A misstep in tone; oddly downbeat

Rating: 6/10 (18 November 2012)

Admittedly, I wasn't looking forward to seeing this movie. The blockbuster success of Raimi's original "Spider-Man" was celebrated just ten years ago. And there's an argument to be made that one should keep an open mind to new things, but there are also plenty of superhero properties that deserve big-screen treatment. But here we are reanimating the same characters for huge Summer movie business.
I'm impressed (for the most part) by the casting. Andrew Garfield makes an excellent Peter Parker/Spidey (especially given the angsty subject matter); he's got the mannerisms and the lanky physique. And Emma Stone makes the perfect Gwen Stacy. She was spot-on (especially in those thigh-high socks!). Rhys Ifans goes a long way in making the Lizard interesting (a character that's never blown my skirt up), while Martin Sheen is a terrific improvement over Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben.
And for even the most casual Spider-Man fan, the screenwriters really nailed Spidey's witty banter. It's not used often, but it's very effective in bringing the character to the big screen. And Webb brought his A-game when it comes to the action scenes. The fights between Spider-Man and the Lizard are hard-hitting and riveting, while the swinging through New York is an exhilarating ride.
But it's not all sunshine and lollipops. For one, it takes forever for this movie to get going, and only then it proceeds in fits and starts. It's way too long at 136 minutes, and it doesn't help matters that the movie drags for long stretches. Horner's score is oddly out of place, especially with the school fight scene.
And it's unnervingly dark for a Spider-Man film. It's great that Peter goes through some angst and anger issues, but there's not enough humor and light-hearted scenes to balance it out. You get to the point where you can easily see how things will turn out, and it's a downer. This isn't Batman - there's no need to make this character dark and overly brooding.
It's clear that "The Amazing Spider-Man" is a setup movie for another big franchise. And seeing as we have a terrific actor for the lead role, I'm cautiously optimistic. Garfield is great.
But for god's sake, let's lighten things up.
6/10