The Amazing Re-spin

Rating: 7/10 (5 July 2012)

The Amazing Spider-Man: Enjoyable, albeit too familiar, action/adventure/fantasy deftly directed by Marc Webb. Darker, cooler, retread of the comic-book inspired Spider-Man origin story. Peter Parker, an awkwardly hyper-intelligent teen, dealing with abandonment issues, new-found powers (due to a radioactive spider bite) and trying to find his place in life while dealing with his feelings for Gwen Stacy, happens upon a formula (his father's), which could provide answers to the perplexed Dr. Curt Conners (his father's former colleague), and win him a place in the world of ideas. All goes terribly awry, however, when Dr. Conners begins human trials upon himself, motivated by corporate pressures, which turns him into a giant lethal lizard, with a giant reptilian complex to match.
Good performances by Andrew Garfield (as a more cerebral Peter Parker/Spider-Man) and Emma Stone (as love interest Gwen Stacy), the stand out being Rhys Ifans (as Dr. Curt Conners, the most interesting character by far) - led by an artful script (James Vanderbilt & Alvin Sargent), which hones in on darker, yet more believable characterizations than Sam Rami's 2002 Spider-Man.
Memorable action sequences, and excellent cinematography at times putting the viewer into Spidey P.O.V mode, which was a great touch. Yet, like left-over pasta, the film is pleasing, but misses the mark on originality. For fans of the comics and the genre, I would recommend it, but not require.