The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father's former partner.

Director:

Marc Webb

Writers:

James Vanderbilt (screenplay), Alvin Sargent (screenplay),

Stars:

Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans

24 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew Garfield	...	Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Emma Stone	...	Gwen Stacy
Rhys Ifans	...	The Lizard / Dr. Curt Connors
Denis Leary	...	Captain Stacy
Martin Sheen	...	Uncle Ben
Sally Field	...	Aunt May
Irrfan Khan	...	Rajit Ratha
Campbell Scott	...	Richard Parker
Embeth Davidtz	...	Mary Parker
Chris Zylka	...	Flash Thompson
Max Charles	...	Peter Parker (Age 4)
C. Thomas Howell	...	Jack's Father
Jake Keiffer	...	Jack (as Jake Ryan Keiffer)
Kari Coleman	...	Helen Stacy
Michael Barra	...	Store Clerk

Storyline

Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy, and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr Curt Connors, his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

---

Plot Keywords:

lizard | spider man | teenager | hero | high school | 

---

Taglines:

His past was kept from him. His search for answers has just begun.

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook game

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 July 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Spider-Man 4

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios Hollywood - 1000 Universal Studios Blvd, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$230,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$62,004,688 (USA) (6 July 2012)

Gross:

$262,030,663 (USA) (12 October 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Marvel Enterprises, Laura Ziskin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scenes showing Dr. Connors (Rhys Ifans) interacting with his son Billy (played by Miles Elliot) were shot but not included in the final theatrical cut. One of them is included in the deleted scenes/supplemental material on the DVD release.

---

Goofs

When Lizard finds Peter/Spider-man in the sewer on his web (when trying to get pictures of Lizard), Lizard scratches Peter from the top of his chest down. In the next scene where Peter shows up at Gwen's window, his cuts go from the top of his left shoulder diagonally down to the right side.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Peter Parker: Five, four, three, two, one... Ready or not, here I come.

---

Crazy Credits

SPOILER: Not long into the credits, a scene appears of Dr. Conners in his asylum cell, talking to a mysterious man.

---

Connections

Referenced in Hollywood's Top Ten: Superpowers (2011)

---

Soundtracks

"Big Brat"
Written by Alex Greenwald
Performed by Phantom Planet
Courtesy of Epic Records

User Reviews

Admirably Spun

When it was announced that a Spidey reboot was in the works, most people responded in the same way (namely, by groaning and emphasizing their contempt for Hollywood and it's lack of originality). Likewise, I thought it completely unnecessary to start from scratch, as Sam Raimi and company had crafted an admirable trilogy (the third installment being a take-it-or-leave it experience). With The Dark Knight Rises on the horizon and The Avengers having ruled the first half of the summer movie season, it seemed as if Marc Webb had accepted a fool's errand in attempting to spin a tale that, by all accounts, didn't need to be retold.

Lo and behold The Amazing Spider-Man, an origins tale that's a much darker, more brooding take than its 2002 counterpart. This time around, Peter Parker is played by Andrew Garfield. Unlike Mr. Maguire, this Parker has a tangible chip on his shoulder. He's a moody teen who vividly recalls the day his parents dropped him off at Aunt May and Uncle Ben's so his scientific genius father could sort out a mysterious mess at Oscorp, only to never return. Peter has inherited his father's knack for figuring out how things work—albeit in a more mechanical sense —and, though introverted, is clearly a clever kid in his own right. As new insights about his dad's work come to light, Parker finds himself in the labs of the fabled biogenetics lab that his old man helped build. It's then that he is—wait for it!—bitten by a mutated spider.

As you can see, the basic layout of The Amazing Spider-Man is very similar to what transpires in Raimi's feature. One key difference, however, is the decision to focus on Peter's father. This helps motivate Peter to embark on a quest to discover "who he is," which ultimately leads him to the realization that his dad's intentions were noble. Another significant difference here is the tone; Webb and Garfield remove the slapstick comedy that made the original (the 2002 original, that is) a colorful, light-hearted affair. In its place is a decidedly more drab depiction of the Big Apple and its inhabitants, and— for my money, at least—a more compelling vision of how Parker comes into his own as the web-slinging hero of yore.

So, even though there are plenty of familiar elements, the movie feels like a more mature take on Spidey that causal moviegoers and more ardent web-heads can both admire and appreciate.