Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

Director: Marc Webb

Who is in it: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Martin Sheen, Rhys Ifans

What it is about: Peter Parker is socially awkward. He's tall, gawky, and doesn't quite know how to talk to the ladies. But one fateful day, his life is changed by a single spider bite and is transformed into the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, who possesses the proportionate strength of a spider, supernatural agility and reflexes, and can stick to walls.

Why we like it: Breathe easy, fanboys- Andrew Garfield has Peter Parker down pat. Garfield's rendition of Peter takes after the Ultimate universe version of the webslinger in a lot of ways, and when in costume, it really feels like Peter lives vicariously through his alter ego, being a particularly awkward teen in his civilian self. Emma Stone shines as Gwen Stacy, and the chemistry between her and Garfield is very obvious, making for a great romance. The action sequences hit fast and feature plenty of Spidey banter, and the final confrontation with the Lizard is as epic as the trailers promise. Martin Sheen in particular steals the show with his heartfelt portrayal of Uncle Ben, giving his death true significance to the story.

Why we don't: There are a metric ton of rushed plot points, leaving us believing that a lot of stuff got left on the cutting room floor- there had better be an extended cut in the DVD release as a lot of things don't feel fleshed out. 3D doesn't really affect the movie, so think twice before shelling out the extra cost. Rhys Ifans' Lizard gets remarkably close to Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin towards the end of the movie with the whole 'voices in my head' routine as well.

Verdict: While the movie definitely wouldn't have suffered if it was just a little longer, 'The Amazing Spider-Man' successfully blends gritty real-world consequences with a great romance and superhero elements, striking a somewhat believable balance between 'The Dark Knight' and 'The Avengers'. Marc Webb takes a timeless tale and spins it in a fresh new way, and plenty of Spidey fans will walk away much happier with the bitter taste of 'Spider-Man 3' finally wiped from their mouths.

Ratings: 4 / 5 stars

Click on the next page for movie stills from 'The Amazing Spider-Man'...