Step aside Tobey, there’s a new Peter Parker in town.
The Amazing Spider-Man is a reboot of the franchise based on the famous Marvel comics character and was directed by Marc Webb. This is Webb’s second directed film after 500 Days of Summer, a 2009 rom-com, and the goal was to focus more on the development of Peter Parker as a boy in a more in-depth and emotional light than Sam Reimi did in his 2002 Spider-Man. The film stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Emma Stone as love interest Gwen Stacey, and follows a teenage Parker as he becomes Spider-Man and attempts to protect New York City against a giant lizard.
I wish more super hero films used Webb’s approach. He took a story that would have usually been just a vehicle to showcase special effects and stunts and made it an emotionally captivating production. Sure, plot-wise it’s very similar to the 2002 Spider-Man, but The Amazing Spider-Man is different enough to warrant its existence. In fact, I even like it better. There, I said it!
My favorite parts of this movie were not the action sequences or impressive visual effects but rather the more emotional dialogue-driven scenes. That is due to solid writing and perfect casting. Not to mention some great performances. I found Garfield to be a perfect fit and he seems to have really captured the essence of the Peter Parker that Webb sought to create, a modern-day science geek who is attempting to cope with the absence of his parents and his newly developing super powers. I also found Stone to be fitting as Gwen Stacey. And Sally Field has a notably great performance as May Parker.
I must admit that I was skeptical going in, knowing that the story would be nothing we haven’t seen before. I mean, when a film company basically decides to do a “do-over” of a franchise that is only 10 years old, it’s hard not to be skeptical. But The Amazing Spider-Man brought something new to the table not only for the franchise, but for super hero films in general. I am rooting for the success of this movie in hopes that it may send a message to the makers of these types of films that not all of us are fooled simply by visual trickery and that emotionally-engaging drama and action can co-exist.
7.5/10 Marc Webbs
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