Recently, set photos from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 have hit the web, and like all set photos must do by their nature, ignited fervent debate. Set photos are of particular interest to movie lovers because they comprise a puzzle for fans to solve. It is important to remember that set photos are not official. They are pictures taken by paparazzi or curious onlookers who simply want to see what the buzz is about. What this means is that the quality and content the images have are therefore raw and potentially unrealized. It takes a lot of work and skill to make even the simplest shot look good, which is why official movie stills have a more “artistic” aesthetic to them then a basic photo of the exact same scene. The onlooker’s camera only captures the basic image; the cinematographer captures everything; the framing, the lighting, etc. And keep in mind many set photos often contain shots that will require intensive CGI, making it even more unclear as to what the potential of the scene is.
With that in mind, the picture above (and more can be found HERE), don’t seem to reflect a long sequence; probably a few shots at most. Spider-Man is standing near a police car with a megaphone and a kid in a Spider-Man costume, and Paul Giamatti is trumped up in an odd device for his upper body. The first section isn’t necessarily difficult to figure out: Giamatti’s character (the Rhino, known for rampages), is making a mess of Manhattan, and Spidey wants him to cut it out. A loudspeaker is a good way to get his attention, probably with quips of some variety. The child in the Spider-Man costume is a more complex question. The fact he is in the set photos indicates he is part of the film, and not merely a fan that got a wonderful opportunity off-camera. Since it’s incredibly unlikely Spider-Man now has a sidekick, it is likely that the child is someone who either inspires Spider-Man in some way or is inspired by him, making the kid’s “help” against the Rhino a necessary part of the story.
The Rhino himself is another big question. The bulky object that Giamatti is wearing doesn’t look like traditional motion-capture technology, and it is too undetailed to be a genuine set-piece for the character to wear. It’s likely that it is a stand-in for what the Rhino will actually wear, which allows the CGI technicians to have a strong idea of where the details they’re designing go, as well as make it easier for Giamatti to act (it’s easiest to act like you have equipment on you if you actually do). Which brings up the question of the Rhino’s appearance. While he usually is just a man in a suit, in other portrayals he has been a man inside a large mecha. That looks to be the situation in this case, but time will tell.
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