A refreshing take on our beloved superhero.

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 2012)

Peter Parker(Andrew Garfield) finds a clue as to why his parents abandoned him when he was a boy. He meets Dr. Curt Connors(Rhys Ifans) a man who worked with his father for many years. This movie is mainly about Peter Parker when he was in high school. It follows The Amazing Spider-Man comics much more faithfully than the previous movies. So, we have Gwen Stacy(Emma Stone) as his love interest, because Gwen Stacy was Peter Parker's first love interest in the comics. Peter lives with his Uncle Ben(Martin Sheen) & Aunt May(Sally Field).
First off, I want to say that I liked it as much as the original: Spider-Man(2002). I loved the fact that Spider-Man mocks the bad guys when he's fighting them, like he does in the comics. The 3D was great, especially when Spider-Man swings from building to building in New York City. However, some scenes were better in the original. The character of Aunt May was more likable in the original. Certain crucial scenes like a key character's death was more emotional in the original. Spider-Man doesn't even avenge the key character's death though a lot of time is wasted trying to find him. For a couple of minutes Spider-Man fights crime only wearing a mask. Later on, he just randomly wears a red & blue spandex suit & doesn't even give himself a name. However, later when someone asks him he says he's Spider-Man. Furthermore the New York Police Department led by Captain Stacy(Denis Leary) is desperate to catch the vigilante known as Spider-Man. But, they're not at all bothered about capturing The Lizard even though he's a bigger threat. Spider-Man willingly takes his mask off for Gwen Stacy revealing that he is Spidey himself. I thought Peter Parker was his 'secret' identity. Anyway, too many people find out that he's Spider-Man which is not very Spidey-ish. There is no affection between Peter & Aunt May like in the previous movies. In Raimi's trilogy Aunt May was portrayed as an affectionate, loving & caring woman. In this movie the only thing Peter & May do is fight, argue & fight some more. This is why Rosemary Harris' portrayal of Aunt May was much better. I missed the characters of Harry Osborn(Raimi's trilogy: portrayed by James Franco) & Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson(Raimi's trilogy: portrayed by J.K Simmons). These are minor flaws though. However, the character of Mary Jane Watson is not missed. Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy is the perfect replacement. She's not just a damsel in distress but a smart & intelligent girl who's ready to help Spider-Man when she can. The romance between Peter & Gwen is adorable. The only problem I had with this movie is that Peter takes too long to become Spider-Man. The Lizard was a great villain. Andrew Garfield is amazing as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Garfield easily slips into the shoes of Peter Parker & dons the costume of Spider-Man with ease. The new costume is much more slick & stylish. I loved the concept of the web shooters, following the original comics to the T. Emma Stone is impressive as Gwen Stacy. Martin Sheen is great as Uncle Ben. Denis Leary is brilliant as Captain Stacy. Sally Field was first of all too young to play Aunt May & she was unimpressive in the role. Rhys Ifans is outstanding as Curt Connors/The Lizard. The supporting characters like Flash Thompson(Chris Zylka), Richard Parker(Campbell Scott), Mary Parker(Embeth Davidtz) & Rajit Ratha(Irrfan Khan) are effective as well. The ending definitely paved a way for a sequel which Sony announced is releasing in 2014. Stick around during the credits for a crucial scene that gives a hint as to who might be the antagonist in the sequel. The Amazing Spider-Man is worth a watch. So, grab your 3D glasses, clear your mind, stop comparing it to the old movies, sit back, relax & enjoy 136 minutes of full on entertainment!