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Join UsThe shy geek Peter Parker gets bitten by a genetically mutated spider and gets some amazing powers. Will he find out more about the disappearance of his parents with his new skills? Read the review of the The Amazing Spider-Man for more.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars (Three-and-a-half stars)
Star Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field and Irrfan Khan.
What’s Good?: The new changes in the story; the fight sequences; Spidey’s romance.
What’s Bad?: It can seem like old wine in a new bottle at times; Dr. Curt Connors’ sudden change of character.
Verdict: The Amazing Spider-Man is a nicely rehashed tale of the webbed superhero.
Watch or Not?: Watch it if you want to get your Spidey-senses tingle all over again!
Unlike the earlier movies, this one begins with the mysterious disappearance of Peter Parker’s parents. Peter grows up under his kind aunt May (Sally Field) and slightly strict Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen). Ever the nerd, Peter gets bullied at school and has an incurable crush on his pretty classmate Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). One day Peter accidently discovers a bag belonging to his father and learns of his father’s connection with the scientist Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans).
Curious to learn more about his missing father, Peter sneaks around Connors’ office and ends up getting bitten by a genetically modified spider. The bite makes Peter stronger, faster, heightens his senses and more. Suddenly, the world starts falling in his lap: he gets his lady love, he gets back at the bullies, does some genetic research with Connors and even has fun with his Spider powers.
But the peace is not meant to be. A cruel twist of fate takes his beloved Uncle Ben away from him. Connors uses Peter’s formula (actually belonging to Peter’s father) and uses it to renew his stump of an arm. While the formula doesn’t work exactly as planned, Connors begins to wreak havoc with his newfound powers.
Will Spider-Man be able to stop him?
The Amazing Spider-Man Review: Script Analysis
One of the reasons why people fell in love with Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s Spider-Man is because he’s a loser like one of us. Thankfully, storywriter James Vanderbilt hasn’t dwelt too much on the “Before” part. Instead, he has very finely focused on the intermediate: the part where Peter is neither the loser (before he gets his powers) nor yet the hero (after Uncle Ben’s death). Also the little changes in the story (not being invisible to Gwen, etc.) have prevented the story from being too predictable. What does stick out though is Connors’ sudden and unexplained change – from concerned doctor to reckless villain. Screenplay writers James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves have done a good job.
The Amazing Spider-Man Review: Star Performances
Andrew Garfield has done a fabulous job as Spider-Man and Peter Parker. He is excellent as the tongue-twisted teenager, especially when he tries to ask Gwen Stacy out. Emma Stone is very good as Gwen Stacy. Thankfully, she doesn’t play the damsel-in-distress and is shown to have a mind of her own. Rhys Ifans does well as The Lizard/Dr. Curt Connors. Denis Leary as Captain Stacy (Gwen’s father and Police Captain), Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben and Sally Field as Aunt May are good.
As for our Indian star, Irrfan Khan has a very short role as an officer of Oscorp (the organization for which Peter’s father worked and Connors still does).
The Amazing Spider-Man Review: Direction, Music & Technical Aspects
Marc Webb has done a very good job in bringing back Spider-Man. While comparisons with his predecessors are inexorable, Webb definitely deserves more praise. James Horner’s music is alright. John Schwartzman’s cinematography is very good. Alan Edward Bell, Michael McCusker and Pietro Scalia’s editing is okay. 3D effects are good in the fight sequences.
The Amazing Spider-Man Review: The Last Word
For Marc Webb’s take on the characters, The Amazing Spider-Man is a good watch.
The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer
The Amazing Spider-Man releases in India on 29 June 2012.
