So here’s the deal, folks: If anyone tells you that “The Amazing Spider-Man” is anything less than a great film, you should slap them.
Seriously, just reach reach back as far as you can, and then let ‘em have it. Make sure to follow through with your swing, too. That last part is important.
I’m encouraging you to do this because anyone who discredits Marc Webb’s reboot of the Spider-Man movie franchise is clearly suffering from some sort of delusional episode, and a sharp slap to the face should snap them back to reality. In fact, they will probably want to thank you for this swift action on your part once they come to their senses, so don’t be surprised if they shower you with gifts or name their next child after you.
No matter how they respond, it’s important to remember: they needed to be slapped.
On that note, I reviewed “The Amazing Spider-Man” for IFC. Here’s an excerpt from that review:
Plot-wise, “The Amazing Spider-Man” falls short of telling the “untold story” that the movie’s tagline promised, but that’s only because the movie stays closer to the character’s comic-book origin than any of the previous films. From Peter Parker’s mechanical web-shooters to the mysterious circumstances surrounding his parents’ death, to the presence his very first love, Gwen Stacy, “The Amazing Spider-Man” manages to be both a modern retelling of Spider-Man’s origin and the most faithful adaptation of those early comics we’ve seen thus far.
And where the previous films glossed over many of the moments that defined Spider-Man as a character in the comics — most notably, his relationship with Gwen and her father — “The Amazing Spider-Man” clearly isn’t afraid of taking the time necessary to develop the mix of emotional extremes that are a hallmark of the character. Fans know that Peter Parker is at his best when he’s grappling with the demands of his sense of responsibility and the unbridled glee of being a teenager with all of these amazing powers, and Webb delivers a film that captures that dynamic perfectly.
You can read the rest of my review of “The Amazing Spider-Man” at IFC.com.
Oh, and remember that part about following through on your swing. It makes all the difference.
