Super Powers Indeed!

Rating: 9/10 (11 July 2012)

This film is highly recommended.
"Amazing" is such an overused adjective that rarely is in sync with its subject. The Amazing Kreskin...The Amazing Race...Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat...The Amazing Colossal Man...The Amazing Colossal Woman. Never achieving its own sense of greatness, the word attains a self-congratulatory smugness and usually leads to disappointment. And now we have The Amazing Spiderman, yet another trendy remake of a comic book superhero, a re-boot of this film trilogy that is barely a decade old!
Now, The Age of the Comic Book Hero Movie may seem like the latest fad, but it's been with us for years, although their emergence feels all too frequent due to the many misfires and hyperbole. These fantasy action blockbusters occur with such regularity that it's far easier to count the films that aren't from that genre than to observe the glut of fanboy extravaganzas that take up space in today's movie theaters.
( Yes, I do fondly remember, somewhere back in the fifties, between double features and sitting in the fourth row of the Palace Theater, being one of those very young and easily gullible movie fans, watching a national yo-yo competition after that first feature, as kid after kid would walk up on that stage to "amaze" the audience with tricks like Walking the Dog, Boingy Boing, and The Sleeper. ( I, on the other hand, being so uncoordinated, was lucky to get this spinning toy back up the string into my wet waiting palm! ) And then...we waited for the main event, the second feature to appear on the big screen: Superman and the Mole People ( starring George Reeves with his strings attached ) as our superhero conquered the enemies by actually flying in the air amid the squeals and shouts of all the neighbor boys in that crowded movie house. But I digress....)
The young audience of today is much more savvy and the expensive budget lavished on special effects are superior to those visible invisible wires attached to our superheroes that we chose to ignore as children. But the thrill is still the same for youngsters and, nowadays, oldsters alike. Which finally brings us full circle to our main event, The Amazing Spiderman, an entertaining and special film that takes its legend seriously and its source as gospel. It's popcorn entertainment alright, but with some degree of sophistication and unexpected joy. This time they got it right and The Amazing Spiderman, illogic withstanding, is one of the best action films of the summer!
I won't belabor the plot of the film as we have seen it all before, although there are some clever minor changes. Let's just say Peter Parker gets bit by that radioactive, or biologically engineered, spider and adapts to his life as misunderstood webbed crusader, meeting various nemeses and fighting against the forces of evil. The film truly takes flight in its early scenes of Spidey's self-discovery of his new strength and agility in these introductory phases. ( A delightful subway sequences uses humor and CGI to reinforce the elements of awe and wonder simultaneously as Parker's initiation into superhero mode begins. )
Some differences from the original: a new love interest, namely Gwen Stacy ( Emma Stone ), a new villain, The Lizard a.k.a. Dr. Curt Connors ( very well played by Rhys Ifan ), and, of course, a new actor in the title role, smashingly played Andrew Garfield. These additions help make this Spiderman 4.0 all the more enjoyable. High praise goes to the film's director, Marc Webb, who wisely invests in the characters and their dilemmas before much superhero action takes place. This makes many of the later scenes have more dramatic clout. The screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, and Steve Kloves adds plenty of subtle humor in its exchanges between the two lovers and creates an interesting conflicted villain who is not just the persona of evil. It is so refreshing that the director and screenwriters actually take the time to delve into the backgrounds of the characters involved before going into the fancy aerial acrobatic maneuvers and sci-fi plotting
They realize the human story is as important as the theatrics. It is the relationship of Peter and Gwen that elevates the film to an entirely different level from most ordinary comic book hero films. Although Stone and Garfield are too old for their teenage roles, they play off each other so well. Stone brings to her role a charm and intelligence that beguiles the audience. Garfield, pardon the pun, is a Marvel as Spiderman. This talented actor plays him as a rebel with a cause, a modern day James Dean in uniform. Garfield captures the pent-up energies of an adolescent loner with his gawky posturing and nervous tics. His ability to convey sensitivity and inner turmoil, plus his good looks, define this role to the max.
I would be amiss if I did not point out that here are some glaring inconsistencies throughout The Amazing Spiderman, who, I might add, is even a more "amazing" fashion designer with his seamless removable mask and sewing skills. Some minor villains and future plot complications are introduced and then disappear into that dark night. Photographed with a breathtaking fluidity by John Schwartzman, the action set pieces are exciting and well staged, with wonderful visual effects, but the climactic showdown defies logic and goes on too long.
The Amazing Spiderman definitely lives up to its own hype. It may not meet the "amazing" standard of excellence but it is a marvelous Marvel for us to behold. No strings attached. GRADE: B+
Visit my blog at: www.dearmoviegoer.com
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com to add comments.