Grade: A-

After what seemed like a century long wait The Amazing Spider-Man finally swung into theaters this week. Reminding all of us that it’s been far too long since Spider Man has graced the big screen. Director Marc Webb takes the wheel on the web slinger reboot which stars Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as Peter Parker & Emma Stone (Easy A) as Gwen Stacy.

Since the film is at the helm a reboot, it’s very similar in many ways to the Raimi version with Tobey Maguire. However, there are so many differences, it really doesn’t feel the same. However, that’s a good thing. We’re introduced to Peter Parker, who’s curious about his parents and his past. That curiosity leads him to Oscorp, where he gets the attention of love interest Gwen Stacy. It also leads to that fateful spider bite that turns him into Spider-Man and even accidentally helps create “The Lizard,” a spidey villain we’ve yet to see in a film.

I had pretty high expectations for this film. Knowing the caliber of talent they had hired really made me have high hopes. First of all I loved Garfield in the role of Peter, and the same goes for Emma Stone in the role Gwen Stacy. Also it’s so nice to get to see him with Gwen Stacy and not Mary Jane. They are polar opposites, and that’s refreshing to not have a damsel in distress screaming for help.

I truthfully expected the film to be the darker spider-man.. like Batman Begins to the Burton Batman films. But oddly enough this film went lighter over darker most of the time. Lot’s of humor is infused into the film, especially when Peter Parker is learning how to control his spider powers. I don’t think making the character all “emo” would have really worked though either, yeah he has a grudge, yeah he’s going through changes. But, emo didn’t work for Tobey Maguire so why would it work here. So it’s a fun movie. We will call it fun. Will it hold up in the long run? I’m not sure, but I did really enjoy it.

The core story was pretty solid, they touched on everything that they really needed to, and they had lots of  satisfying action sprinkled through out the film. I thought Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield had fantastic on screen chemistry. I loved the scenes they had together. Garfield did such a great job with this role, and is much more likeable than Maguire was in the other films. If Garfield didn’t work, the films wouldn’t work, but he just has a natural talent. He makes it look effortless and I think the job he did will breathe a great new life into this franchise.

The world of Spider-man has so much uncovered material, so the opportunities for future films are endless. I hope they continue to make more with this great cast and crew. It was worth all the hype as far as I’m concerned.