All 6 Spider-Man movies, ranked from worst to best

4. The Amazing Spider-Man

Being the second film I have watched in cinemas, I did not know what to expect. While reboots such as Casino Royale, Batman Begins and The Incredible Hulk proved that audiences would forgive the studios provided the final product is good, at least beyond average. Well, Sony Pictures did just that with the Spider-Man franchise back in 2012.

This reboot, adequately titled The Amazing Spider-Man, was a countermeasure in case the fourth installment from Raimi did not make it to its target release. One of the co-writers, James Vanderbilt, handed in an alternative script to producers and the studio after the initial script for the canceled Spider-Man 4 was submitted. Thus, a new, untold story was formed with a different cast, talent and crew.

Webb’s direction took the adventures of our wall-crawler to a new decade and more in line with its comic–book roots (gone are the organic webs). This also introduced Parker’s birth parents, Richard and Mary Parker (Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz) and the recurring conspiracy of Oscorp tied to his origin.

The re-imagining of the hero’s first foray in crime–fighting was interesting but was dragging in pace and lacked drama, unlike its sequel, even at the moment Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) passed on. That was one of Garfield’s weakest moments on screen, though his chemistry with Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy is unforgettable and for once there is a love interest that is more than a damsel in distress.

Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard (Rhys Ifans), while a sinister and worthy opponent to Spidey, was not convincing enough to be the sole threat and lacked a motivation. Ifans delivered a notable performance, as did Denis Leary as Captain George Stacy of the (NYPD) New York Police Department. The visual style under 3D was something to be admired.