Skip to main content

The Amazing Spider-Man - reviewed.



When The Amazing Spider-Man was first released in the early part of July, it wasn't on my list of movies to see in the theatre.

I'd just seen The Avengers in May and The Dark Knight Rises, which was on my must-see list, was going to be released just a couple of weeks later.

Unfortunately, the new version of Spider-Man was the summer super hero flick that didn't fit into my checkbook.

That changed last Tuesday though.

I was trying to figure out what to do with my evening. I noticed that Cinemark 10, in Matthews, was showing The Amazing Spider-Man. I'd never been to Cinemark 10, but it was the cheap theatre, from what I'd heard.


I figured watching Spider-Man on the big screen would probably be more fun than watching the DVD on my 20" Vizio television at home.

I got to the theatre and it was pretty much deserted. I was literally the only person in the lobby. I purchased my ticket from a machine. It took me a few minutes to get the ticket because I stood there for probably 30 seconds, trying to figure out if the total was correct.

The machine was showing a $1.00 charge.


Surely that couldn't be right. The total stayed the same after I deleted the ticket and added it again.

Turns out Tuesdays are $1.00 days at Cinemark 10. Talk about a deal!

If you got to Cinemark 10, make sure to eat beforehand, though. The popcorn and soda prices are about $4.00, minimum, for each. It's still cheaper than a regular trip to the movie theatre, but not by much if you get the large soda and popcorn.

Onto the movie though.

I was one of the fans who thought it was too soon to resurrect the Spider-Man franchise. The Tobey Maguire franchise had it's issues, but overall it was a good trilogy. Spider-Man 3 is just 5 years old.

It's Spider-Man though. Plus, the hilarious Emma Stone is in the film, so it has to be good right?

Thankfully, the answer is: abso-freakin'-lutely!

Emma Stone brought a combination of comedy and seriousness to the Gwen Stacy character. To be honest, she did a much better job playing the female lead in just one film than Kirsten Dunst did in three of them. Yes, Kirsten, Emma lived up to expectations.


I was expecting that out of Ms. Stone though.

I wasn't expecting Andrew Garfield to steal the show. He did a very modern portrayal of Peter Parker and he did it very well. Tobey Maguire was perhaps a more classic, nerdy Peter Parker, but Andrew Garfield brought a much more relatable awkward teenager vibe to the role.


This was the first film I'd seen Garfield in even though he has acting credits that go back to 2005. He definitely left me wanting a sequel and another one after that.


Sally Field successfully portrayed Aunt May and Martin Sheen was a quality choice to cast as Uncle Ben.


Rhys Ifans wasn't amazing in his role as Dr. Curt Connors.


He was a little bit lackluster as a villain, but I'm sure that can be forgiven by any Spidey fans out there because we finally got to see a big-screen version of The Lizard. The Sam Raimi trilogy gave us The Green Goblin, Doc Oc, Venom and Sandman. Four very good Spider-Man villains to include, no doubt, but The Lizard was one I would've preferred to see before Sandman.


The Lizard and Spidey had some creative fight scenes together. When it came to the fight scenes, I didn't notice any repetition from the Maguire trilogy. The last fight sequence in The Amazing Spider-Man actually felt more epic than the most of the action scenes in the Maguire movies.

It wasn't all action though. There was a lot of comedy -- something I think the Sam Raimi-directed movies lacked. His emo twist on Spider-Man wasn't a fail in my book, but I do prefer the levity that this Marc Webb version delivered.

Along with the action and the comedy was, of course, a little bit of romance. The relationship between Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker was fun to watch blossom throughout the film.


It all seemed very natural, which makes sense since Stone and Garfield are apparently dating each other in real life.

Overall I was really impressed. It felt like a fresh story.

If you rent the film on DVD or see it in a cheap theatre near you, yes, you should stay until the end. There is a bonus scene after the initial credits. Unfortunately it doesn't really lend a clue as to who the villain in a possible sequel would be.


Related content:
• John Carter - reviewed.
• The Green Lantern and Captain America - reviewed.







Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Celebrity (look-a-like) sightings - part 3

Part 1 and Part 2 were good, but I think there's some definite look-a-likes this time around. I'll get right to the comparisons, but let me know what you think? Am I spot on or what? I saved the very best (and closest comparison) for last this time, so make sure to scroll to the bottom of the page. On the left: Edge On the right: Jamie Campbell Bower May as well start with a wrestling-related one. It seems those pro wrestlers have doppelgängers all over. I'd mentioned before that Wilson Bethel resembles Edge . I still stand by that statement. However, I think Jamie Campbell Bower looks even more like Edge. Jamie Bower, for those who are unaware like I was, is an actor who has quite an impressive resume already. I just watched The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (review to come later) and that's the first time I saw him...or so I thought. Jamie was in the final three Twilight movies, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2 , and t...

Choosing a side on DVD menu's -- what's the point?

Most DVDs go to a menu screen after you’re done hearing about ‘the cloud,’ how cigarettes can kill you and seeing a preview for the latest animated film. Some, however, give you an option. ‘Pick a side,’ they say. I’ve run into this twice recently – with the G.I. Joe DVD and The Break-Up DVD . At first I thought it was a cool concept. Maybe, if you pick Cobra’s side, there’s an alternate ending? Or maybe some special features --- like an in-depth look at Storm Shadow’s sword training. If you pick the side of the Joe’s, maybe there’s a look at their stunt training. No, no, and no. I went with Cobra and it takes you to the exact same screen, with the exact same features, as it does when you pick G.I. Joe. Same thing with The Break-Up .

R.I.P. to the Apple Grande

I got some sad news recently: Taco John's discontinued their deliciously underrated treat: the apple grande. For me, this is worse than the Twinkie ordeal earlier this year. I grew up eating these whenever my family went to Taco John's. You didn't even need to get a taco. A Pepsi, potato oles and an apple grande was a delicious meal by itself. The apple grande was not one of those treats that you'd often hear people talking about. There are probably quite a few people out there who never even got to experience the taste bud happiness that the apple grande provided. It was an amazing, crispy flour tortilla that was coated in cinnamon and sugar and topped with warm apple filling, cheddar cheese and crushed cinnamon candy. I was told by one of the Taco John's locations that they no longer served the apple grande and that it was a nationwide change. I don't know if that's the case or not. The item is still listed on the Taco John's website...