Sunday, July 1


The Amazing Spider-Man is a 2012 American superhero film directed by Marc Webb based on the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. It is the fourth Columbia Pictures film that portrays Spider-Man in film and is a reboot of the Sam Raimi film series withAndrew Garfield replacing Tobey Maguire as the title role of the superhero. The cast also includes Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and Rhys Ifans asDr. Curt Connors. The film will portray Parker as his super powers are evolving in high school and will explore him trying to discover the truth behind his parents, with a theme of him discovering himself in the process. The film also brings to life new designs of the film franchise such as Parker inventing artificial webs like in the original comics instead of developing organic webs.
The film's development began simultaneously with Sony announcing the cancellation of Spider-Man 4. Opting for a reboot with the same production team rather than another sequel, the studio announced a July 2012 release date for what was now titled The Amazing Spider-Man. James Vanderbiltwas hired to write the script while Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves helped fine-tune the script. Pre-production involved the casting of many actors and actresses trying out the role of Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy respectively until Garfield and Stone were the clear choice. Principal photography started in December 2010 in Los Angeles before moving to New York City with the help of Red Digital Cinema Camera Company's RED Epic camera. The film entered post-production in April 2011 with the film being shot in 3D with the help of 3ality Technica and with James Horner being involved with thefilm score.
Sony Entertainment has focused its marketing campaign with a promotional website with released images, three theatrical trailers, a prologue screening in certain cities, a video game tie-in being developed by Beenox and a viral marketing campaign among other products. The Amazing Spider-Man premiered in June 13, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan and will then be released in the United States on July 3, 2012 in 3D and in IMAX 3D, yet released on June 29,2012 in India. The critical reaction of the film is generally positive with the consensus that Webb and the cast deliver thrills but that some elements are too similar to 2002's Spider-Man. A sequel to the film is being planned for release in 2014 with James Vanderbilt hired to again write the screenplay and with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci reported to rewrite it.

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[edit]Premise

Teenage social outcast Peter Parker spends his days trying to unravel the mystery of his own past, and trying to win the heart of his high school crush, Gwen Stacy. Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase belonging to his father, who abandoned him when he was a child, which leads him to his father's former research partner, Dr. Curtis Connors. The discovery of his father's secret, coupled with an encounter with a genetically altered spider, will ultimately shape his destiny to become "Spider-Man" and bring him face to face with Connors, who becomes the Lizard.

