Spider-Man, Power Surges and Eurovision
I still don’t know how I rate Jamie Foxx as an actor, but I’m thankful he caused a power cut at my local cinema
Jamie Foxx has taught me two valuable life lessons, which is quite depressing when I think about it. His guest vocals in the 2005 rap song 'Gold Digger' taught me not to let women use me for my millions, and now his role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has taught me not to idolise victims of radioactive spider bites. Ok, he’s taught me nothing.
Supposedly Jamie Foxx is a great actor (I just finished watching Django Unchained), but I’m yet to be convinced. Maybe then it’s a good job he plays Electro, a super villain who frequently vanishes from the screen when turning into electricity. At one point he disappears into a mains socket by just pointing at it. Ludicrous. But why is he able to turn into a bunch of lightening bolts and use the national grid as his own personal means of transport? Because he fell into a water tank filled with electric eels. Obviously.
I can deal with the idea of radioactive spiders, but when it comes to creating a new bad guy, this was a pretty lame attempt. In cinema’s history there’s been some unforgettable transitions to the dark side. Anakin Skywalker was burnt to a crisp while screaming ‘I hate you’ to his ex best bud. There was also Jack Nicholson’s Joker, who descended into madness after having his skin bleached by acid. Granted, Electro is a little more farfetched, but it still feels like a missed opportunity. His dad being a pylon would have been a better origin story.
None of this is actually Foxx’s fault however. With the tools he’s been given, he’s managed to create the deepest villain in a Marvel film to date. While I’m at it, and since they’re rare, I’ll hand out another compliment. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the best Marvel flic I've ever seen. And before you say anything, The Avengers was trousers.
I’m drawn to Foxx and his Electro because I feel he played a part in my rather humdrum Saturday evening. I was meant to watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier in my local Vue cinema when a sudden power surge wiped out all the lights, projectors and popcorn machines. With no other alternative, I went home and sat in front of Eurovision instead.
That was either the God of cinema warning me off another crappy Captain America film, or Electro really exists. Or neither. Whatever. What I really want to know is which God was responsible for letting me watch Eurovision. I’m joking. I love Eurovision.
Funnily enough, Hans Zimmer’s score for Spider-Man shares something in common with the Eurovision contestants. Its Dubsteppy element bears resemblance to someone farting in an assortment of empty glass bottles, which is basically the same as France’s entry this year.
For the rest of Zimmer’s theme he combines electric music with string instruments, giving it a real Clean Bandit feel. When the base kicks in and the pixel-busting action scenes commence, the cinema is really rumbling. Come to think of it, that might have caused the power surge.
You can find this blog on The Northampton Herald and Post here.
