A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a preview screening of the new reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man. I was incredibly lucky to be at this preview, thanks to the lovely people at Sky, with there only being a couple of these UK premiere-simulcast screenings in the country so far ahead of the release of the movie and I was not disappointed in the evening.

No spoilers are contained within this review, I hate them just as much as everybody else!

I was never a fan of the Sam Raimi / Tobey Maguire films, nor was I really into Spider-Man as a superhero. I’ve always been into the darker, more egocentric superheroes such as Batman, Iron Man and into the realms of 2000AD and Judge Dredd. The other Spider-Man movies didn’t spark my interest and lacked something gritty. I always thought they were weak and Peter Parker, albeit never being portrayed as a big strong charismatic person, was far too wet and weedy.

I was looking forward to this new version of the hero story, the trailers had looked exciting and a bit darker, the cast excited me and the story appeared to stick more to the source material origin story ( a big plus when it comes to adaptations).

Short review – its fantastic, a very good superhero movie. It is not a movie just for teenage girls in their twilight honeymoon!

Longer review – the story is very good, the character progression is quick but not rushed, the relationships grow quickly but are meaningful and strong, and you reach the main storyline having felt part of it and aware of how it is growing all the time. Peter is a stronger personality but still uncomfortable and nervous in some of his surroundings, but not in a cringeworthy way. Andrew Garfield is very good, has the look and voice to match Peter in my eyes, reminds me very much of the quick-witted young man in the cartoon series, I am going to go back and watch his previous stuff!

The growth of Peter into Spidey is what makes this a good film, you are there as he develops his powers and it is shot in such a way that you feel like you are in the red and blue suit yourself. The 3D works incredibly well, it doesn’t feel tacked on, almost as if it was always planned this way. Some very good performances from strong actors such as Martin Sheen and Sally Fields as Peter’s Aunt and Uncle, which if you know the stories are important people in his life and help mould him into the web slinging crimefighter.

It won’t win any of the major awards, and its not up there with the likes of Iron Man or the new Batman series, but Spidey does a good job of being enjoyable even if you aren’t a comic book fan. Fast paced at times, full of action and some good fight scenes make this a movie I will happily see again and again.

I thoroughly recommend you to go and watch this film, if you loved or hated, or didn’t see, the other Spider-Man movies, you should enjoy this one regardless. I will probably even go back again and see it once it has been out for a few weeks! I took my comic book fan and cartoonist friend Scott with me,  and he agreed that the film was worthy of the Marvel world and a good adaptation of the Spider-Man origin story and comics. Well done Marvel, you have given me a new superhero to be a fan of.