The Amazing Spider-Man.

In August 2011 it was exactly 50 years ago that Spider-Man made his first ever appearance in a Marvel comic and by the look of his latest reincarnation in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) he’ll still be going strong in nine years time when he’s entitled to claim the American equivalent of his Bus Pass!

The Sam Raimi trilogy (2002 – 2007) was to be followed by Spider 4 but the studio decided to reboot the complete franchise, starting with the origins of the character and set at the time of Peter Parker’s High School days. Rooky director Marc Webb was brought in following the success of his 2009 debut feature film, the relationship drama (500) Days of Summer, although many Spider fans did not see him as the ideal person to handle the comic book adaptation, but fortunately their worries were unfounded.

Peter Parker with his first love Gwen Stacy.

In this latest version we also have a new actor in the main role, a great new villain, and a new love interest. Andrew Garfield (The Social Network 2010) although a little old for the part at 29, makes a reasonable job of the Peter Parker/Spider-Man character, Emma Stone plays Gwen Stacy, Parkers classmate and first love and the film’s villain is British actor Rhys Ifans (Anonymous 2011) who plays the one armed Curt Conners, a mad scientist with a Jekyll and Hyde complex. 

Doctor Curt Conners.

I would say that it was not quite up to the standard of the Marvel Cinematic Universes latest picture Avengers Assemble (2012) but its still a well-acted, exciting and fun film for all age groups to enjoy.