The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Elevator Pitch: Young student Peter Parker blaggs his way into the Oscorp laboratories where he is bitten by a genetically altered spider, giving him superpowers. First of all he uses them to attempt to discover the killer of his Uncle Ben, resulting in the capture of minor villains, but the alienation of a police captain, who is father of Gwen, his girlfriend. Now being pursued by the police Spider-Man has to take on the Lizard a mutation of his father’s former partner, which is rampaging thorugh the city.

Content: No sex, smoking, drinking or nudity although Peter and Gwen smooch a bit. Peter sneaks about in the wonderfully constructed Oscorp labs and is bitten by the spider. We see him accidentally using his powers particularly to deal with the college bully. Once in costume he swings about in the city dealing with villains. Some great set pieces, including the recue of a boy from a burning car, then the finale involving the villanous Lizard, Gwen, Gwen’s father and Spider-Man.

A View: After what I thought was a terific start this movie went gradually downhill. I just could not get on board with some of Spider-Man’s capabilities, and you might think why does it matter, since we are in fantasy territory anyway, but it does. I quite liked the Lizard, but could not really accept his motivation (sorry, I’ve been on a creative writing course). But anyway, if you are a superhero fan you’ll want to see it, and so probably worth the price of a download.

Additional Info: Cost a fortune, but made one as well. A sequel was commissioned as a result, but a thrd film in the reboot was cancelled.