The Amazing Spider-Man: movie review

Release date: 3 July 2012
Certificate: 12A
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans

What's the story? An introverted teenager pursues an eccentric but brilliant scientist (Ifans) who worked on advanced gene projects with his late father, stumbling across incredible cross-species abilities in the process.

What did we think? Even at the trailer stage, we've been able to identify The Amazing Spider-Man as the nice, friendly summer blockbuster that won't reach the scale of Avengers Assemble and The Dark Knight Rises. But Garfield is excellent and it largely outdoes the prior Spidey films.

"You seriously think I'm a cop?! In a skintight red and blue suit?" Andrew Garfield is playfully firing home-made web-bullets at an unexpecting thug. Aged 27 when he filmed it, Garfield is absolutely effortless in doing what any teenager would do given cross-species powers. He even skateboards, bringing a definite Marty McFly vibe to The Amazing Spider-Man.

Director Marc Webb was hired on the back of rom-com 500 Days Of Summer, making his selection something of a wrench for the fans. But they needn't have worried. "This is a love story," Rhys Ifans told us at the premiere, and the romance between Parker and Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy is absolutely at the heart of this. Tower-swinging scenes are tastefully and relatively seldom thrown in. And yes, in unobtrusive 3D, they crescendo satisfyingly.

They've smartly observed which elements of the Maguire Spidey-stories to keep: the lightness of tone, the odd gag, and a fallible Spidey who bleeds and hurts just like the rest of us. He doesn't have Bats' billions or Supes' strength. He just has his own resolve, a suit and a particularly energising Spider bite on the back of his neck.

Sure, when we reach the out-and-out skyline combat of Rhys Ifans' The Lizard vs the web-slinger, it's a bit of a stretch and we don't feel like the future of the world is really at stake somehow, perhaps because of Ifans' thinly explained biological warfare arc. But that's not really his fault - he's an excellent villain in fact - and it's easily forgiven. This Spider-Man flick knows where its strengths lie and they're largely between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

Verdict: The beating heart inside the spandex wins out, making for a charming and well-constructed entry in the Spidey-saga.