Film Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

I’ve been trying to persuade my husband that he wants to go with me to see The Amazing Spider-Man ever since I first saw the trailer back in the spring. Look, here, I’ll show you.

Pretty awesome looking, right? But no. He said it looked “fine,” but he wasn’t all that into the idea of a reboot of Spider-Man so soon after the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire versions. *sigh* So I resigned myself to having to wait to DVD.

Then I changed my mind and decided to go see it with a girlfriend whose husband was being equally ridiculous. We were in the theater with a bunch of teenage boys, and THAT WAS JUST FINE.

Guys, this movie rocks. And here’s why. [WARNING: Spoilers ahead from the COMIC BOOKS. So if you’re not a nerd like me and don’t know what happens in the comics, and you don’t want to find out, you may want to skip this review.]

Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker

                 

Don’t get me wrong, I thought Tobey did a fine job as Peter back in the day. But Andrew Garfield was Peter Parker. He really embodied the character, making me completely buy him as the witty, introverted, awkward boy genius. But I also bought him as the tortured and conflicted  vigilante. He wasn’t just some masked superhero that takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. He was a kid, he made mistakes, and he got thoroughly beaten up several times — and then actually acted like he was sore afterwards.

Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy

Okay, now I know that Gwen Stacy was not actually Peter’s high school girlfriend in the comics. She was his college girlfriend. But at least this interpretation is closer to the source material than having Mary Jane as his high school girlfriend. And honestly, Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane are the only two of Spidey’s girlfriends I’m interested in seeing portrayed on the big screen anyway. No one really cares about seeing Peter moon after Liz Allan.

And Emma Stone was a fabulous Gwen Stacy. She was sweet and smart and feisty, and Gwen and Peter together lit up the screen. They were adorable and lovable. Plus, she actually served a key purpose in the film, and was not relegated to playing the damsel in distress.

The only problem with Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy was that the bar has now been set too high, so if they decide to go ahead with the death of Gwen Stacy later in this franchise (because we all know Gwen Stacy eventually dies, right?), I have no idea who they could cast to play Mary Jane that I would like more than Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy.

Unless they somehow manage to get Emma Watson (which would be fitting, given the last name and all). I could probably like an Emma Watson MJ more than an Emma Stone Gwen Stacy. I think.

Oh well, maybe they just won’t kill her. Although that would be weird.

Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard

Okay, the villain of the movie, The Lizard, was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It was the same problem I had with Doc Oc in Spider-Man 2. You have a brilliant scientist, take something important away from him which causes him to do something rash, and he inadvertently transforms himself into a monster with a totally different personality. It’s that last part I have a problem with, and I know that part of the problem is that comic book villains tend to be kind of one-dimensional while they’re in their villain persona. But seriously, why would their personalities change once they give themselves all these unexpected new powers? And then why would they revert back later? It doesn’t make a lot of sense.

So while I really liked Rhys Ifans’ performance as Dr. Connors and felt he was sympathetic, conflicted and understandable, I lost that feeling whenever he completely transformed into The Lizard. He just turned into a patently evil comic book character bent on destruction (there is a small effort made to rationalize it by him saying he thinks he’s giving humanity a “gift,” but I’m not sure how he uses that to rationalize the occupied cars he decides to randomly hurl off a bridge).

BUT, this is no worse offense than every other superhero movie ever. It’s the Case of the Too-Evil Villain, and it needs a cure. But until then, I’m not going to let it ruin superhero movies for me, so I just accept it for what it is and move on.

Also, and I realize that The Lizard looks ridiculous in the comics too, but I could have done without the giant Joker-smile. But again. Small gripe.

                                

Martin Sheen and Sally Field as Uncle Ben and Aunt May

I loved the relationship between Peter, Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Of course, I love Martin Sheen in pretty much everything (have ever since The West Wing), so it’s possible that colored my judgement a bit. But I loved their interactions with each other and with Peter, especially after he’s been bitten and is trying to get a handle on his new powers (or, in the case of the above picture, metabolism).

And yes, I cried when Uncle Ben died. I cried in the 2002 version when Uncle Ben died too. I WILL ALWAYS CRY WHEN UNCLE BEN DIES.

But I will say, I felt his death more in this movie, because you actually see it all happen (if you’ll recall, in the ’02 version, his injury occurs off-screen and Peter finds him right as he’s taking his final breaths). And Peter’s reaction is heartbreaking.

