The Amazing Spider-Man movie

[Earth 2 Chris]

Just got back from a matinee with both kids (had to take my 4-year old since my mother-in-law took ill at the last minute).

I'm still trying to process my thoughts, but I felt it was a very well-done, well-conceived movie. On it's own merits, it is a very entertaining film. It is not as "emo" as many feared it would be. The pathos feel very genuine, especially if you cast your mind back to your teen years. There is plenty of action in and out of costume.

Of course comparisons are going to be made to the Raimi films. My initial thoughts are that this film is more cohesive. It feels like more thought was put into telling a compelling story, versus just getting Spider-Man translated well to the screen. But that may be the nature of a reboot like this. We've seen it all before, now we have to dig in and really see what makes it tick. I think this movie does that.

Garfield's Peter Parker is more likable than Maguire's interpretation. He really sells Peter as a very intelligent, quirky individual with a strong moral compass. Again, he is given more of an opportunity to do more with the character than Maguire, because this story does have a more personal feel to it.

Spider-Man does indeed seem more "Spidery". Garfield's lanky build really works toward achieving those classic comic poses. The costume looks good on screen. The new details barely matter. The more true red and blues are appreciated, but I think I still like the old suit design better. But this will do.

The Lizard is very convincing, and once things got rolling my reservations about his design were forgotten. It works within the context of the movie much better than in static images. Ifans does a nice job with Connors as well. I actually cared about the guy, despite the fact I knew he was going to end up as the heavy.

Emma Stone's Gwen Stacey is a much stronger, more likable character than the Mary Jane we saw in the Raimi films. They actually did some refreshing things with her that I really appreciated.

Dennis Leary is Dennis Leary as Captain Stacy. You get what you pay for, and he does a nice job with it.

Martin Sheen and Sally Field also seem more "real" than the previous Ben and May, because they too are given more time to shine, and not just be "generic elderly mentor" characters.

The effects are pretty flawless, and the reliance on practical acrobatics over CGI is much-appreciated. I wasn't taken out of the film by rubber Spider-Men. I know tech has advanced, even since Spidey 3, but it was still nice to NOT see the puppet strings.

Overall, I have to say this movie resonated a bit more than Raimi's movies. Raimi still has that old horror showman in him, where he ups the drama past 11 at times. The drama in this film was more organic, and built gradually over time. It's just a different feel. It is a bit like comparing Burton's Batman to Nolan's version. More grounded, more character-driven, more introspective.

All that being said, I still didn't get the goosbump feel I got when I first saw the ending of Spider-Man I, when he's swinging across the city. You can't recreate that!

Chris

[rche]

How did it play out for the 4 year old? My son is a big spider fan, but I am not interested in hosting lizard nightmares for the next week No spoilers or details, please. Just wanting to know if a 5 yo can sit through this without covering his eyes.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I covered Dani's eyes whenever there was a transformation scene. They actually telegraph this pretty good, so I knew what to do. She was fine with the Lizard himself. She likes the Hulk in the Avengers, so I told her he'd be like that. She did fine.

There is one potentially disturbing scene in the lab, but you can tell it's coming a mile away. I can't say anything without spoiling stuff, but it involves an experiment gone wrong. It's really quick though. That scene got the most reaction out of my 10-year old!

I didn't plan to take her, but I felt she could handle it, and I had promised her brother. I took a gamble,and came out okay. Of course if she'd been traumatized, I'd never forgiven myself!!!

[rche]

thanks - we are wanting to see Spidey in action. With your warnings, perhaps we will give it a go.

[VintageMike]

Bought my ticket for tomorrow. As luck has it the comic store in the area will be open so I get to get my new books and see Spidey. That's my kind of 4th of July!

[Megospidey]

I'm talking the family to see it tomorrow as well...can't wait!

[80stoyman]

Saw the movie today and enjoyed it!

I will wait until the rest of the week so more members have time to see it to discuss more of my thoughts.

Have fun everyone!

[madmarva]

Just got back from the early show this morning. I enjoyed it a lot. Not going to pick it apart or really try to compare it to Raimi's films, which I also enjoyed when they came out.

Wasn't excited about the origin being retold before I saw the movie, but to tell this story well, they needed to do it that way. With an established Spider-Man, the story wouldn't have worked as well or as easily. It would've needed even more flashbacks. There has definitely been an upgrade in effects since the last Spidey movie. Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans were excellent as was Andrew Garfield. Any reservations I had about him as Parker were forgotten minutes into the film.

Sally Fields was fine in the role of Aunt May, but May is definitely cast as younger than the comics. But seeing Fields in a mother's role reminded me of her as Forrest Gump's mom. "Your mom sure does care about your education."

They did a nice job. Marvel or Sony or whoever produced it has another winner in my book.

[Bruce Banner]

Warning: Potential SPOILERS ahead for those that haven't yet seen the movie.


Pretty good. In certain respects, superior to the Raimi version.
I like Garfield in the role of Parker more than Maguire. The suit looks better, too. Good vibrant red & blue, and black weblines. And of course, webshooters!

But, I would have preferred them to stick closer to the comic book in many areas, including the details of the origin and the loss of Uncle Ben, etc... but veering from the source material is something we've come to expect from superhero movies to varying degrees, I guess.
There are quite a few unnecessary embellishments and changes to the Spider-Man mythos in this movie.

Anyway, they've tried to cram so much into the movie that it inevitably suffers to some degree.
Having both Uncle Ben's and Captain Stacy's deaths in the movie tends to lessen the emotional impact of both tragedies somewhat. Captain Stacy's demise should have been kept until the sequel.

And I'm liking Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy so much that it'll truly be a tragedy when she meets her ultimate fate.
But I'm not so sure about Peter revealing his secret to her so readily. That could have waited until the next movie, at least... if at all.

A lot of the action takes place at night in this movie. Hopefully the sequel will show Spidey in action swinging through the cityscape during the daylight... which would give it more of that iconic Spidey comic vibe.

Interesting mid-credits coda.

[Jerry68]

I loved it! I loved the first Spiderman, I have to say I liked this one more. This is the first time on screen, other than animation that Spiderman moved and fought like he does in the comics. This movie borrowed from multiple sources.