The Amazing Spider-Man Review

     Too soon? This was the question that wandered into the minds of many as early trailers for The Amazing Spider-Man began to crawl their way into the public eye. Many wondered if the reboot of the franchise was premature, and I'm here to answer that question, right after the jump.
     When I first heard the news that Spider-Man was being rebooted, I also shared the same skepticism as many others did. As news and casting choices revealed themselves however, I found myself getting past the overly-prompt debut of the film, and just being truly excited for it (I suppose you could say my Spidey Senses were tingling...) Thankfully after seeing the film, I can say that it more than makes up for what would seem a premature release of a reboot.
     One of the things that had me most looking forward to this film was it's director, Marc Webb, and my excitement went beyond the enjoyment of simple ironies. Webb had directed 2009's (500) Days of Summer, a peculiar, comic, and realistic film about love, and all its quirks. The film boasted an astounding amount of personality and relatablity to it, as well as a fantastic soundtrack. Fortunately, we see all of these aspects transfer well over to The Amazing Spider-Man. While hero stories are usually grandiose and epic, it is important not to lose sight of what's important. In The Amazing Spider-Man, Webb is able to tell an astounding story all the while making it extremely personal and moving. 
     This is largely due to an outstanding cast of actors and actresses, whose performances are unique and set themselves apart from those in the other franchise. Andrew Garfield plays a more current and up-to-date Spidey, one that can easily resonate with many of today's youth. He's troubled, broken, and angry, and most importantly far from perfect. He's just as gloriously sarcastic as he is smart, and the struggles between his personalities are unique. While turning into a spider Garfield illustrates that Parker stays irrevocably human.  
     While I am a large fan of Emma Stone, I was somewhat skeptical when the remarkably well known red-headed star was cast in the blonde role of Gwen Stacy, but surprisingly, it works. Emma Stone makes her character of Gwen Stacy dynamic, giving more dimension to a character who far too often perceived as no more than a pretty face. Watching Stones' Gwen fall into the web of love with Garfield's Parker is fantastic, and Marc Webb illustrates his expertise in the area of love greatly.
     I'll avoid getting into too many performances, so as to avoid spoiling things, but I'll lastly talk about Uncle Ben. The role was defined for many by Cliff Robertson in Spider-Man, and it was clear the casting couldn't be taken lightly. Martin Sheen was chosen to fill the shoes of Peter Parker's Uncle Ben, and he doesn't disappoint. Sheen's Uncle Ben is strong and soft at the same time, and he is notably one of the most enjoyable performances in the film.
     The visuals in the film are amazing, simply stunning. Watching Spider-Man web sling is as enjoyable as it was in the first franchise, and the backdrop of New York City is gorgeously grand. The first person sequences in the film are daring, but they worked extremely well, my only complaint being that I wished they were used more often. They didn't seem gimmicky like the Call Of Duty style approach present in Act Of Valor, which seemed to remind the audience that they are watching a screen, and separate them from the experience. Rather, it drew everyone in, and I heard gasps and 'aahs' from parent and child alike, everyone feeling as if they were along for the ride.
     The Amazing Spider-Man is notably darker than the Sam Raimi films, but this adds a touch of humanity that seemed to be lacking. Tragedies are more heart-wrenching, and moments of bliss are fantastic escapes. This is all empowered by a fantastic score. While I'm not usually one to notice music while viewing, I realized just how much of an impact the direction of the score had on the feel of the film.
     While the movie was extremely human, it did seem as if Webb was out of touch with his villain. Dr. Curt Connors seems to conveniently evil in the film, and seems to lack the conflict present in almost every other character, good or evil. While this in no way came close to destroying the fantastic web the film weaves, it feels like more of a missed opportunity to make the film even greater.
     The Amazing Spider-Man is most definitely aptly named, as it boasts a fantastic direction, while also being able to set itself apart from a franchise that ended only a brief five years ago. The film is able to capably tell the story of boy-bit-by-bug, but still be extremely human in the process, and this is certainly the strongest suit of the film, and what truly makes it amazing.