The Amazing Spider-Man – What fun! - My Review

Runtime: 136 minutes

PG 13 (Includes plot spoilers)

What fun to become superbly strong, athletically agile and fantastically fast – all because of one small spider bite! I wondered to myself how anyone could possibly do better with Spiderman than Sam Raimi’s 2002 version of the Marvel comic superhero. I loved Tobey Maguire’s soft-hearted Peter Parker / Spider-Man, and equally enjoyed the casting of Kirsten Dunst as Peter’s first crush – Mary Jane Watson. Rosemary Harris as Aunt May was just like the comic character, and Cliff Robertson was perfect as Uncle Ben. Peter Parker’s best friend was ably played by James Franco as Harry Osborn / The Green Goblin and this believable cast went on to make three fabulously successful movies.

Just when you think a movie couldn’t get better… along comes “The Amazing Spider-Man!” Enter Director, Mark Webb (haha) and stars: Andrew Garfield as the nerdy teenager-come-superhero; Emma Stone as his gorgeous girlfriend, Gwen Stacy; Rhys Ifans as a creepy Dr. Curt Connors / The Lizard; Denis Leary as Emma’s upstanding policeman father – Captain Stacy; Martin Sheen as affectionate Uncle Ben and Sally Field as a fabulous Aunt May.

My friends and I MARVELLED at this new version! The story begins when Peter Parker is just a little boy and the action quickly unfolds when his parents bolt from their home and deposit Peter with his Aunt and Uncle. I loved watching the human story which gives us insight into Peter Parker’s psyche and subsequent emergence as our favorite Spidey hero. Peter is on a quest to find out the truth of his parents’ disappearance. As he embarks on his journey, he eventually finds himself. Filmography includes camera close-ups of the actors’ faces, in particular, their eyes. The characters look so incredibly appealing with huge eyes, particularly the females, and what red-blooded male could not be moved to protect the loves of his life as these women turn their amazing gaze on Peter.

This lanky, awkward teenager, a school science geek, is becoming an adult and coming to terms with his identity, his sexuality, his confidence and his belief in himself. Initially he is unsure of himself as he falls for the gorgeous Gwen. His quirky humor reminds me so much of my own son who LOVED being Spider-Man when he was little. Superhero identification goes a long way to the formation of character in an individual. I still see echoes of it in my son today. Andrew Garfield is an appealing Peter Parker, who I am sure young gals will swoon over. I, however, prefer the stuntman who dons the Spidey outfit and swings around New York City like an Olympic gymnast. With his lightning-fast reflexes, fabulous physique and athletic agility, he has become my favorite swinger and I wouldn't mind him hanging around my neck of the woods! Back in the day, my son used to watch an animated Spiderman on Bophutatswana television in South Africa. Spiderman was dubbed into Zulu and translated as “Rabobi.” I can still hear the song playing in my memory: “Rabobi, Rabobi, Yanga Sizwe Rabobi…” as our comic spiderman swung through the city! This is a specially South African memory. Quick warning about one of the images in the video which follows...

Peter finds his way to Oscorp where he meets his destiny with a genetically modified spider. I loved the depiction of Peter’s emerging spider-like abilities on the train ride home in a spectacular sequence of events as Peter Parker is accosted and discovers some freaky new and exciting facts about himself. This scene will raise the roof. So much humor is injected into this movie which makes it super-enjoyable. Subsequently, Peter discovers that the scientist he met at Oscorp, one-armed Dr. Curt Connors, used to work with his father. After digging around, Peter finds a crucial algorithm for regenerating limbs, and he visits Dr. Connors with the information. Dr. Connors is working to regrow limbs using lizard DNA. Uh-Oh… three guesses what eventually emerges!

Meanwhile, back at the school, Flash, the school jock, an ace basketball player and handsome hunk, is also the school bully who puts Peter (and other unlucky weaklings) in their place – which is usually on the ground. Flash gets his come-uppance when Peter begins to use his newly found skills to his own advantage and shows the bully up during basketball practice. Flash goes from one sticky move to another. Due to Peter’s display of superiority, Uncle Ben is called in to see the Principal and so begins a series of events which end up causing the death of Peter’s uncle. With his uncle’s death persistently on his conscience, Peter begins to seek the criminal out and soon falls under the radar of Captain Stacy and his police department.

There is a fabulous sequence in which Peter hangs out in an old warehouse, riding his skateboard around as he discovers his new spider-like abilities of flexibility, strength, instant reflexes and extrasensory perception. The web of intrigue develops, as does his character in becoming Spider-Man, and I loved seeing how Peter comes up with his unique outfit and then designs devices which shoot ‘biocable’ webbing from his wrists. My son would have LOVED to have those! Next, Peter has to decide what to do with his newfound powers and how to use them as a weapon for good, but his actions are misunderstood by the police and he is hunted as a vigilante.

Peter accepts a dinner invitation from Gwen and he meets her father, Captain Stacy. I loved their dinner conversation as the two seem pitted against one another and Peter stands up for the misunderstood Spider-Man. After dinner, Peter shows Gwen his powers and sweeps her off her feet when his Spidey senses leave her tingling. Meanwhile, back at Oscorp, Dr. Connor is being pressured to begin human trials and under duress, he uses the serum on himself, hoping to grow his missing arm back. He becomes one scaly dude and cold-bloodedly wreaks havoc and breathes terror into the hearts of citizens as he seeks revenge on the man that fired him.

Spider-Man hunts for Lizardo and cunningly finds him in the sewers. I absolutely love this scene. Spiderman's ubiquitous influence is poetry for the eyes. Lizardo in turn, discovers Spider-Man’s identity and attacks Peter back at school. There is a wonderful scene of Stan Lee with headphones on his head, listening to beautiful classical music, oblivious of the carnage behind him as Lizardo attacks Spider-Man and destroys the room behind Lee. I particularly loved the scenes on the ceiling. What adrenalin-packed FUN to watch a bit of spider action ballet! Even arachnophobes will love this one!

When all seems lost, I love how the theme of “what goes around comes around” plays out in the final confrontation of reptile versus arachnid. As a result of Spider-Man’s heroic rescue of a child from a burning car suspended from a bridge, when our Spidey hero is chased by the lunatic Lizardo and half the NYPD, Peter finds some unexpected help. How will he save New York’s citizens from being infected by Lizardo’s evil plan to unleash chemical warfare on the city? As Peter races to save the day, Captain Stacy meets his untimely end and exacts a bitter promise from Peter in a stunning final action sequence. Make sure, dear Reader, that you stick around to catch the bit after the credits…

Box Office: Gross $200,500,351 (USA - 15 July 2012)

Didya spot the mistake on Spiderman's costume from the 60's animated series?