[edit]Cast

An unpopular adolescent struggling to find his place in life ever since his parents disappeared when he was a young boy.[6][7] Garfield described Parker as someone he can relate to, and claimed the character was an important symbol to him since he was just a little girl.[8][9][10][11] Garfield drew from his life experiences as inspiration for the role, revealing, "I was thinking of my history and thinking of the kid at school who I wasn't as strong as, who behaved badly to a lot of people – including myself – and who I constantly tried to stand up to but never had the physical prowess to".[12] In comparison with the actor who originally portrayed Spider-Man, Garfield said he respects Tobey Maguire as an actor and that when he first saw Maguire play Spider-Man he "was blown away by how terrible his acting was."[12] Garfield said in interviews, including one in which he was interviewed by Maguire, that when he watched the film Spider-Man when he was younger, he would recite Maguire's lines in the mirror with a friend who would joke that Maguire would never be the true Spider-Man.[12][13] On taking over the role Garfield explained, "I see it as a massive challenge in many ways.... To make it authentic. To make the character live and breathe in a new way. The audience already has a relationship with many different incarnations of the character. I do, as well. I'm probably going to be the guy in the movie theater shouting abuse at myself. But I have to let that go. No turning back. And I wouldn't want to".[14] After taking the role, Garfield studied the movements of both athletes and spiders and tried to incorporate them, saying Parker is "a boy/spider in terms of how he moves, and not just in the suit."[15][16] He also did yoga andPilates for the role in order to be as flexible as possible[17] When first wearing the Spider-Man costume Garfield admitted to shedding tears and trying to imagine "a better actor in the suit",[18]which he described as "uncomfortable" and admitted to wearing nothing beneath it since it is skintight.[19] When filming Garfield explained that he had four months of training and described his physical roles on stunts as terribly challenging and exhausting.[20]
A high school classmate and love interest of Peter Parker,[21] a smart, charismatic and rebellious girl who is the chief Intern at Oscorp.[6][7] For the role, Stone dyed her hair blonde, her natural hair color even though she is better recognized with red hair.[22][23] She felt that she had a responsibility to educate herself on Spider-Man, admitting she "hadn't read the comic book growing up, and my experience was with the Sam Raimi movies. . . . I always assumed that Mary Jane was his first love",[24] and having only been familiar with Bryce Dallas Howard's portrayal inSpider-Man 3[25][26][27] Stone said, "There's a part of me that really wants to please people [who] love Spider-Man or Gwen Stacy and want her to be done justice. I hope they'll give me license to interpret her my way."[23]
One of Oscorp's leading scientific minds, who attempts to engineer a revolutionary regeneration serum to help regrow limbs and human tissue. Something goes wrong and he is transformed into the monster known as the Lizard.[6][7] In a September 2011 interview, Ifans said his character spends the majority of the film as a human. While filming for the 9-foot tall Lizard, Ifans was required to wear a CGI suit. Initially, a large stunt-double was used as a stand-in for the role, but Ifans insisted on portraying the transformed character, to which Webb agreed. Commenting on the technology used to bring his character to life, Ifans continued "I had a green suit on, and then this cardboard head, and these big claws... Each and every time you see the Lizard, the technology is so advanced now that when the Lizard's eyes move, they're my eyes. If I frown or show any emotion, they're my emotions. That's how spectacularly advanced technology is."[30]Ifans also said that he voiced the Lizard as well explaining, "I'm sure the voice will be toyed with in the eventual edits, but when I was shooting the CGI moments, when I wasn't actually human, when I was Lizard, I looked like a crash-test dummy in a green leotard thing. There were many moments when I had to speak to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone as the Lizard."[31]
"This is a Denis Leary you've never seen before — he's not the cool cat bucking the system, he is the system. He's got wit, he's got an attitude, and he's got 500 officers looking for Spider-Man — who just happens to be dating his daughter."
—Matt Tolmach explaining Leary's character.[32]
Gwen's father and a New York City Police Department captain who hunts both Spider-Man out of distrust and the Lizard for his rampage.[33] Leary explained that he did not know much about Spider-Man in the comics and as "more of a Batman guy. Not the '60s [TV version] but the really dark Batman. But my wife was a Spider-Man nut, which was why I went to Tobey Maguire ones."[34] He added that long before he was cast as George Stacy his friend Jeff Garlin, a Spider-Man fan, "said to me, 'The first time I met you, I thought you were George Stacy!' This was like 30 years ago. I was like, 'What?!'"[34] Director Webb said of his casting, "[W]e all trust Denis Leary. He's got this attitude, but you love him. In this movie, he puts pressure on Peter Parker. He's on Spider-Man’s case, but you understand him. I've said this before, but good drama comes from competing ideas of what's good." (Hint from video game of the same name)
Peter Parker's uncle.[35] Sheen admitted he was unfamiliar with Spider-Man other than through seeing Tobey Maguire's portrayal in Spider-Man 2, and knew little of the character Ben Parker except for knowing Cliff Robertson had played the part.[36] Sheen described his character as a surrogate father, saying, "I'm dealing with this adolescent who is having problems with changes, with hormones changing and his getting out of hand. I have to give him the marching orders and so forth."[37] Webb said, "You think of Martin Sheen as President Bartlett [of TV's The West Wing]. He has that sense of benevolent authority, but there's something else that's important, in terms of the dynamic that I wanted to explore, vis a vis Peter's relationship with his absent parents." Webb feels that unlike the scientifically inclined Peter, Uncle Ben represented the blue collar working man, a gap that could create a dynamic between the characters.[38]
Ben Parker's wife, and Peter Parker's aunt.[39][40] Field said the main reason she felt she had to be in the film is because of producer Laura Ziskin (who they both worked together on the 1989 film Murphy's Romance) because she had a instinct that this was going to be her last film to produce. After Ziskin's death Field expressed her grattitude of being a part of both her first and last film to work on.[41] Director Webb felt that "when you cast someone like Sally, they come with a certain level of awareness and real genuine affection, which for Aunt May is an incredibly important thing to have." Webb said that while "we all love Aunt May", he wanted to create a tension between May and Peter. "He’s got bruises on his face, and what happens in that moment? That can create some tension, but you want there to be love there. That's what someone like Sally Field gives you."[38]
A depicted employee of Oscorp (a company that the director Webb admitted to be owned by Norman Osborn in the film universe[43]) and boss of Doctor Connors who provides pressure for the character.[43] Khan said he was offered what he described as this "pivotal role" after appearing in the TV drama series In Treatment.[44][45] Webb even described himself as a fan of the actor when watching the series along with the films The Namesake and The Warrior.[43] Khan said he was uninterested in the project at first but that both of his sons were excited about it and insisted he take the role.[46]
A high school nemesis who picks on Parker.[47] Of playing the role, Zylka said, "You just try to focus. As an artist or as an actor, you just try to focus and stay in that world and block it all out."[48]
Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz portray Peter's parents, Richard and Mary Parker.[49][50] Annie Parisse was reported to play "the villain's wife".[49] C. Thomas Howell plays a character named Ray.[51] Hannah Marks portrays Missy Kallenback, an unpopular girl who has a crush on Peter.[52] Miles Elliot was reported to portray Billy Connors, son of Dr. Connors.[29] Kelsey Chow has a small role as Sally Avril, a girl who goes to Peter Parker's high school.[53] Unlike the previous films, J. Jonah Jameson does not appear.[54] Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee has a cameo appearance, as he did in the previous films, this one involving him in an action scene and which he referred to as his "best, most unusual one yet!"[55] At the 2011 Dallas Comic Con, Lee detailed that he plays a librarian listening to music on his headphones while stamping books and dancing at the same time, despite the ongoing fight between Spider-Man and the Lizard.[56]

