This is not your Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. A little over five years after the opening of Sam Raimi’s final chapter in his Spider-Man franchise, Sony has rebooted the series all over again with a brand-new cast, new ideas, and the new director Marc Webb (500 Hundred Days of Summer) at the helm.
Utilizing the leading actors Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans to their fullest extent, Webb weaves together a great story filled with action and drama that will not leave you bored.
We start the film with Richard and May Parker (portrayed by Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz) dropping their son Peter Parker off at his Uncle Ben and Aunt May’s (Martin Sheen and Sally field) place after it is no longer safe at their residence due to an unknown intruder that came looking for a formula called the decay rate algorithm. Once his parents leave, we fast-forward to present day, where Peter Parker is just getting by. While his Aunt and Uncle provide a great living filled with love, Peter longs for the answers as to why his father and mother left him that rainy night.
He finally gets some clues when he finds his father’s briefcase and stumbles into Doctor Curtis Connors (Ifans). After some quick catching up, Peter offers up the decay rate algorithm to help Doctor Connors with his research and getting his arm back.
As we all know, that does not work out very well. But the story crafted by James Vanderbilt and also written with the help of Alvin Sergeant (who also helped write Sam Raimi’s versions) and Steve Kloves (Harry Potter series) helps to embed some additional pieces, including what does Doctor Connors have to do with Peter’s father? what is Norman Osborn actually dying from? and what does Peter have to do to get that Captain George Stacy (Denis Leary) off his back?
Some answers are given, some linger, but regardless of which ones are which, the fast-paced story and the action that goes at the same pace, if not faster, always offers the viewers something to keep them busy.
The leading cast is great and plays their parts well. Garfield offers a different, but equally satisfying take on Peter Parker; Stone continues her streak of portraying a character that is innocent yet very captivating and capable; and Ifans does a good job of playing the traditionally multi-facted Dr. Connors.
Despite making his directorial debut three years ago with 500 Days, Webb is very capable of proving that he can play in the big leagues, only showing a couple of cheesy spots that are a little cringy, but forgiveable.
Remember to stay until the end for a bonus clip, but be forewarned, that it will make you want Sony to quickly announce another film to explore the question that is posed.
Just remember to skip the IMAX 3D, though, where the all goes well for the first 85% of the film, but somehow begins to falter, taking the viewer a little out of the enjoyable experience.
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