I decided the best way to beat the heat this weekend was to spend a couple of hours lost in a movie.  I took my son to see "The Amazing Spider-man".  Yes.  I was one of the people that helped this fill gross $140 million in its first six days.  Yes.  I spent my semi-hard earned money to see the same basic story that I've been seeing most of my life.  But I wasn't disappointed.

The basic story points are the same.  Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) gets bitten by a spider and becomes Spiderman, Uncle Ben still dies due to his inaction, and there is a high tech villain for him to defeat.  There were some differences though.

In this version, we are introduced to Peter's parents.  His dad is a scientist that is working inter-species gene splicing so amputees may be able to grow their limbs back like some reptiles are able to do.  He actually bread hybrid spiders.  one of which bites Peter.

Mary Jane is gone and replaced by a girl named Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone).  Her father (Dennis Leary)  is a Captain on the NYPD and considers Spider-man to be a criminal.  She gets told very early on about Peter's secret.

Peter doesn't work for the Daily Bugle, although it does make an appearance in one scene showcasing the headline.  So the gruff J. Jonah Jameson is nowhere to be found.

All in all, an enjoyable film.  Although I thought Toby McGuire was a better "Spidey".  The CGI effects were spot on and the writing did have its clever moments.

Did you see the film?  What did you think?

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