After only a decade since its big screen reboot and five years since Spiderman 3, Sony has sought to spin a new origin story for the arachnid kid, called THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN.
Such is the appetite for super hero films, the studios, it seems, are happy to regurgitate lycra clad lad tales ad nauseum.
Peter Porter is now played by Andrew Garfield and the director is the fortuitously named Marc Webb, who three years ago gave us the jaunty rom-com 500 Days of Summer.
Screenwriters James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves have Peter Porter, progeny of Professor Porter, parentless, orphaned, fostered by Martin Sheen and Sally Field as Pater Porter’s brother and sister in law.
On an excursion to Peter Porter’s father’s partner’s lab, Peter Porter is pricked by a genetically perverted spider whose DNA enhances the high school photographer in strength and agility, packing eight leg power into the bipeds biochemistry.
His father’s former partner, Curt Connors, had been working with Peter Porter’s pater on genetic engineering of spurious cross species experiments when Pere Porter and his spouse disappeared. Connors was particularly interested in the regeneration of limbs, a selfish quest as he is in akimbo limbo, having lost an arm.
A herpetologist, wants to make like a skink, and does so, becoming a repugnant and repellent reptile, a nemesis for the newly minted gossamer good guy.
Spiderman’s squeeze is Gwen Stacy, played by the sweet and sassy Emma Stone. Gwen’s dad is the city’s police chief played with a simmering cynicism by Denis Leary. He wants Spidey to stay away from his daughter for fear he’ll make her a spinster.
So poor Peter Porter is in a pickled pepper with no papa, in the poo with parent of petting pal, and not at peace with papa’s mad professor partner!
While the final slugfest at high altitude between the Spiderman and the Lizard lad is kind of impressive in IMAX 3D (major vertigo alert), as an origin story it lacked originality. This story has been spun before, and the suspension of disbelief seems perilously close to dissolving under the weight of schmaltz.
Spiderman can weave his web as a weapon but cannot spin his amazing silk to staunch wounds and thus save lives? A metaphor for mayhem over humanity, perhaps? Too hallowed a hope from this shallow popcornography. Let’s hope the Dark Knight does not disappoint.
© Richard Cotter
3rd July, 2012
Tags_ Sydney Movie Reviews- THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN, Sydney Arts Guide, Richard Cotter