[edit]Themes and analysis

"I have tried to capture how Peter copes with the feelings of being an underdog, his confusions and his self-doubt. This, I hope, has brought, a certain empathy and sensitivity to his character that explains how it helps him become the hero that he eventually turns out to be."
—Andrew Garfield[57]
Director Marc Webb described the film as "a story about a kid who grows up looking for his father and finds himself."[58] Both Webb and star Andrew Garfield described Peter Parker as an outsider by choice, as someone hard to get close to.[58][59] As in the early comic books, the character "is a science whiz. If you look back to the early Stan Lee and Steve Ditko comics, he’s a nerd with big glasses," said Webb. He explained that "the idea of what a nerd is has changed in 40 or 50 years. Nerds are running the world. Andrew Garfield made a movie [called The Social Network] about it. ... What was important in those early comics was this notion that Peter Parker is an outsider and how we define that in a contemporary context."[60] Garfield compared his Spider-Man as a metaphor for internet anonymity, saying, "You feel the power of it, the power of not being seen, the power of the mask. Peter becomes witty when he's got that protective layer. It's like he's on a message board. He's got the anonymity of the Internet within that suit, and he can say whatever the hell he likes, and he can get away with anything."[61] Garfield also tried to explore Parker as an orphan, which he feels "are the strongest human beings on the planet."[57] He said Parker is "a human hero [who] goes through all of the same struggles that we all have gone through, especially the skinny ones [who] want more power than they feel they have." He believes Parker he represents "a very inspiring, aspirational character that symbolizes goodness — and how difficult it is to be good — but how worth it it is."[16]
Stone described her character as "a daddy's girl" who is very responsible and protective of her family and loves science.[24][62] She said her character "offers Parker a world of stability, of a family unit not marred with parental loss and, beyond physical allure, the two also forge an intellectual connection over their shared love of science."[24] Her character, she explained, "is stuck between [her father] the Captain and Peter Parker and Spider-Man, who have different ways about going about finding justice in their lives" which she felt was a fun thing to explore.[25]
Webb felt the Lizard was the best villain for the film because, "He's the literal embodiment of the theme of the movie, which is we all have a missing piece. He has no arm. Peter has no parents, and he fills that void with Spider-Man."[63] Producer Avi Avrad felt likewise, explaining, "[Y]ou look at Peter, he misses the parents, [and] Connors has one arm. ...[E]motionally, [it] is a very similar problem. It is a cautionary tale."[64] Webb said the Lizard "is he is not the worst villain on the planet. He's not a mustache-twirling guy who wants to terrorize people. He believes he's doing the right thing."[65][66] Actor Rhys Ifans described the character he is playing not as an evil-incarnate villain but as a flawed character, much as with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.[67] "Curt Connors is by no means an evil villain," Ifans stated. "He's not like the Batman villains, like the Joker, who are the embodiment of evil. Curtis Connors is a great man who makes a bad decision. ... [T]hat's the whole magic of the Spider-Man idea. These people are the embodiment of our flaws and our desires that lead to tragedy."[68] Ifans described Connors as a force for good throughout his life: "He's a geneticist who wants to help people, like him, who are limbless. In his eagerness to advance that science, he makes a mistake and that's an occurrence we've seen throughout time, sometimes to our benefit, sometimes to our detriment. ...He is a broken man who wants to fix himself."[69] Ifans added, "I'm not portraying a villain in any sense. Connors does feel cheated by God, and he's looking for answers in science. God seems to intervene."[65][66]
Webb admitted that the Oscorp Tower is pivotal as a part of a new mythology of the film. He liked that Parker was connected to the building in some way and to think of it as "a Tower of Babel in the middle of Manhattan that has something dark and seedy going on in there."[70]

[edit]Production

[edit]Development

Further information: Spider-Man in film#Spider-Man 4
Following director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 3, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a May 5, 2011, release date for the next film in the series. By this time, screenwriters James Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross had all written rejected versions of a script, and Alvin Sargent, who wrote the second and third films and was married to franchise producer Laura Ziskin, was working on yet another attempt.[71][72] Raimi wanted John Malkovich to play the villain in this version.[71] However, on January 11, 2010, Columbia Picturesand Marvel Studios announced they were rebooting the series with a new cast and crew, with industry reports saying Raimi had told Columbia parent Sony Pictures he could not meet the scheduled release date and retain creative integrity.[73] Avi
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