A new Spider-Man for a new generation

Rating: Null/10 (4 September 2013)

A new Spider-Man for a new generation. This Peter Parker is a much more contemporary outcast, full of angst. No longer a bookish science nerd, Pete's a skateboard-riding introvert. And like all high school kids, he's got issues he's struggling with. Growing pains, personal stuff. He's moody, he's rebellious. This Peter Parker is meant to appeal to today's youth. He could be a friend or a classmate or a neighbor. He is a stand-in for every teenager who teethed on cell phones and grew up on the Internet.
Personally, I feel just a little too old for this interpretation, but the update probably keeps the character fresh for modern audiences. Sam Raimi's films are more traditional adaptations of the comics, while this is a cinematic re-imagining of the source material. The familiar ingredients are there (Uncle Ben, Aunt May, genetically-engineered spiders), it's just a matter of how they're used. Your miles may vary, but I wasn't quite in sync with director Marc Webb, although I could see what he was going for. The best thing about this movie is Emma Stone. The Lizard looks lame and some of the special effects look too fake. And the story isn't particularly gripping. But maybe I'm just too old.