The Amazing Spider-Man

Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Campbell Scott

Dir. Marc Webb
Scr. James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent & Steve Kloves

It seems very odd to reboot a franchise so soon after a trio of movies with the same superhero. We had Tobey Maguire in the red and blue suit in 2002, 2004 and 2007. And this film doesn’t pick up where they left off. We start again, spider bite and all. Maybe ten years is a much shorter time period in cinema history than it used to be. Or maybe they just thought they could do a much better job. And, in many ways, they have. This is a thoroughly enjoyable film with some great effects and a stellar cast. But I just couldn’t help leaving the theatre thinking ‘what exactly was the point?’

Peter Parker (Garfield) is a teenage struggling with what most teenagers struggle with. He’s trying to figure out exactly who is he, trying to get the girl (Stone) he likes to notice him, and trying to avoid getting beaten up. Abandoned by his parents at a young age and left to be brought up by elderly relatives (Sheen and Field), he’s more angst-ridden than most. Mysterious science documents, left hidden by his father, led him to the lab of Dr Curtis Connors (Ifans) and an encounter with a genetically altered spider that changes his life.

Undoubtedly, one of the strengths of this film is the special effects. They have finally managed to make a man swinging from building to building on super-strong webbing utterly awesome. The heft and weight is spot on and he no longer looks like a flying cardboard cut-out. I didn’t love the 3D (when have I ever loved 3D?!) – I found myself slipping the glasses off a lot during scenes that were so obviously 2D. The light loss with the glasses on was extremely annoying. I do have to admit that I did duck twice, so, yeah, I guess the 3D sucked me in a little.

The other real strength of this film is the performances. Maguire was a whiny, wee Peter Parker. Garfield is a revelation. Well, not really, because he has been pretty great in everything. But he brings to Parker/Spider-Man a perfect blend of angst and humour and self-righteousness and sorrow and fragility. Plus, he’s adorable and a completely believable teenager despite his advanced years. Stone is great, as ever. Spunky and intelligent, she’s has chemistry to burn with Garfield. Ifans gives a solid performance, though the Lizard is not the most interesting of villains. A completely added bonus and highlight is the duo of Sheen (Uncle Ben) and Field (Aunt Mary). They are two such acting powerhouses and add some real emotional weight to the life of Peter Parker.

If superhero movies are your thing, there’s much to like in this film. It’s nothing new and maybe we could have lived without another Spider-Man for a few more years. Having said that, I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

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George Stacy: Thirty-eight of New York’s finest, versus one guy in a unitard.