Be warned that this is a discussion about the climatic events of 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' and there are HUGE SPOILERS.
Last Chance.
So we all know that the film did include the of Gwen Stacy. I will say it was probably the most effective death in a comic book movie. The reason the death held so much weight was because the creative team earned it. They have been working to get her from day one on the first film. They put the work into developing Peter and Gwen's relationship. It may be due to the fact that Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield are a real life couple, but the chemistry they have on-screen together really pops and is really vibrant. It makes the films better. And when Gwen's dad ask Peter to stay away from Gwen at the end of the first, you really feel bad for Peter. But like any crazy, teenage boy Peter doesn't listen and him and Gwen date. Flash-forward to the second film and Peter is having guilt about dating Gwen. He honestly doesn't want anything to happen to her. So they call it quits. Focusing the entire second film on a plot point that is about Gwen and Peter's relationship is what helped make her death all the more sad. Peter is obviously struggling, because Gwen is the one person he may love more than Aunt May. Peter calls Gwen up and they start to work out their problems, but that won't work, because they can't be just friends because of how strong their feelings are. But she is still there for him as a friend, and this is showed best when even though she is late for her Oxford meeting all ready, she will still stop and try to help him. All of this leads to the climax. I thought for sure that the Green Goblin was gonna show up at that bridge and throw Gwen off, but that would be too predictable. No instead the director decides to give us some hope for Gwen. Even though she is wearing a similar outfit to the one she died in in the comics, I still thought there was a chance she would live. Alas, it wasn't to be. The Green Goblin shows up, realizes Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one and the same, and threatens Gwen. Spidey gets her out of that jam, but then puts her on a clock gear. But then she falls of some clock gears, and even though Spidey catches her with a web, it breaks and we see her fall, Spider-Man tries to save her with his web again, but by the time he catches her she has already hit the floor. Let's take a minute, though, to applaud Emma Stone for her performance falling to her death. I know that sounds ridiculous, but her facial expressions said it all. Her brief look of worry that she might die, followed by a slightly less worried moment after Spidey catches her, and then the realization that she won't make it in time was just so heart-wrenching, as was her death. I gave a recap of their relationship throughout the second film to help you picture how much Peter loved and cared for Gwen Stacy. And this shows best the moment he realizes she is dead and he realizes it is his fault. Peter is there clutching her dead body, crying as if a part of him just died. And it really did. Gwen Stacy was perfect for Peter Parker. But now she is gone. As I sat there watching her die and the following scene of the funeral and Peter visiting her grave, I just felt for Peter Parker. I was sad for him. My heart hurt for Peter. I about teared up at her death, too. I really felt this way, because the writers put the time into developing this relationship. They did a great job at capturing the essence of the scene from the comics, all while making it their own. I felt everything about this scene was beautiful. Great job, Spidey team.
Last Chance.
So we all know that the film did include the of Gwen Stacy. I will say it was probably the most effective death in a comic book movie. The reason the death held so much weight was because the creative team earned it. They have been working to get her from day one on the first film. They put the work into developing Peter and Gwen's relationship. It may be due to the fact that Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield are a real life couple, but the chemistry they have on-screen together really pops and is really vibrant. It makes the films better. And when Gwen's dad ask Peter to stay away from Gwen at the end of the first, you really feel bad for Peter. But like any crazy, teenage boy Peter doesn't listen and him and Gwen date. Flash-forward to the second film and Peter is having guilt about dating Gwen. He honestly doesn't want anything to happen to her. So they call it quits. Focusing the entire second film on a plot point that is about Gwen and Peter's relationship is what helped make her death all the more sad. Peter is obviously struggling, because Gwen is the one person he may love more than Aunt May. Peter calls Gwen up and they start to work out their problems, but that won't work, because they can't be just friends because of how strong their feelings are. But she is still there for him as a friend, and this is showed best when even though she is late for her Oxford meeting all ready, she will still stop and try to help him. All of this leads to the climax. I thought for sure that the Green Goblin was gonna show up at that bridge and throw Gwen off, but that would be too predictable. No instead the director decides to give us some hope for Gwen. Even though she is wearing a similar outfit to the one she died in in the comics, I still thought there was a chance she would live. Alas, it wasn't to be. The Green Goblin shows up, realizes Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one and the same, and threatens Gwen. Spidey gets her out of that jam, but then puts her on a clock gear. But then she falls of some clock gears, and even though Spidey catches her with a web, it breaks and we see her fall, Spider-Man tries to save her with his web again, but by the time he catches her she has already hit the floor. Let's take a minute, though, to applaud Emma Stone for her performance falling to her death. I know that sounds ridiculous, but her facial expressions said it all. Her brief look of worry that she might die, followed by a slightly less worried moment after Spidey catches her, and then the realization that she won't make it in time was just so heart-wrenching, as was her death. I gave a recap of their relationship throughout the second film to help you picture how much Peter loved and cared for Gwen Stacy. And this shows best the moment he realizes she is dead and he realizes it is his fault. Peter is there clutching her dead body, crying as if a part of him just died. And it really did. Gwen Stacy was perfect for Peter Parker. But now she is gone. As I sat there watching her die and the following scene of the funeral and Peter visiting her grave, I just felt for Peter Parker. I was sad for him. My heart hurt for Peter. I about teared up at her death, too. I really felt this way, because the writers put the time into developing this relationship. They did a great job at capturing the essence of the scene from the comics, all while making it their own. I felt everything about this scene was beautiful. Great job, Spidey team.
On a smaller note, I cannot wait for this team to explore the fallout from this event in the next few Spider-Man films. I feel bad for whoever winds up playing Mary Jane, because I don't think she will be able to capture the same amount of chemistry that made Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy so great to watch together. On an even smaller note, I have heard there are other versions of Gwen Stacy's death floating around. I really hope these are included on the DVD, because even though I loved this version (because it honored the comics) I am curious to see what the other ways look like. Overall, though, I want to thank the writers for giving us a great Gwen Stacy that I actually cared for and was actually quite sad that she is now gone.