Not quite amazing, but very damn good.
Released: 2012
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Who was it that asked for a reboot of Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" film trilogy, especially when it just ended a few years ago? Nobody. Not a person with an interest in movies should have given a damn about "The Amazing Spider-Man," when Raimi's blockbuster entries had just so recently sputtered into mediocrity in the eyes of both critics and fans alike. Fortunately, some people did give a damn, most notably of all director Marc Webb, who clearly has a passion for both the Spider-Man franchise and for his craft as a filmmaker. Webb's work on "(500) Days of Summer" piqued my interest in this flick, and I have to say that Webb's high-flying revamp of Spider-Man transformed me from jaded comic movie fan into a full-blown supporter of the new iteration. Despite studios beating us over the heads with superhero origin stories recently, "The Amazing Spider-Man" feels fresher than most. Maybe it's the believable performance of leading man Andrew Garfield as he fumbles around with his new powers, evolving over the course of the film instead of suddenly and immediately becoming an invincible master of his talents; there is indeed something very human about watching him learn from his mistakes. Or maybe it's how this movie pays homage to the comic and cartoon series' (specifically the one from the '90s) comedic wit, giving us a more familiar, smart-alecky titular character than past attempts have given us. Maybe it's just the genuine portrayal of a teenager falling in love for the first time, with Garfield and romantic interest Emma Stone adding a healthy dose of awkward, bashful relationship-based angst to the mix. Instead of bashing us in the face repeatedly with some contrived ideal regarding the importance of "responsibility" and "doing good," this film lets its protagonist discover his own brand of justice; the result is something that's more sincerely heartfelt than most other superhero adventures. It's still a little cheesy, but hey, it's a freaking comic book movie - kitsch is as much of a part of this universe as evil villains wearing giant fishbowls on their heads and malicious, shape-shifting alien parasites. The biggest glaring issue "The Amazing Spider-Man" falls to is the inconsistency of its special effects: despite getting glammed-up by the Hollywood treatment, the film's CGI waxes and wanes from sleek and stylish action sequences to Windows 98-generated goofiness. It's a small crack in this movie's rather impressive visual exoskeleton, but one that is majorly detrimental to some of the fight scenes and larger set pieces. Still, it doesn't take away too much from what this film is all about: incredibly digestible entertainment value. This is the Spider-Man adventure Stan Lee certainly wants us to see, and the one we as audiences have been waiting for. "The Amazing Spider-Man" serves up exactly what every summer moviegoer seeks: a film that combines the best parts of the franchise's campy melodrama, honest ideals, and web-slinging fun. And when all is said and done, the effort proves to be not just satisfying, but absolutely heroic.
Rating (out of 5): 4
No comments:
Post a Comment