Director: Marc Webb
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Campbell Scott
Rating: (M)
3 stars (out of 5)
The standard studio response would be to rejig it to 3-D and issue a special edition deluxe DVD set.
Instead, Columbia Pictures has taken the bold or possibly greedy step of hiring a new director and cast and rebooting the Spider-Man franchise.
Calling the latest incarnation The Amazing Spider-Man (Rialto and Hoyts) may be pushing it a bit though: the audience decides if it is amazing or not.
As I was watching I could see why they decided a new movie was necessary.
Spider-Man's antics are custom made for 3-D, so starting with the premise that it is going to be in 3-D allows you to optimise the experience for the audience.
The movie-makers are also very careful with their storyline.
Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is back in high school and all the forces that combined to turn him into Spider-Man instead of a late-blossoming basketball jock are carefully spelt out. It is sometimes too carefully spelt out: I got a little bored at times.
But if you love the comics, all the careful underscoring about doing good for others instead of just satisfying your own personal vanity will be a delight.
Best thing: The aerial 3-D through New York.
Worst thing: If I can spot when the stunt double is the one doing the tumbling, you know it is super-obvious.
See it with: Your Spidey senses at full alert.
- Written by Christine Powley.
