The Amazing Spiderman (2012)

Seems that a reboot of the stories is very trendy.   We have Batman, X-men, Hulk and even Startrek.    The teaser for the new Spiderman was that we would get a glimpse of the parents.   

In the comics, Peter Parker was always the orphan staying with Uncle Ben and Aunt May.  There was never mention of the parents.   I guess this allowed the writers to use that to come out with a whole new story line.

The story was changed quite a bit but the main themes were still retained 

• Peter Parker was bitten by a spider
• Uncle Ben died, killed by thief Peter allowed to escape.

However, how they are told is very different.  Aunt May was much younger in this story.   Peter Parker did not join the circus or become a wrestler, there is no Bugle Newspaper, Jonah Jameson, or Mary Jane.
However, the story was well told.   It started with Peter Parker’s childhood with his parents and how after somebody broke into their home that his parents left him with the Uncle and Aunt.  Peter grew up as an outsider but not quite the weakling in the comics.

Later the discovery of his dad’s briefcase and research document led him to Oscorp to meet Dr Curt Conners – his father’s old partner.   It was during his search that he was bitten by the spider.
What is Spider-man without the humor?    The part where he first used his powers in the subway was hilarious.   It was much later when he was threatened of the bad guys recognizing his face and his fateful fall into a wrestling arena did he get the idea of wearing a mask.
One thing nice in the movie was the return of having his own web shooter (instead of the webs coming straight from him).   

I guess at the end of the day, it is how the story is told that matters.   Just like the number of times the story of King Kong was told, it is still entertaining; this version of the Spider-man story is still great.   
I give it a A+.

Other stories of interest:
Lincoln The Vampire Hunter (2012)
Madagascar Three (2012)
Brave 2012
Prometheus 2012