The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Not Amazing.  There are many fine reasons that this version of Spider-Man should not have been made.  First, it's only been 10 years since the first Sam Raimi movie, and five since the third sequel.  It's just not been enough time for a reboot.  Second, the Raimi Spider-Man movies were great, with the exception of #3, which was a horror and pathetic disaster that covers Sam Raimi in perpetual shame.  So there was no need for a reboot, since people were happy with the first two and did not need a massive change.  A fourth sequel would have been fine (one that ignored the very existence of #3, because Spider-Man 3 was a failure and disgrace).  Third, there was just no compelling internal reason to make The Amazing Spider-Man.  By that I mean there have been no massive advances in technology that helps tell the story, no fantastic plot ideas that justify a reboot, no phenomenal actors just begging to be included, nothing fresh, nothing new.

Everything simply feels very "been there, done that."  There's the same "mentor injects self with formula that turns him bad" plot element from the first Spider-Man.  There's the "if you can do good you should" speech from Uncle Ben.  There's the genetically modified spiders.  Even the bad guy's evil plot is basically the same as Magneto's in the first X-Men!

The movie just plain fails on many levels.  It is quite frankly boring for the first 30-40 minutes.  It isn't particularly well-acted, with Andrew Garfield being the prime failure.  If the director wanted us to believe that Peter Parker was awkward by having Garfield stammer incessantly, then ok.  But he should not have then made him into a skateboarding, stand up for the real geeks non-geek.  And can anyone tell me why Gwen had to be daughter of the chief of police AND the intern for Dr. Connors?  Seem like an incredible coincidence to anybody else?

What else to say?  The special effects were sub-par for a movie of this caliber.  The action only so-so, and precious little of it.  The cornball cheesy moments over the top.  The first Spider-Man was better in almost every way; more fun, more memorable, better acted, better directed, and better received.

Entertainment: 4/10
Artistic Value: 4/10
Technical Merit: 6/10

Overall: 4/10