If you haven’t watched the original Spider-man movie then
SPOILER WARNING! SYNOPSIS: Just in case you forgot what comes with “great power”: When Uncle Ben—
SPOILER—dies, Peter Parker learns the value of responsibility and decides to become the vigilante known as Spider-man; fighting crime using his spider powers that came from a genetically engineered spider, while juggling a high school life with his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, as they bond over their inability to finish each other’s sentences. And apparently Peter parker once had parents. Shocking, I know, I guess that was the part that was “untold” in the “untold story”.
"Uncle Ben died?!" STORY: Let's get this out of the way first: Andrew Garfield is perfectly casted. He has a wide range of emotions that can bring out with sincerity and weight that makes him so endearing. He easily transitions from a charmingly awkward Peter Parker to a wise cracking Spider-man without being jarring. Although I argue Peter in this incarnation is too comfortable with himself. So there is no cautionary tale about arrogance here.
The reason the original film was so popular is because it is a relatable wish fulfillment fantasy story. It does a fine job of exploring Peter Parker’s new-found abilities and shows us how thrilling it could be to have them: We wish that one day we wake up with athletic ability to jump freely from building to building, able to swing freely as the wind rushes through.
These are the scenes The Amazing Spider-Man sadly lacks; the most reaction out of Peter in this movie about his powers is mild amusement, it barely even affects his daily life or his behavior. But while the original movie does the events that lead up to Uncle Ben’s death better, this new version makes up for it by telling the aftermath very compelling.
Traditionally the whole origin story is just the set-up of the movie, but here, Uncle Ben’s death is the set-up and what comes after is still a continued progression that still didn't end as the credits roll. Making the movie feel more like a cohesive whole rather than two movies spliced together. So in regard to this movie, when I say origin story, I’m referring generally to the whole movie.
At first I thought the origin missed the point: It’s more of a tale of revenge, I thought, rather than responsibility. But then we see scenes of Peter taking so much time and effort making his web shooters and his costume while coming home every night beaten up without much care for his life, I realize this isn’t about a killer at all; he being Spider-man is more of an output for his guilt, he just either didn’t realize it or doesn’t want to admit it to himself and now feels a sense to follow a path. And later when he realized he created a monster, he is fully aware of what he must do. Regardless if I just misinterpret it and his motivation is really is about revenge I’m still okay with it because while it started out that way the journey still ended with the lesson of responsibility.
The theme of responsibility is handled nicely because the word “responsibility” is only repeated twice: Once by Uncle Ben to establish the theme; and once again by Peter to affirm what he learned. The rest of the way it just lets you absorb the message; mostly from Peter's reactions, and Andrew Garfield totally sells it. Throughout Peter’s journey, responsibility is reminded to him without resorting to the word: From the first time he risks his life to save another; to a speech about hardships. It is only after the climax did it suddenly hit him that being Spider-man is a long term responsibility that comes with lots of baggage. At the end, it is clear he hasn’t fully committed. And if you are a comic fan, you know it will lead to serious consequences, which I will not say.
Because a picture is worth a thousand words. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone have great chemistry as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy; seeing two very smart people still being kids having trouble talking to each other is cute.
Emma Stone/ Gwen Stacy; other than being a real life anime girl in 60’s get-up, is very attractive because she really seems mature and Smart; she isn’t a damsel in distress, she is a partner and supporting friend, making their relationship feel real. They can’t top the iconic “upside down kiss” but the kiss in this movie is a worthy successor.
The supporting cast is also very good, no one’s stupid just for the sake of the plot. If someone has a chance to go to the police he/ she will go to the police.
Yes, I know...I know. Denis Leary and Martin Sheen, gives a very human father figure performance as Captain George Stacy and Uncle Ben respectively. Even Chris Zylka as Flash Thompson is surprising. Sally Field’s Aunt May feels like a real-life mother who has a hard time with a son who won’t let her get through, but have an unspoken understanding with him anyway. Maybe she knows Peter is Spider-man, maybe she don’t, but their scenes together plays out either possibility. After all being Spider-man here is the same as being a kid who goes out every night doing reckless things because he doesn’t know how to handle his grief.
The villain on the other hand is average; Green Goblin but without the charm. They tried to make him more complex but his ultimately just for conflict. The action scenes are amazing though, with almost every situation testing Spider-man’s limit. Peter can’t have a break at all in this movie; it makes the few moments of levity he has so satisfying no matter how implausible.
Where The Amazing Spider-man suffers is from bad editing, it feels like a rushed re-cut. Some scenes cuts to fast it have no time to properly absorb the moment. I also felt like some important scenes left out: The romantic superhero date is relegated to one web swing. And the movie adds scenes with little content that it feels like the pacing is slow and fast at the same time. I’m all for a story about a boy who wants to find out something about his missing parents to the point that he neglects the people already in front of him, but it doesn’t have to be a conspiracy thriller. The story could have easily moved on without it: Ask the first movie. Also, it has an inconsistent tone: Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s giant lizard that talks like a super villain.
VERDICT: 8 OUT OF 10 The original movie did certain things a lot better but that new version also did certain things better. Both certainly have flaws, but I'm leaning more to the new one because of more layered characters and higher emotional depth. I acknowledge that the movie is unnecessary. It retreads a lot of the same parts as the Raimi films and it isn't even that long ago. But I'm giving it credit where credit is due. The movie the audience deserves, but not the one we need right now. So, we'll hunt it, because it can take it. The Amazing Spider-Man.
YOU'RE NEXT!