The Amazing Spider-Man is a better film than its predecessors. Less cartoony, more involving and emotionally complex. It is in effect a remake, not a reboot, but a good one.

Once again Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is a troubled teen in love with a beautiful girl. This time it’s the blonde Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). However, Garfield’s Parker is not the lonesome geek of Spider-Man (2002). He is willing to stand up and defend himself long before that radioactive spider pumps him full of mutant juice. Likewise, Stacy is not simply an object of affection, but a smart, confidant girl served well by the story.

 Should I summarize the plot? You know its basic elements; Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field), humble middle-Americans transplanted to New York City, a demented villain (The Lizard / Dr. Curt Connors, ably played by Rhys Ifans), and of course that spider. In this case post-bite Parker does not sprout webbing from his wrists but builds custom launchers. Another improvement – no more jizz jokes.

Once again it’s a joy watching Parker develop and perfect his powers. It would be much more fun to be Spider-Man than Batman, and I hope future franchise directors don’t feel the need to “darken” the character. Director Marc Webb proves it is possible to deepen a comic book story without pretenses of realism.

Dr. Connors lost his arm years ago. He envies his lab lizards, who can regenerate entire limbs. By cross-breeding DNA (or something) he believes such physical weakness and disability in humans can be overcome. Parker becomes an unlikely test subject and transforms into Spider Man, Connors forcibly injects himself with experimental serum and becomes a lumbering CGI monster. Conflicted villains are an interesting trademark of the Spider-Man films. Like The Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, and whatever Thomas Haden Church was supposed to be in the third one, The Lizard is more misguided than evil.

In its action-packed final third the story goes slightly off the rails. Connors’ motives, which seem intact even in his animalistic Lizard form, are confusing at best. Something about releasing a toxin into the air that will turn the rest of humanity into duplicate lizardmonsters? I don’t know. Webb retains a coherent visual sense. We feel the ups and downs of Spidey’s movement, accented with some vertigo-inducing P.O.V. shots. The 3D effects are strong, but not flashy.

If the Spider-Man story is Greek to you, you might enjoy the movie more than the rest of us. The Amazing Spider-Man is a bright copy, a clearer picture, but a copy nonetheless. After this origin re-tell let’s hope its quality control carries over to sequels.

Director: Marc Webb

Columbia Pictures, 136 minutes

Rating: 3.5/5