Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

I believe that most moviegoers like the character of Spider-man. Marvel's new film The Amazing Spider-man poses another question though—is it worth paying to see the series start over again? This is not a sequel, but instead a reinventing of something we just saw. I was very skeptical, thinking it was way too soon—after all it has only been five years since the last Spider-man movie was released in theaters. With The Dark Knight Rises right around the corner, and just having seen The Avengers a couple of months ago, do we need this seemingly familiar web-slinger in between? After coming out of a nearly sold-out IMAX screening this morning I can say that the answer is a resounding yes!

I am one of the few people that wasn't that impressed with the original Spider-man movie. I liked the cast, but thought the Green Goblin looked too much like a Power Ranger, and the movie as a whole was too campy. I like my superhero movies a bit darker, more along the lines of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Where The Amazing Spider-man got it right, and why I overall would recommend it, is that it took elements of the original story, but created an entirely fresh feeling darker story complete with a new love interest, a new nemesis, and new cast. Outside of the bite and the early death of a central character, there is very little that repeats itself in this go around.

The Peter Parker role goes to Andrew Garfield (from The Social Network, Never Let Me Go) who plays the title character with conviction, and Emma Stone (from Easy A, The Help) plays his willful love interest Gwen Stacy. Additionally, I find it quite amusing that the director of this reboot is Mark Webb...a last name that makes it sound like he was destined to direct this franchise. The supporting cast is also quite strong, with Rhys Ifans playing the central foe 'The Lizard', a character far more complex than most superhero movie villains. Martin Sheen and Sally Field fit in nicely as Peter's aunt and uncle, and Worcester native Denis Leary shines in his small part as the ornery police captain.

If I had to get picky (which is sort of the job of a critic), there were a couple of scenes that could have been handled a little better, but don't spoil the movie as a whole. When Peter Parker sneaks into the medical/science facility where his father used to work, it's far too simple for him to bypass the security measures that would surely be in place. He is able to take the spot of another student there for an internship tour, and when the real student shows up, he is dragged away. It's done for laughs, but it wasn't needed. Additionally (potential minor spoiler), during a dramatic moment near the end, a number of crane operators help Spider-man by making a clear path from a point A to a point B amidst the New York City skyscrapers – it's moving and fun, but really quite silly (as if watching a movie with this premise isn't already!).

In short, see this movie. It's not just simply a retread. It lives up to its name, and will be fun for most in the family (there is a lot of comic style violence, but this is tamer than The Avengers). I would give it an 8 out of 10. One last thing: Be sure to stay through the first portion of the credits as there is a bonus scene setting up the inevitable sequel!