3) The Amazing Spider-Man
Verdict: Hell to the yes
I will continue to defend this Marc Webb-directed version of the Spider-Man origin story as a modern masterpiece, an opinion that has only been reinforced by a third viewing after watching it twice back in 2012 (the second time was to determine whether or not I was crazy for being so moved by it the first time). I will also ignore all arguments that it was unnecessary to make because such arguments are themselves useless.
Central to the joy of this movie is the performances of two of the finest young actors of this up and coming generation, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. Garfield in particular captures that sense of teen angst perfectly, oscillating between being a misunderstood outcast and a smart-mouthed rebel nerd. His overpowering emotions are always just below the surface, and his body language is wonderfully idiosyncratic.
Another detail I appreciate about Webb’s Spidey is how tactile he feels. What I mean is that, as much as I enjoyed Sam Raimi’s (first two) Spider-Man movies, inside the suit, Peter Parker looked like a cartoon. The reboot fixes this for us by having Garfield shed the mask more often, but also by lighting and shooting the spandex suit with much greater depth and texture. It may seem like a minor detail, but it goes a long way in making what we see more believable.
Add to this the staging of the action sequences, the timing of and quality of its wide-ranging musical score, the sympathy for its villain, and the emotional reality of every single scene, and I am more convinced than ever that this is one of, if not the, finest superhero movie we’ve been treated to in movies to date.
