The Amazing Spider-Man

The perks of traveling abroad: eating delicious food, observing the different cultures, and sometimes getting to see movies before they are released in the U.S. Well, turns out that on my trip to Vienna I found that "The Amazing Spider-Man" had already been released...SCORE! So I strolled down to the nearest English cinema in anticipation of the latest blockbuster that Marvel Studios has to offer, and all my expectations were blown away. 

In this reboot of the famous super-hero, we are taken to the early years of Peter Parker who is watching his father and mother leave him forever. Why they are leaving and where they are going he does not know, and unfortunately a plane crash seems to lock those answers away forever. Flash forward to an older Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) who is now in high school. An average day for Peter consists of getting bullied by Flash Thompson and falling for his crush Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), but he is still trying to unravel the mystery of his father. 

Soon enough, he discovers a briefcase in the basement of his Aunt and Uncle's home in which he finds documents that lead him to OSCORP, the company where his father previously worked alongside Dr. Curtis Connors (Rhys Ifans). Together the two men planned to create a compound that would "cure the world of weakness." For Dr. Connors, he would use this serum to regrow his arm which he lost years ago. But when Peter comes into contact with Dr. Connors and gives him the right formula, Dr. Connors takes it upon himself to perform human trials and...the side effects are quite monstrous. 

You know the rest: boy gets bitten by spider, is given amazing super powers, and has to save New York from a mad scientist that looks like a mini Godzilla. It sounds awesome, and it is awesome. 

In a time where movie reboots are quite common, "The Amazing Spider-Man" really sticks out. Similar to last year's "X-Men: First Class," this film manages to recreate a previously seen universe in an exciting new way, resulting in a final product that ends up being better than its predecessors. And there were several things that helped contribute to this. 

The big factor is the outstanding performances by the cast, especially Andrew Garfield. Some, including myself thought Garfield had some big shoes to fill after Toby Maguire's original trilogy. However, after seeing this new film, not only does Garfield step up to the plate with confidence, but he nails the role in a way that Maguire never did. Two things stood out in his acting. First, he brings the sarcastic wit of Spidey that was nowhere to be found in the original series. This film represents a more classic Spider-Man that people are used to if they read the comics. But more importantly, Garfield has emotion and he brings it out where the audience can feel it and connect with it. He pulls off some of the key, emotionally charged scenes in the movie will true talent. 

And the leading man is not the only one who makes this film shine. Emma Stone brings her usual charm and talent to the role of Gwen Stacy, showing that Mary Jane isn't the only girl that can steal the web-head's heart. And Rhys Ifans, even though I thought that the Lizard as a villain could never be taken seriously on screen, gives us a cunning, frightening, and evil antagonist that put my skepticism to rest. 

Another element that "The Amazing Spider-Man" boasts is some entertaining action and beautiful CGI. Action lovers will be pleased to know that there is plenty of punches, kicks, and webs shot out in this remake. In fact, the action in this movie puts the original trilogy to shame. Not only is the choreography brilliant, but the camera work (combined with CGI) creates such a fluent picture that is so crisp and clear, that every action scene was like a piece of art. A noteworthy effect was when the camera would sometimes switch to first person when Spider-Man was swinging or climbing around. It looks real and it looks really cool, especially when you first see the iconic costume. 

But Spider-Man is never just about the action. It is a story of romance, self-sacrifice, and most importantly, responsibility. The best super-hero films are the ones with heart, and "The Amazing Spider-Man" has plenty of it. It is the heart and soul of the film that made me want to tear up when Uncle Ben dies, it's the heart and soul that made me cheer for Spider-Man, and it's the heart and should that made me love this movie so much more than the previous installments. I give it three and a half stars out of four.

" The Amazing Spider-Man" has a running time of two hours and seventeen minutes and is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.