2012: The Year in Film: "The Amazing Spider-Man" Review

So Spider-Man has a "Batman Begins" now, cool. First, as an aside, I grew up reading Spider-Man comics and if it came down to it, would probably count him as my favorite superhero or comics character. In addition, everyone knows that Sony, who owns the rights to "Spider-Man", has to have Spider-Man movies in production every 5 years or the rights revert to Marvel (who kind of has a kick-ass movie studio going at the moment) which basically makes all Spider-Man movies an even more callous money-grab than all movies already are. Which isn't saying a whole lot because every movie everywhere exists to make money. As another aside, I don't particularly like the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire flicks. AT ALL. I feel that they are too irreverent, silly, corny and miscast and do a complete disservice to the character of Spider-Man and especially to Peter Parker. Maguire's Peter Parker is a doe-eyed dope who bumbles about saying cheesy things while living in a New York City that appears to exist in some sort of 1970's dreamscape where Manhattan somehow resembles Mayfield from "Leave it to Beaver" and is only inhabited by corny white people. Spider-Man made his hay from being the first "realistic" superhero, who lived in a REAL city with real world problems. What about any of the three Spider-Man films feels "real"? The previous flicks seem like holdovers from 90's action/sci fi flicks, and it seems like Batman Begins and the new age of superhero movies have totally left them in the dust. So, long story short, when I found out they were treating this new Spider-Man flick as a total reboot, I was intrigued.. and upon seeing the first trailer? I was beyond stoked. So let's check it out, shall we?

Enter Marc Webb, new "hot" Hollywood director, fresh off of "500 Days of Summer" and rising English star Andrew Garfield, most recognizable as Zuckerberg's friend Eduardo from "The Social Network" (who may just be the best actor under 30 in the business..) to give us a new vision of Marvel's marquee hero. By now the story is well-known.. Peter Parker, orphan and nerdy teen, is bitten by a radioactive spider and gains the abilities of a spider. Climbing walls, incredible strength, endurance, leaping ability, so on and so forth. After a horrible accident takes the life of his beloved Uncle Ben, Peter swears revenge and takes up a masked identity to fight crime and seek the criminal who murdered his uncle Ben.  
So what sets this film apart from the earlier films? Several things that I'll address in order. First, Peter's life and New York City are MUCH more believable and realistic. New York is a gritty, believable city where people shouldn't be walking alone at night. In addition, Peter's high school and classmates seem like actual people you've seen before. People go to class, they screw around, they practice sports, they look like actual people in the year 2012. In addition, Peter has a believable hero's journey. Uncle Ben doesn't die and then BOOM, Peter's full-on Spider Man. There are a series of steps, decisions, and sacrifices that aren't unlike those of Tony Stark in "Avengers".

The single best thing the flick does, and this shouldn't be a surprise given how strong "500 Days of Summer" was, is the love story between Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker. Every scene between them sizzles and it's one of the most believable "teenage" love stories I've seen on screen in years. Which gets down to the real strength of the film.

Forget plot and the action scenes and the villain and everything else. This is a film about characters. Peter Parker is fully fleshed out and a believable young person in the year 2012. He has problems and worries and insecurities and FEELS like a teenager. His discovery of his powers is frightening and empowering and ultimately full of joy. He's cocky and nerdy and shy and yet troubled. He's a complicated person... which is why people love Peter Parker. This is a story about Peter Parker and Spider Man, Andrew Garfield grabs that and runs with it and never looks back. This is the definitive Peter Parker. Garfield will undoubtedly be a star.

This film is "Batman Begins" to Spider Man 3's "Batman and Robin"-esque descent into shit. By grounding Spider Man with a great actor in a realistic world with a strong supporting cast you set the stage for an established character with established relationships and friends and family who can jump into meatier fare in the future. Much like "Batman Begins", the villain doesn't matter so much as the journey. The villain represents a hurdle for Spider-Man to overcome on his own quest rather than a fundamental challenge to who he is as a person and a hero.

All in all, Garfield and Stone are great. They're a couple in real life and you can absolutely tell. They make Maguire and Dunst look like Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman from the Star Wars prequels. Dennis Leary is restrained (thankfully) as Police Captain and Gwen's dad Captain Stacy. Sally Field is appropriately matronly and gentle as Aunt May and I shouldn't have to tell you that Martin "Best father figure on Earth" Sheen knocks Ben Parker out of the park. Rhys Ifans, who has a complicated relationship with Peter Parker and his family, is appropriately conflicted as Dr. Curt Connors who becomes the Lizard, and lends a needed gravitas to a role that could become cartoonish VERY easily. The action scenes are strong, and Webb/Garfield take a certain joy in depicting Spider-Man as he is.. a determined, cocky, brilliant, hero above all. All in all, this is the best of the "Spider-Man" flicks.. and is well worth a watch. If you haven't seen it yet because you "just saw Spider Man", if you're older than 12, this flick is much more appropriate viewing. 8.5/10. I, for one, am excited to see where this series go and where Garfield's career takes him.