The Amazing Spider-Man

2012 saw the first reboot of Spider-Man before said superhero was integrated into Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016. Unlike Sam Raimi's films, this 2-shot retelling attempt had such a strong interference by Sony that the film quality we received was night and day.

Restarting the story from the protagonist's childhood days, we learn that his parent have to abandon their dwelling in an overnight emergency, leaving young Peter with Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen). After becoming a teenager, Parker (Andrew Garfield) seeks to find the truth behind his parents' mysterious disappearance.

The Peter Parker we see in this movie is a lot different than how we used to know him. We are not entirely sure whether Sony has derived the character wrong, or this was the route they decided to go along with. Peter looks constantly drowsy. He is rebellious and even takes photo of a woman without her permission. While he does get bullied by Flash Thompson (Chris Zylka), he returns the same favor as well which is again… unlike Peter Parker. But, he does get reprimanded for it, and maybe that was the character change the makers were going for. Even when Peter first became Spider-Man, he was a total cocky prick to the car thief. As soon as he sees the responsibility he holds after saving a child at the brink of death, only then he realizes the superhero he could really be. Crane operators in New York aiding a wounded Spider-Man is inspiring!

The writing, while being okay at best, could have definitely used some polish. Cross-species genetics is a fitting concept. There's clear motivation as to why said research is pushed for urgency in Oscorp. A lot of the subplots and supporting characters vanish without any closure, such as Rajit Ratha (Irrfan Khan), Peter's hunt for his uncle's killer and search for his missing parents. The writer's didn't know what to do with Dr. Curt Connors after he transforms into The Lizard, eventually making him cook up the most idiotic plan with a motivation that makes no sense. We don't even know why he starts hearing voices in his head from nowhere! Speaking of things that are dumb, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) involving herself in The Lizard-Spidey fight, security letting random people walk into Oscorp without verifying identification, Peter's disturbance on train, no one questioning a normal guy who just bent a football field pillar with his bare hands and concocting serum in a blink of an eye are beyond eye-rolling! Convenient exposition available at a Space button is unacceptable and Peter should have kept his promise to Captain Stacy (Denis Leary), although the story did make the Protagonist pay for his actions in the sequel.

Action sequences are certainly amazing! Spider-Man setting up a net of webs in the sewers waiting for potential movements followed by a face-to face battle with Lizard is gripping! The high school battle featuring Spider-Man wrapping Lizard with his non-stop spit of web and silenced brawl taking place behind Stan Lee's cameo are superb to watch! Even the climax on Oscorp's rooftop is good.

The one thing we should applaud the creators for is that they've managed to make Spider-Man vulnerable. He can get hurt emotionally and physically. The Lizard destroying his webshooters, inability to climb buildings due to bullet injury and the police pinning down Spider-Man for an encounter are instances that send fear to the audience!

Relationships wise, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone have a phenomenal chemistry! This was probably due to the fact that the actors were dating in real life during the time of the making, and you could truly feel their intimacy, interactions and spark whenever they are together onscreen. There's a solid rift back and forth between Peter and Captain Stacy too, which is greatly appreciated.

James Horner's score is brilliant! The technology they've boasted in the film are undoubtedly salivating, especially the hologram sequence to restructure a lab mice's genome and Spider-Man's costume plus webshooters production process. Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) growing his arm back has a solid practical and make-up effects. John Schwartzman's cinematography is generally great, especially the dual hand reflection shot.