Release Date: July 3, 2012
Studio: Sony
Director: Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer)
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary and Rhys Ifans.
Plot: Peter Parker, an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy, and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets.
As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance — leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.
Thoughts: When Sony first announced they were abandoning Spider-Man 4 and rebooting the series (so soon after the last flick int he series) I was pissed off. As off the mark as 3 was, I still wanted to see that series continue and get a proper ending. Or in the very least a better ending that it did get. But no, Sony didn’t want to fight to keep Sam Raimi on the project and instead we would get a reboot by the director of 500 Days of Summer, a great movie but by no means a movie that screams “I’m ready to direct Spider-Man!”
Months and months later and we only a few weeks from The Amazing Spider-Man coming out, and I have to admit, I’m really looking forward to it. The cast lives up to the title and really is amazing. Andrew Garfield looks spot on as Peter Parker (much better than Tobey Maguire ever did) and Emma Stone as Gwen Stacey is inspired casting. Bringing it back to High School, a setting that Raimi jumped over for no good reason, was a great idea. The footage looks great and I’ve stayed away from spoilers, so I will genuinely be going in not knowing much and will be ready to be surprised.