One of the most celebrated and beloved superhero is back on the big screen in the 2012 film “The Amazing Spider-Man.” This movie, instead of being a sequel to “Spider-Man 3” as some fans were expecting, is a reboot of the series, with an all new cast and an all new Spider-Man costume, as well. But, as expected from a reboot, we begin back before Peter Parker got his amazing spider powers, when he was just a kid in high school. However, before we even see that, we see a surprising origin for Peter with an explanation of just what happened to Peter’s mother and father and why he lives with his Aunt May (Sally Fields) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen). His back story ties into the main story quite fluidly while adding to the overall suspense.

With this 2012 Spiderman adaptation, Peter’s new nemesis can be traced back to the days of the comic book. The Lizard/Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) is a biogenetically mutated half-man, half-reptile creature that has much bigger plans for New York City then just general terror. Along with this refreshing string of newness, there is also a new love interest for Peter, Gwen Stacey (Emma Stone). She is the daughter of the police chief, who just so happens wants to bring our “web-headed” hero/vigilante in for true justice.

What really sets this Spider-Man film apart from its predecessor is that unlike the last three big screen releases, this Spiderman movie takes a more emotional and serious tone. The character of Peter Parker as portrayed by Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) is a more realistic version than the first three incarnations of web slingers adventures. The audience watches as young Peter endures and adjusts to losing his mother, father and uncle.

However the film still has its moments for comedic breaks and overall it is full of great humor, action and suspense that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat. This movie has great entertainment value, but because of the length of time it takes to set up the plot, less patient viewers may need to be encouraged. There is a payoff as “The Amazing Spider-Man” is actually an enjoyable film.

Fans of Spider-Man, superhero films or movie lovers in general will appreciate the fresh faces, deeper storyline, a more serious tone, relatable characters and a possible sequel in the works. Although “The Amazing Spider-Mann” is rated PG-13 for “sequences of action and violence,” it is still generally recommended as a family film.

Jon Young is a fantasy, sci-fi, action-adventure fan and an avid reader of graphic novels. He is currently writing an action/ sci-fi/ fantasy series.