Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Marc Webb, Columbia Pictures, M 136 Minutes.
Filmmaker Sam Raimi released the first of his three ‘Spiderman’ movies in 2002 and now it is the turn of Marc Webb (‘500 Days of Summer’) to present his spin on the colourful comic book hero.
Webb provides an interesting and intriguing insight into the early life of Peter Parker (aka Spiderman) by delving into his past, Parker is played by ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ star Andrew Garfield.
The movie opens with the sudden disappearance of Peter’s parents while he’s still a child and then shows him as a teenager being cared for by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen – ‘Bobby’) and Aunt May (Sally Field – ‘Lincoln’).
As a high school science student Peter becomes determined to find out about his parents’ disappearance after coming across his father’s hidden briefcase which revealed his secret work on cross species genetics.
This leads Peter to his father’s former colleague, the one-armed scientist Dr Connors (Rhys Ifans – ‘Anonymous’) who invites Peter to work with him on his cross-species project, Parker later learns that Connors can change into a shocking creature.
As it turns out Peter’s love interest Gwen (Emma Stone – ‘The Help’) is at the same high school spending part of her time working at Connors’ scientific establishment Oscorp as his protégé which is where they first meet.
And it is at Connors’ lab where Peter is first bitten by the spider that transforms him into Spiderman before finally confronting Connors in his lizard form during which Gwen’s father Captain Stacey (Dennis Leary – Draft Day’) is fatally wounded.
There is no doubt that Tobey Maguire provided a praiseworthy portrayal of Spiderman in Raimi’s highly popular trilogy and that Garfield’s enjoyable characterisation further enhances the image of the renowned superhero through Webb’s skilful recreation.
In Webb’s rendition he also devotes part of the story in depicting Peter as a clumsy high schooler and shows some of his difficulties in performing his Spiderman role.
In providing such an entertaining rendition of Spiderman, Webb has contributed to the superhero franchise that is enriched by the endearing performances of Ifans, Stone, Sheen and Field not to mention the inclusion of some amazing special effects.
It is therefore timely that this televised movie is being screened just in-time for the Christmas school holidays.
The Amazing Spiderman is to be televised on 9GO at 7.30pm on Saturday 26 December.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
