I still have some niggling doubts about (very appropriately named) Marc Webb’s (500 Days of Summer) back-to-high-school reboot of the Spidey franchise. Yes, Spider-Man 3 was a mess, but I don’t think it validated a complete overhaul of the entire series. But that’s all spilled milk under the bridge now, or something like that, so now we have to just see if Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) can fill Tobey Maguire’s red and blue pyjamas.
One thing I have to give this new movie credit for though, is that judging by the screenshots released thus far, they certainly have nailed those iconic Spider-Man action poses. Unlike the Maguire films though, most of the time this has been done with Garfield himself instead of a stunt man or CGI. Case in point:
The official blurb for the movie states:
Like most teenagers his age, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. In his journey to put the pieces of his past together he uncovers a secret that his father held…a secret that will ultimately shape his destiny as Spider-Man. This is the first in a series of movies that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story.
The Amazing Spider-Man also stars Emma Stone as love interest Gwen Stacy, Dennis Leary as her father George Stacy, Rhys Ifans as Dr Curt Conners/ The Lizard and is scheduled for release July 3, 2012
Last Updated: January 13, 2012
Gareth Lagesse
January 13, 2012 at 08:15
A reboot wasn’t necessary, but I really like the cast of this movie. Maguire was a very boring Peter Parker, and I didn’t like snaggletoo- sorry, Dunst’s MJ either.
Kervyn Cloete
January 13, 2012 at 08:38
There I agree with you. The casting of Dunst as MJ always boggled my mind. She’s a decent enough actress but looks-wise fell far short of the mark.
This film has a top-notch and exciting young cast. But as good as 500 Days of Summer was, Webb is pretty much untested for this type of film, and that is what is nagging at me.
Justin Hess
January 13, 2012 at 13:54
It wasn’t the casting of Dunst or Maguire that annoyed me with Raimi’s take so much as the annoyingly limp and cheesy romance subplot. Honestly, their woeful attempts at acting lovestruck struck me as contrived and painfully cringing.
It just seemed like a determinedly blunt attempt at showing a couple so in love.
Noelle Adams
January 13, 2012 at 09:57
Love the new casting and less goofy approach…. but absolutely hate the plot. “Secrets from Peter Parker’s family life…” Give me a break. I am so sick of lazy screen writing that makes every character’s issues somehow related to their parents.