Directed By: Marc Webb
Written By: James Vanderbilt & Alvin Sargent & Steve Kloves
Story By: James Vanderbilt
Based on Characters Created By: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
Cinematography: John Schwartzman
Editor: Alan Edward Bell, Michael McCusker & Pietro Scalia
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Irrfan Khan, C. Thomas Howell, Campbell Scott, Embeth Daviditz, Chris Zylka, Amber Stevens, Tia Texada, Hannah Marks, Vincent Laresca
After Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.
I will admit when i first heard about this movie I wasn’t a fan of them rebooting the series so soon where it seems like almost an apology for spider-man 3 and distancing themselves from the old crew and bringing in new management.
Who do an ok job when it comes to visuals even though too much CGI for the villain and it seems to try too hard to be visually impressive but it lacks so much character and anything that sets it apart or gives it any depth as an individual that it feels all surface. It intends to please but never quite Defines itself.
Say what you wasn’t about the Sam Raimi films but those and the newer Spider-Man movies at least have depth and feel like there is an artistic hand behind it.
These films while going with the more original Gwen Stacy as the love interest only seem to do this to try to please the more hardcore fans but the movie still plays like it is more trying to impress audiences who might not be too familiar with the original comic books or really care. It also feels like they took ideas that might have been meant for a spider-man sequel stuck it here with the whole new origin story. Which they shorten and get to the point as they realize the audience already remembers it from the previous series of films. Though if they want to keep it short why even reboot so soon other then of course money.
What I will give the spider-man movie series franchise is that just like the comic books how they have amazing, spectacular and just plain old spider-man spinoff and series of comic books that all have Peter Parker and Spider-Man they all seem to age. A different take. One series is more serious the other more lighthearted and comedic action one more action oriented.
Here the film has a certain forward and quickly edited momentum and some memorable action sequences. That more feel like a crowd pleaser then anything of actual depth or the partially haunted nature of the character.
Andrew Garfield tries hard in the role. As when he is Peter Parker he is more the emo, shy, nerdish and haunted type, but as Spider-man he has the more cocky and one liner aspect of the character but still somehow. It doesn’t quite feel right or maybe not as natural as it should.
The film get’s started correctly with The lizard as the villain. As he just like Peter is more affected by a virus working it’s way through him. Only in this case more physically and permanently that comes off like a werewolf. Yet mostly in control. Maybe one is partial as The lizard is one of the more memorable villains especially if you have read Todd Mcfarlane’s SPIDER-MAN SERIES of comics the first six issues that offer a brutal storyline of life and death. Not on display here.
When it comes to this film everyone tries but it feels too glossy to make an impact. As it is so slick it Just slips by leaving no tracks but also no memories. Watching it again after all these years there were scenes and performances I didn’t even remember from watching it the first time and while still not that impressive. I am just shocked i didn’t remember them.
As this Film tries to make it’s Mark but in trying to please everyone. It doesn’t truly satisfy anyone. Not a complete disaster as much as the sequel is but this one at least appears trying to be earnest. While being a conglomerate.
Grade: C-
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