Rami Ungar The Writer

Poster for the new Spider-Man movie.

Epic.

That’s what went through my mind when I was watching the climactic fight scene. Epic.

Every person on the planet familiar with the previous three films of Spider-Man were skeptical when they heard the series was getting a reboot. Then a few trailers were shown, and people started liking the idea. And then more was shown, and people really started liking the idea. And then it came out, and the reviewers were raving.

And I can see why.

This new Spider-Man, played by a superb Andrew Garfield (nice American accent; almost worth it that we outsourced the role), is much more three-dimensional than Tobey Macguire’s portrayal, to the point where you can really relate to him. The same goes for Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, who has more depth than Mary Jane as played by Kirsten Dunst, and actually does more than scream, get kidnapped, and flirt. Dr. Curtis Connors/the Lizard (whose actor I forget) is amazing, not only in the CGI used to create him, but also in the chronicle of a man who as the movie progresses, becomes more and more delusional, not realizing what he’s doing until near the end of the film.

You know, just about every actor in this movie did extremely well. Not too mention the story was well-written, and there was more to Peter Parker/Spider-Man than just swinging around like a monkey in a spandex suit: he’s crafty, he knows strategy, and he’s funny while he fights crime. And hey, the romance didn’t end on an annoying tone like it did in the original film. Thank you!

I’ve just got three complaints (it would be four, but for once I’m going to shut up about sequels). First is the music for the movie: at times it seems wholly insipid, more suited to a children’s adventure film than a serious superhero film. At other times, the music can seem appropriate but out of place, by which I mean why is there piano keys being clunked all together when the Lizard enters Oscorp? That might work in an old horror film, and it might work here, but the composer could’ve done something better.

The other complaint is after the big battle, Gwen goes to see Peter and all his battle scars are gone. What the hey? You can’t heel a guy that brutally injured in such a short time! It makes no sense! It makes even less sense that at the end, the web comes out in slow-mo. That’s anti-climatic, really.

Well that’s it. I give the film a 5 out of 5, for defying expectations and giving us a really enjoyable superhero film that has some real depth to it.

Oh, before I forget: when you see the film, watch out for octagons. They’re everywhere: in Spider-Man’s mask’s lenses, on the suit’s spandex, on Oscorp’s exterior. I know, it’s a minor detail, but why did they do it?