Then his relationship with Sally Field’s Aunt May for the rest of the film is in turns tender and frustrating (on purpose) as she grieves Ben while trying to figure out what Peter’s keeping from her. They have a moment right at the end of the film that broke my heart just a little. Peter’s Aunt and Uncle aren’t a giant part of the film, but I really enjoyed what they brought to it.

The Action

It was great. I saw the film in 2D, and although I definitely noticed parts that were probably included for the sole purpose of making the 3D version awesome, I didn’t feel like I missed anything (3D gives me a headache and costs too much).

The Spider-Man swinging through NYC scenes were well done — you really got a sense of gravity and momentum, and it wasn’t just like he was flying safely through the city. You got the feeling that if he miscalculated, he could fall at any time, and it actually made me a little nervous watching him, because he was being so reckless. But it was a good nervous.

The fighting and effects were on par with what you’d expect from a big-budget summer action movie. Well-coordinated, entertaining, exciting.

The Writing

Aside from my problem with The Lizard being too one-dimensional, I thought the writing was solid. Spidey was clever and quippy, just as I’d expect him to be. The science behind the origin story was slightly glossed over, but still solid (as far as comic-book science is ever solid). But all the character development and dialogue was well done, and that’s the important thing.

The only other big problem I had with it is that at one point, The Lizard does something to UP THE STAKES and we brace ourselves for EVEN MORE DESTRUCTION…then nothing comes from it. Kind of makes me wonder what the point of upping the stakes was in the first place.

Little Things I Loved

  • Peter’s accidental first fight, where he has superpowers but no idea what to do with them and ends up beating up a crowd of thugs, while apologizing profusely the entire time and looking mortified at the end.
  • Flash Thompson. Unlike the ’02 version, The Amazing Spider-Man‘s Flash has some depth. Yes, he’s still a bully, but by the end you can see how he and Peter could eventually become friends. And they also worked in Flash’s love for Spider-Man, which is always amusing.
  • The fact that Peter did, in fact, make his web-shooters, and they were not a side-effect of his mutation (as in the ’02 version). Again, I’m not a stickler for comic accuracy, but I really like that this was included, because it helps underscore just how smart Peter really is.
  • Peter’s reluctant realization that the most practical material to construct his suit out of is spandex.
  • I know it’s cheesy, but I love scenes in superhero movies where the citizens of the city band together to aid the hero in a crucial way. This movie has one of those scenes (and it’s even a payoff from a rescue that Spidey makes earlier in the movie, which was neat), and I’l admit it. I got a little misty.
Parting Thoughts

 
I loved this reboot. I already had a soft spot in my heart for Andrew Garfield because of The Social Network and Never Let Me Go, but this pretty much sealed the deal. It delivered everything I like in a comic book movie: great action and effects, a likable hero, witty dialogue, high stakes, and a thoughtful interpretation of familiar and beloved characters. If you aren’t sure if this reboot is worth your time, it is.

Grade: A

 
The Amazing Spider-Man is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.

7 thoughts on “Film Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

  1. Omg I saw Spider Man last night! Someone had told me it was pretty much exactly like the first movie so I was expecting to be disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they were wrong! So very wrong.

    I loved this movie! I loved everything about it! I did like it more than the original Spider Man as well. Well to be honest I didn’t like the original at all, I just never got into it.

    All of the points you have pointed out had me nodding my head and saying yes. I was surprised to see how great Andrew Garfield was in this film. I think his acting was stellar. I absolutely loved Emma Stone! It was nice seeing her in a role like this, I’m so used to seeing her be her quirky self in comedies, in this movie that quirkiness was still there but was definitely toned down. Loved it.

    The attraction between Gwen and Peter had me blushing in that one scene where she’s fixing up his cuts from the lizard! I am so glad that chemistry was there. I really hate it when the two love interests have no on screen chemistry or attraction to each other, it really spoils it and I never feel attached to it. No wonder they’re a couple in real life! Such a cute couple too.

    The tortured Spider Man was way more understandable than just a vigilante. I really liked that take of this movie. It had me really feeling for him, I cried several times in this movie because of that!

    Also, isn’t Andrew Garfield extremely attractive?! I definitely did NOT expect that! Look at those biceps… Ahaha stopping now.
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    • I have no idea who could think this film was like the ’02 version. They’re totally different! Obviously the origin story is similar, just because that’s Spider-Man’s origin story. There’s only so many ways to get bit by a radioactive spider then become a vigilante to avenge your uncle’s murder 🙂

      I’m glad you loved it! I went in expecting excellent acting from Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, because neither of them has ever disappointed me in any of their prior movies, but even with my high expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. And you’re right, their chemistry was great on-screen, which really made the movie.

      Thanks for commenting!

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