The Amazing Spiderman is the iPad 3 of movies. It is barely any different from all the other superhero movies, yet with the help of an adjective it stands out...well, only barely. Like in the case of the iPad 3, which became "The New iPad", loyal fans of Apple still rally behind the barely changed handheld device and Loyal Superhero geeks like me still turned out for the movie and found it entertaining as any superhero/action flick.
But this version of Spiderman has a different take on Spiderman's origins and love interest. This version introduces Gwen Stacy as Peter Parker's main love interest. Peter has much more than a crush on her, he may even be stalking her, as one may conclude from the pictures in his computer. He's a geek, having in-depth knowledge of sophisticated machinery, such as the central AC in his uncle's basement. He is bullied by his schoolmates,his parents leave him in his childhood to be taken care of by his uncle and aunt and there is nothing amazing about him. Avoiding spoilers, I will get to the rest of the plot. He's bitten by a spider, which genetically enhanced and it gives him superpowers and he becomes amazing. Enter Curt Connors, a scientist, who is working on cross species genetic splicing mutation mumbo jumbo, tries to do the same thing and ends up becoming a giant lizard. He apparently gets frustrated that there is no other female in his species to be his girlfriend, he tries to turn the whole population of NYC into giant lizards and Spiderman needs to stop him and save the day.
There is enough action, humour, romance and plot to get you through the 2 hours effortlessly. All actors do a satisfactory job. I was just glad this movie didn't have Kirsten Dunst. Emma Stone is much more watchable. Andrew Garfield has the comic timing that is essential to the Spiderman character. The villain is villainy enough and Sally Field makes a much better Aunt May.
It doesn't do much justice to compare this movie to the Sam Raimi's version of Spiderman, it will be like comparing apples and spiders. And this spider is in 3D.
I didn't watch the movie in 3D though. Non-3D version was cheaper and I could get my student discount. I just pretended that all the buildings and cars were whizzing right towards my face and it was awesome.
I wouldn't recommend sticking behind after the credits starts rolling for some footage to leave clues for the next sequel. There is such a footage in this movie, but unless you are an absolute die hard Spiderman fan, the footage won't make sense. So far, not even the collective minds in the internet have not come to a consensus about what the eff was that footage about.
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In the honour of this new movie featuring the superhero who set my childhood imagination on fire, here is a song that was featured in Spiderman 2. It's called Na Jaane Kyon, by a Pakistani band called Strings.
There is a theme of sacrifice throughout Spiderman 2. Peter Parker sacrifices his studies, his family and his love, trying to make good use of his powers as Spiderman. I believe that this song rightly captures that spirit.
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Only 15 more days to the release of the most awesome superhero movie ever made.
Ciao.
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