THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
TASM is “partially” the Spider-Man movie I’ve been waiting
for since the Raimi trilogy folded, but it is not an unflawed film by any
means. It feels “Incomplete”... to say
the least. I have disliked the Raimi
films since their inception (But, I give Spider-Man 2 a pass.) because of their
manufactured reality that mimicked the
Burton Batman films right down to the overpowering theme song and also because
of the schulby nature of Parker throughout the series.
Andrew Garfield is the right choice as Peter Parker and he
owns the movie from the moment he shows up in the reflection of a trophy
cabinet at midtown high. I like Mark
Webb’s emphasis on Parker’s intelligence as well as the effort to make him more
relatable to a modern audience. Emma
Stone’s Gwen Stacy also perfectly anchors the movie keeping it from descending
into complete mediocrity with her balanced, measured performance that perfectly
meshes with Garfield’s own. One thing I’m particularly happy about is that we
didin’t have to watch Stone getting kidnapped by the villain forcing the hero
to save her repeatedly time and time again. These two actors (Their personal
relationship not-withstanding) have the ingredients to make for an interesting
series of films based on chemistry alone.
Rhys Ifans is sadly given little to do as Curt Connors
(a.k.a The Lizard) other than perform a “Paint-by the-Numbers” mad scientist
role. It is with Ifans that I believe
the filmmakers were the laziest in terms of character development. The scientist has a missing arm that he longs
to regrow … and that’s just about it (For his human half anyway.). The Lizard actually weakens the movie
considerably. Even the design of this creature is lazy and uninspired. I feel
that perhaps a Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, Stan Winston or even KNB should have
been retained to realize the character. The CGI used to realize the “villain”
cause an immediate disconnect once it pops up on the screen.
Don’t believe me? Watch the
Lizard’s rampage at Parkers high school and tell me the movie doesn’t change
tone when he appears walking around that hallway corner twelve feet high. It
feels like a cheap version of a Harryhausen film.
From looking at the Lizard
footage, I believe the movie would have been serviced better if the bulk of its
plot would have focused on Peter’s efforts to locate and bring his Uncle’s
killer to justice with the Lizard element surfacing in the last third of the
film as an off kilter abject lesson on the dark side of Peter’s gift. A similar
device was used in an equally flawed, but just as entertaining film called the
Incredible Hulk when Bruce Banner finally meets a fellow scientist (Samuel
Sterns / The Leader) who has irresponsibly cloned his gamma irradiated blood.
This scientist is accidentally exposed to a portion of it and is mutated into an
alien looking creature (Geek term: SIX FINGER / OUTER LIMITS) for his troubles.
I would have like to see a little
more “Seth Brundel” in my Curt Connors than another stock portrayal of a mad
scientist. Connors had a family that also served to anchor him to his humanity.
This element is missing from the film and the overall product suffers for
it. Marvel comics characters have often
been referred to as “cheesy” by other reviewers …that could be true in some
instances, but Spider-Man has one of the best rouge’s galleries in comics aside
from DC’s Batman. Webb should have given
Connors a little more thought, in this film The Lizard feels kind of included
as a studio mandate.
The supporting characters in TASM
are a mixed bag as well. Martin Sheen is more than likable giving the character
of Uncle Ben a more grounded portrayal and makes him more than the one note
“red shirt” Cliff Robertson portrayed. His relationship with Sally Field’s Aunt
May feels natural and real. Honestly
whenever I saw the version of this couple from Raimi’s trilogy, I heard violins
playing.
Dennis Leary isn’t done any favors
either by Mark Webb’s shooting script and is just given the thankless job of
the “misguided cop that’s out to stop the hero” routine that’s been around in
cinema since the 50’s. Leary doesn’t really feel like Gwen’s dad and I was
hoping that he would be allowed one of his signature rants during the picture’s
running time. Nope, sadly Leary is introduced and killed off in a single film
making his casting feel like a wasted opportunity.
I understand the film’s Batman’s
Begins type ethos and I just would have preferred that Webb take the real world
esthetic further by making this Spiderman more urban, rawer and definitely more
…”New York”. I wasn’t particularly fond
of the score for this film as it was more hit than miss … I would have preferred
"Serenata” by
Atomic Mix Lab,” Rise of a Hero” by Sonic Symphony and definitely “Aurora”
by Mark Petrie as a signature theme. Sony should have just coughed up the money
on that last one. Famous producer Jerry Bruckheimer once commented that
including the song Gangstas Paradise with the snooze fest that was Dangerous
Minds drove up that movie’s profits. Basically James Horner’s soundtrack feels
like a temp track and leaves the film with this “incomplete” aura.
The movie is entertaining, but
it just feels like something is missing. Based on the strength of Garfield and
Stone’s performance and chemistry, Sheens heart and this more faithful interpretation
of the web slinger… I’d give the film 3 Stars.
But the poorly conceived Kurt
Connors / Lizard, tragic misuse of Dennis Leary and the forced ending knocks
this movie down to 2.75 Stars.
I would say better luck next
time but reports and photos from the set of the sequel have been less than
stellar.
More on that later in another
article.
Shadowgeek 2013.
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