for him. He's a sympathetic villain."

The romantic, action-packed "Spider-Man 2" officially swings into theaters Friday, May 2, and viewers will get a chance to see Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man / Peter Parker, Jamie Foxx as Electro / Max Dillon, Dane DeHaan as Green Goblin / Harry Osborn and the stunning Emma Stone as the bold and fearless Gwen Stacy.

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