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Health & Fitness

Spider-Man Triumphantly Swings Into Theaters

The latest Spider-Man movie improves on its predecessor while making the story their own.

 

Well, the “Spider-Man” relaunch has hit theaters, even though Sam Raimi's latest addition to the franchise came out only five years ago. Hmm. Now that technology has allowed us to make good superhero movies, maybe they're going to just start relaunching every two years, then simultaneously. If Hollywood has taught us anything, it's that things can always get worse.

Now that my little rant is out of the way, I have to say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself. In a summer movie season already packed with superheroes, the filmmakers actually managed to make Spider-man feel original and heartfelt.

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We've all seen these superhero elements before: the mad scientist out to destroy a city, the nerdy outcast who suddenly gets powers and the girl, the orphan searching for answers about his parents. But it just shows that if you have enough talent involved, clichés can still draw you in.

Those looking for the quick road to the Spider-Man we all know and love will be disappointed, as the movie focuses more on Peter Parker, the man behind the spandex. He is of course, the nerdy, friendless outcast, played by Andrew Garfield, who nevertheless has enough heart to attract the attention of Gwen Stacy (the always fantastic Emma Stone). Don't look for just the mindless damsel in distress here: Gwen certainly encounters much distress, but Emma Stone gives this love interest a brain and a personality, rather than just a human trophy waiting to be the reward for the hero who must rescue her again and again.

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Of course, the movie makes clear that although Peter and Gwen are smart and competent, they are still, well, kids. The awkward high school banter is present, as are the stupid mistakes and situations that a teenager who suddenly becomes endowed with superpowers might actually get into. It certainly doesn't help that Gwen Stacy's father is a police captain who issues an arrest warrant for Spider-Man due to his vigilante activities.

Even when Peter becomes Spider-Man, courtesy of a bite from a genetically modified spider, he's still no Boy Scout: he has to learn how to be motivated by more than just revenge. Purists may not like the slightly different origin story that involves Spider-Man's parents, and there's not an Osborn in sight. Instead, our villain is Doctor Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), an employee at OsCorp who has been charged with developing a serum to save the ailing, unseen Norman Osborn. Coincidentally, he is also trying to find a way to regrow his arm by experimenting with lizard DNA. Unfortunately, when Peter gives him the missing piece he needs to create his miracle serum, Connors is forced to test it on himself after his bosses suggest a trip to a VA hospital for human test subjects. Unfortunately, the serum does have a few side effects. Who knew? They mostly involve Connors being able to turn into The Lizard and seeing humanity as a woefully inadequate creation sorely in need of a few improvements.

While it's clear that this is merely an introduction for a new franchise, it's still a highly enjoyable one. It's rare to see two such different interpretations of the same story that are both so watchable, though admittedly I am more fond of a more modern take stripped of much of the corniness found in Sam Raimi's version. You'll laugh, you'll actually feel suspense during the explosive finale, and those not up on their comic history may even be a little surprised. Here's hoping the inevitable sequel will be able to keep that same heart while giving us even more action.

 

Grade: B+

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