Spider-Man Returns...Again?
One great film I was able to view recently was the record-breaking blockbuster called The Amazing Spider-Man. I was impressed by a variety of aspects in the film and I ended up watching it 3 times. In basic summary of the film it is about a teenager who is still finding his place in the world while also dealing with supernatural abilities given to him by a spider and he discovers this after the genetically engineered spider bites him. In turn he becomes a superhero and must save the world which is not shocking as this is continuous most movies based on comic books. While researching and trying to find out more about his parents who were killed in a car crash when he was young, Parker, played by Andrew Garfield, discovers that his father played a key role in the science of regeneration and he soon meets his fathers fellow scientist, Dr. Curt Connors. When his uncle is killed, Parker begins to use his spider-like abilities for good against criminals. Soon after, Parker starts visiting there everyday. Parker soon learns that Connors is being pressured by the villainous Dr. Ratha to conduct tests to make the possibility of regenerating human limbs a reality and when he cannot take it any longer he tests the serum on himself. This causes him to turn into a giant monstrous lizard and Spider-Man now must save the city.
I enjoyed the overall buildup of the through the film. From the death of his father-like uncle to the romantic aspect with the girl who seems to like him for him to just receiving the responsibility of saving the world in the matter of a few hours grabbed my attention and although I could not relate to any of this it caused a feeling of sympathy and a sort of confidence in the protagonist. I liked the use of visual effects as well especially in the specific scene where Spider-Man was slowly but surely making his way to Oscorp to try and defeat Dr. Connors as if the citizens of the town who were once against him were supporting him. The scene shows Spider-Man, previously hurt and obviously unable to fight against the lizard to his full potential, slowly using construction cranes as well as his webs. The epic music and adventurous mood of this climactic scene was very significant and overpowering and I had the chills during it which highlights the excellence in breathtaking production. Another specific scene I enjoyed the most was when Parker discovers his new found abilities. This is mostly humorous as Parker, a shy and self contained high school student, can now open up and do things he has never done before. An example would include embarrassing a basketball player who used to bully Parker before he saw his new “talents.” I also liked the use of 3D that emphasized the most important parts of a scene and caused them to jump out to you so you feel as if you are there with the characters and feeling what they are feeling. Overall, I enjoyed the graphics and visual aspects of the film the most and I was impressed by the action scenes. I believe the strengths greatly outweigh this films weaknesses.
Although the film in my opinion was phenomenal, there were certain aspects which I thought could have been done better overall. In terms of the plot, there were some stories that caused a sense of mystery for me and I thought it would help me understand the film more if i had more knowledge of it. An example is the details of Parker's parents and their disappearance in the beginning of the film. Later on in the film we learn nothing more about this other than the scientific achievements of his father and it seems to be completely ignored and leaves the story unfinished in this sense. The great momentum of this starting scenes diminish and the story develops into the life of Peter Parker. Another aspect I was questioning was the integrity of the film when comparing it to director Raimi’s version in the past version of the hit comic book action movie. There weren’t many other negative parts of the film that I disliked. I enjoyed the visuals, character interactions, action scenes, development of the plot, and other aspects as well.
All of the characters in the movie were very well together in terms of relationships with each other. The two major characters, Parker and his crush/girlfriend formed an instant connection and added a real sense of compassion, trust, and love. I enjoyed how the characters played their part and sort of how they developed as well. I liked how Dr. Connors transformed from a friend of Parkers to his enemy from one simple experiment. The role of Gwen Stacy's father also was an interesting aspect in that he, being a police officer, added a sense of authority over Parker who was essentially the teenage guy who was in love with his daughter. This also adds an important part to the story at the end of the film. I believe people will be able to somewhat relate to the characters especially those will tight family bonds when comparing to Parkers family and the losses he faces. Others can relate to the courageous element or emotional aspect of the action hero, but not the same extremes of being a superhero. Some people will not enjoy the characters just based on their role in the film as well as the way they seem to interact with others. The role of the jock in the basketball film would be an example. I think the actors were highly appropriately cast and did an amazing job throughout the entirety of the film.
The Amazing Spider Man was definitely my favorite movie of this past summer. It was totally worth all the crazy hype caused over it. Trust me, as a fellow superhero film fanatic and also an avid comic book reader, you will not regret watching this movie as it offers something for everyone. Some will enjoy the action scenes, some the more emotional drama, and some will just like it because it is an overall amazing film. Definitely go see this film immediately because you probably have nothing better to do anyway. The quality of the film was terrific and the captivating aspects of it as well as the production cost is all visible when viewing the film. In all honesty, I would give The Amazing Spider-Man 4 out 5 stars and I could not recommend it more to everyone who enjoys watching movies.
