Amazing Spiderman, The (11/6/12)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.

Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary and Stan Lee

Directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer)

Let me just say it up front: The Amazing Spider-Man is waaaaaaaay better than 2002’s Spiderman.

(Check out what Jonathan’s son, comic guru, Alec McKee had to say about this film and bullying HERE)

This reboot is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler, who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). 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 (Stone), 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 (Ifans), 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.

The story is better. I’m not the biggest Spiderman fan because it has always been so campy. Spiderman always used way too many puns and silly comments. But this version is a little darker and way more serious…and in my book, that makes it a lot better.

The cast is better. I was pretty skeptical about Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, but they quickly won me over and I left the theater thoroughly impressed. Andrew Garfield plays a much cooler underdog Peter Parker and his version of the Web Crawler is stronger and more intense.

The villain is better. In my opinion, Rhys Ifans as The Lizard / Dr. Curt Connors is better than all the other films’ villains combined (Goblin, Doc Octopus and the Sandman). He is just so good. (FYI: I didn’t include Venom on that list because Venom is the best Spiderman villain of all time.)

Even the suit is better in this film. This one is the smallest difference, but it still makes the list. Yes, there is very little information about the suit or how a high school boy was able to make it from scratch. But… details, details.

The special effects are better. If the suit was the smallest difference, the special effects are the biggest difference! Everything from the fight scenes to Spiderman swinging through downtown NY, this movie gets it right and it looks… dare I say, amazing?

Everything about The Amazing Spiderman is better than the previous Spiderman movies… all in all, it’s Worth Buying!

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT
Overall the film is mild and fine for the family. On the picky side, when discovering his new-found powers, Peter accidentally rips the blouse off a female commuter in the subway, revealing her bra. And as far as profanity there is one cut off F-word.

The PG-13 rating is mostly for the violence which can be intense at times.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. Do you remember when Uncle Ben said, “If you have the ability to do good, you have the moral obligation to do it”? What do you think he meant?


2. What were some ways when Peter Parker did not do good?


3. What were some ways when he did good?

Read James 4:17
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
4. What are some examples of this sin?


5. How can you do a better job of seeing the “right thing” and doing it?