Whatever your reservations about the new Spider-Man remake, The Amazing Spider-Man delivers the goods. Sam Raimi’s version set the standard with Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker in a slick CGI action fest for comic book fans. Marc Webb takes the same formula and reinterprets the story for a more psychological, dramatic take on Parker and his demons.

We’re given more background on Parker’s family setup as the troubled youth becomes ensnared in New York City’s crime-fighting efforts for selfish reasons. He’s a more complex character and it’s refreshing to have an actor of Andrew Garfield’s calibre behind the mask. Tobey Maguire did good in his own “just seen a ghost” way, but Garfield takes the character’s angst a step further.

Instead of a doting Mary Jane Watson played by Kirsten Dunst, we’re introduced to Gwen Stacy a character from Spider-Man 3, taken on by Emma Stone. While Kirsten Dunst gave her teenage damsel-in-distress a melancholic edge, Emma Stone really owns the role with a more willful performance. It still doesn’t have the gravity she would have wanted (this is Spidey’s movie), but she shares great chemistry with Garfield in a sweet Nicholas Sparks type geek romance.

The villain is the most significant difference between Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man. Rhys Ifans, who will probably never live down that iconic role in Notting Hill, is Dr. Curt Connors. The scientist has links with Parker’s father and after testing his new revolutionary breakthrough on himself, inadvertently turns into The Lizard, a sort of Godzilla meets The Incredible Hulk villain.

“…because kids are going to wear your suit as PYJAMAS!”

The Green Goblin and The Lizard are both green science disasters, but Ifans isn’t on par with Dafoe. You get the impression that both Denis Leary and Rhys Ifans were cast to fill the void left by Dafoe’s character, whose iconic role gave Raimi’s Spider-Man real weight and class. Martin Sheen and Sally Field play the likable Uncle Ben and Aunt May to good effect and just seem more grounded as characters.

The Amazing Spider-Man was shot for 3D and the special effects have been handled well. Peter’s new-found abilities provide some cheesy comic relief as the superhero takes a while to realise his powers. The Lizard’s appearance (and voice) take some getting used to, but all the aerial stunt action and swinging through the city in-and-out of the first person perspective adds to the exhilaration.

The film skips a few pages from time-to-time, almost leaning on what was gleaned from Spider-Man. For instance, the generation of Parker’s spandex Spider-Man suit goes from simple mask to full-blown design. They’ve also opted for his web to be activated via special wrist devices, which also aren’t fully explained. How much web can one wristband hold?

“I’ve had my share of rolled up newspapers, but BOOKS?!”

Then it just seems as though Peter is a bit too devil-may-care with his superhero identity. At first, he’s practicing his extraordinary abilities without a mask and then has no problems with unmasking at any given moment. His body takes a beating, continually explaining away bruises on his face, but healing at a miraculous speed and never running out of time to repair or whip out another Spider-Man suit.

These details may seem a bit finicky, but take away from the reality of the world, Marc Webb and writers James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargeant and Steve Kloves have crafted. The end result is a fairly formulaic superhero movie, complete with Peter Pan references, that plays out like a blend of Spider-Man, Godzilla and The Incredible Hulk. Just roll with it and don’t ask too many questions for maximum enjoyment.

The Amazing Spider-Man has more depth and enough fresh material to warrant a second spin, but never overcomes its lack of overall novelty. The casting would have been bolstered by a Willem Dafoe, but is mostly spot-on, the 3D special effects have been treated well, the production values are first class and the entertainment value is right up there with Spider-Man, despite being about 15 minutes too long.

The bottom line: Entertaining

Release Date: 13 July, 2012
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