A Mediocre Reboot

Rating: 5/10 (13 April 2014)

This film proves that as long as you have a bankable star like Batman, Iron Man, or in this case Spider Man, you don't have to make a good film, people will flock see it anyways. To be clear, I never read Spider Man comics, my introduction to the character was a cartoon series, and the original Raimi films. After seeing Spider Man 1, and 2, I started to read up on the character, and I realized some differences between the original films, and the comics. This happens in any film adaptation, because film doesn't have the luxury of time like comics do. That begin said, aside from organic web shooters, and Peter being a bit nerdier than the comics, I really bought into the heart, and soul of the story in the first two Spider Man films.
This is where I feel TASM really falls short. A reboot should refresh a previous series, and do something completely new with it. Take for example the Tim Burton Batman films, and the Nolan reboot. Now I know some people don't like one, or the other, but thats how a reboot should be. Nothing about those two series look anything like each other, but both are clearly about Batman, and both, in my opinion capture the essence of Batman, while making it their own. TASM, although with slightly updated technology, doesn't feel a whole lot different visually than the Raimi films. The biggest problem the film has, is that there's so much going on, that the plot becomes convoluted, and the pacing makes the film feel much longer than it is.
Andrew Garfield looks fine as Spider Man, but I didn't feel as much for the way Garfield portrayed Peter Parker this time around. I get in the comics that Peter's a bit more sarcastic than how he was in the Raimi films, but it's a fine line between being humorous, and coming off as a complete ass. Acting wise, Garfield is fine so I can't fault him, in fact the acting is not the problem in this film, as the cast is very strong with the likes of Stone, Sheen, Leary, and even Sally field. The problem is that there's no real depth to any of their characters, so their acting talent is essentially wasted. For instance, there's many awkward scenes where Peter, and Gwen have flirty, stutter filled dialogue, but I don't see how any of that makes them head over heels for each other. Peter's relationship to everyone in this film, doesn't really feel very genuine whether it be Dr. Conner's/Lizard, Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Gwen, or even her father Captain Stacy. There's no real build up to any scene, or the core relationships, so everything feels hollow.
There's also just plain stupid scenes like Peter on the subway train, his constant breaking of everything he touches, and the ridiculous football bending the goal post scene. None of these would help to conceal one's supposed secret identity. The whole film itself seems to not know what identity it should take. Tonally it tries to be dark, although it has slapstick comedy at times, is it a straight love story between Peter, and Gwen, sort of not really, is this Spider Man meant to be taken more seriously, the film never really seems to know. TASM more often than not seems to bore, rather than entertain, something I wouldn't think possible with a Spider Man film.