Genre: Superhero Movie
Directed: Marc Webb
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Irrfan Khan, Campbell Scott
Production: Columbia Pictures
Remember in 2002 when everyone hotly anticipated the blockbuster season? It was the year Lord of the Ring: The Two Towers and Star Wars: Attack of the Clones made huge wads of cash for their respective franchises. Likewise Harry Potter got its second installment, Austin Powers got its third and James Bond got it’s 20th. While today we roll our eyes and suck our thumbs every other time another cynical franchise building sequel is released, back then we saw them as fresh and special. Well, maybe not but at least the summer was also bedizen with original ideas like Minority Report, Ice Age, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and The Bourne Identity. Somewhere in the middle of it all emerged what would become the third highest grossing film of the year and changed the face of comic-book superhero movies forever. I’m talking of course about Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man.
 |
| ...and with these hands I killed the Blade franchise |
Before 2002, comic book adaptations were largely moody modest budget affairs ala The Crow (1994) and X-Men (2000). The only franchise at the time whose popularity was enough to invest beaucoup bucks was Batman (1989). But by the beginning of the new millennium, that franchise was ice cold dead. Suddenly Spider-Man popped up with its populist sensibilities, bright and colorful cinematography and operatic story. Not since Superman (1978) has so much good ol’ fashioned cheese come to the screen with such panache.
Today many in my peer group lambaste the now dead franchise as derivative. The actors, especially Tobey Maguire and Kristen Dunst have gotten the brunt of recent criticisms for a multitude of reasons and some of them valid. I would argue that while Tobey Maguire was not smart-alecky enough for the role of Spider-Man he was the ideal Peter Parker. He was shy, a bit of a goof and kind of plain-looking, he evoked immediate sympathy from the audience and me. Kristen Dunst as the love interest next door I felt was likewise the perfect embodiment of the role she portrayed.
 |
| Don't know how this could possibly fail |
A lot of the criticisms about the two young actors I feel stem from both of them being unable to shed the franchise. Neither have done anything remotely as impressive from a financial or acting point of view before or since. Willem Dafoe’s performance while infinitely more cheesy hasn’t gotten the same ire from finicky fans partially because he will always have Platoon (1986) and Shadow of the Vampire (2000) under his belt. Add to all that the fact that Spider-Man 3 (2007) was a narrative mess and people get that sour taste in their mouth when they discuss the old franchise.
Which brings me to the new franchise. I was lucky enough to catch an early screening with a small group at the theater. It was actually a pretty interesting case of serendipity as I had just got out of a screening of Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and was told after exiting the theater the screening for the new Spider-Man was about to start. By the way if you get the chance to watch Moonrise Kingdom you definitely should. it’s a movie that works despite Wes Anderson’s idiosyncratic directing.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) tries to recreate and remold the titular hero but does so with diminishing
 |
| This uncle Ben is next! |
It has been only five years since the last installment of the Raimi trilogy and it seems that the lesson the studio learned from Spider-Man 3 was don’t give the director too much freedom. Sam Raimi's pop sensibilities and ego admittedly got the better of him resulting in disaster. So to compensate for Sam Raimi’s too much muchness, they got very green director Marc Webb
 |
| If this guy's in high school I'm Madonna |
There were aspects of the film I did like. Much of the impetus of the story revolves around the mysterious disappearance of Peter’s parents which brought new elements to the story. Spider-Man comes home with multiple scabs, bruises and welts from the night’s action which is much more realistic when you’re leading a life of a crime fighter. Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy was an instantly likeable character as was her no nonsense police commissioner father played by Denis Leary. Emma Stone is one of those lucky popular young actresses who can find universal recognition and praise. She has multiple sides to her which shines in the majority of her performances and makes her incredibly likable. Had the movie been about her I might have actually enjoyed it much more.
Which brings me to probably the biggest complaint I have about The Amazing Spider-Man. I do not like Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. Not at all. At 28 the actor looks too old to be in high school and much too good looking to be the nerdy, mild-mannered Peter Parker he should be. Once in the suit, he spends an awful lot of time without his mask; likely so people will be distracted by the fact that the costume makes him look like a deflated Voight basketball with legs.
 |
| Can you hear me now? Good |
You may have noticed I haven’t really mentioned the primary villain The Lizard (Rhys Ifans) in this review. This is largely due to the fact that the character is ultimately treated as inconsequential. An almost compulsory character thrown in because every superhero must have a super villain. His motivations are tenuous at best and nothing in his scenes while transformed really leave an impact. Also as an aside, the New York water filtration systems seem to have an awful lot of exotic looking lizards and great phone reception. Someone should really check into that.
Final Grade: C-
No comments:
Post a Comment