Andrew Garfield, who has excelled before in films such as The Social Network but most notably for me in Channel 4's Red Riding trilogy, is absolutely spot on as Peter Parker, despite being ten years too old to play a highschooler. He convinces as a science geek but also as a genuine teenager; he's not quite the social incompetent that Maguire's Peter was. Moreover, Garfield's American accent is flawless - you'd never guess that he's a Brit. His relationship with the leading lady is far more compelling this time, Garfield's scenes with the wonderful Emma Stone sparkling with easy chemistry. Martin Sheen is an extremely likeable Uncle Ben even if he is just a preordained plot device, and Denis Leary as Gwen's dad brings some appreciated shades to a character that at first seems like just a stock antagonistic Police Chief.
As is usually the way, the first hour is all set-up as Parker slowly becomes the hero we're waiting for (aren't all origin stories pretty much remakes?). The film fights off the pervading familiarity by showing similar events with a new twist. For example, the sadness of (spoiler) Uncle Ben's death is more heartfelt this time, and leaves a deeper impact, partly thanks to the build-up (Peter again feels guilty for it, but for a more personal reason) and also the acting. This time, you feel how it affects Peter and Aunt May, rather than just witnessing it in passing. Other re-enacted scenes include those where Peter discovers his new strength and reflexes, which generate decent laughs through good comic timing. When Spidey himself emerges, he's more of a wisecracking smartarse than Raimi's, whose films came with a more goofy, primary-coloured charm.
One area in which Amazing Spider-Man gets it right where others have failed is in dovetailing the origin story into an equally compelling action spectacular once the hero is established. Neither half feels undernourished, unlike in, say, Iron Man. It helps that the villain here, Rhys Ifans' Curt Connors/The Lizard, is actually quite interesting and relatable, despite being yet another scientist-whose-experiment-goes-wrong, and the film doesn't hold back on the action sequences in the second half. Invariably these origin films just end with one anticlimactic face-off but here the hero/villain duel lasts several rounds, building up to an exciting, large-scaled finale that makes excellent use of the 3D (the effect having been mostly subdued earlier in the film).
There's really no higher complement I can give to a superhero origin story than saying it reminds me of Batman Begins in how it confidently tells a familiar tale in a manner than instantly makes it feel definitive. It's not the equal of Begins but few are. It unfortunately doesn't follow through with all its ideas; certain storylines are dropped after promising beginnings, such as Peter's quest for vengeance for Ben and the mystery surrounding his father. I would, however, rate it as the best Spider-Man film yet, a commendation that immediately ranks it high in the superhero pantheon.
Summary
This new Spider-Man brazenly puts Amazing in its title, but for once, such bluster proves not to be false advertising. It's an excellent summer blockbuster.
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