Loss of Innocence

Rating: 5/10 (7 May 2014)

I took my Grandson to see this movie, as that is a favorite thing that we like to do together. I can draw on my youth when I remember reading the comic books, giving me a perspective that not all people have, as I have followed Spidey for a number of years. To this day I love movies and the many Super Heroes that are written about, and especially those that make it to the big screen. All of that to say this.....there was something that was lacking in this version of Spider-Man, and even my Grandson noticed it as well. Kids have an amazing perceptive ability, and are an amazing little barometer for truthfulness. Both of us were wondering early on what happened to M.J.(Mary Jane), and he even asked me why the Green Goblin was changed up. He even commented on the change to Electro. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst & James Franco delivered a certain innocence to the characters that more resembled the way Stan Lee wrote the original story-line. In this version, Andrew Garfield seemed much less innocent, Dane DeHaan was a poor replacement for Harry Osborn, and lest we forget, Emma Stone instead of M.J. was really far-fetched. Her make-up made her look anything but innocent. One of the biggest draws to Spider-Man is in his transformation from an almost bumbling photographer, into his still somewhat innocent alter-ego as the masked hero, Spider-Man.All of that was gone in this version....begging the question..Why change up a winning formula? A lot of action....but empty on most cylinders.