Amazing.

I liked this movie so much more than the other Spider-Man.  The scene where Peter Parker gets bitten gave me the heebie jeebies, and will make your skin crawl, too.  Later, when he’s putting together his costume, it’s much more believable than a teen boy hand-sewing spandex in his bedroom.

The Amazing Spiderman is a different take.  Gwen Stacy is the love interest and she’s so much more likeable than whiny Mary Jane.  The villain Mr. Lizard isn’t just merely a convenient foil for Spiderman.  He has back story and connections to Spiderman, too.  Aunt Mae is more than an old lady with a teacup; Uncle Ben and the other supporting players get in-depth characterization.  You really get to know them and their motivations.

Yes, I cried.

The theme of the movie is “Who Am I”, about Peter discovering his father and himself, and working out his moral obligations.  The plotline of Uncle Ben’s death is more believable and thus, more real.  Overall, it’s less preachy than the first series. Stan Lee’s obligatory scene is, of course, laugh out loud funny.

Best part? I didn’t zone out during the action scenes.
{now for some notes for moms taking their kids}

Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) and Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker) have genuine chemistry and really carry the movie.

Less nudity than Disney Pixar’s Brave (actually, no nudity at all, except that Peter takes his shirt off so he can have his wounds tended to.)  Peter does accidentally rip the shirt of a stranger, but she isn’t left naked, she wears a full coverage bra underneath and the men around her (strangers, also) come to her defense.  There’s less innuendo than the original series, no puberty chuckles or wet t-shirts.  There are no up the skirt or down the shirt camera angles.

The female characters are smart, confident, and independent, without being anti-man or going into full “feminazi” mode.  I really appreciated Gwen Stacy’s “can do” attitude- she didn’t moon around moaning about life, though she does wear very short skirts.

Families are shown intact and are portrayed as close and caring, even if they fight.  The bully isn’t a caricature, but is instead a conflicted teen who is neither all bad or all good.

Biological agents are dispersed throughout NYC; I couldn’t help but contrast the movie scenes with my mental images of 9/11.

Fight scenes are pretty intense and a few people die.  Lots of bullets.  Very few bad words and no F-bombs.

Mr P got to see it with me at the pre-screening as an early birthday gift- he’s officially a teenager now.   Two thumbs up and we’re taking the older kids to see it at the theaters!