The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
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A socially awkward teenager gains spider-like abilities and must balance his new identity as a hero with his ordinary life.
The story
After his parents disappear, teenager Peter Parker lives a lonely life in New York City. While exploring his father's research at Oscorp, he is bitten by a genetically modified spider, granting him superhuman strength, agility, and the ability to cling to surfaces. As he struggles to navigate his social life and a budding romance with Gwen Stacy, he begins to use his powers to fight crime under the mask of Spider-Man. However, his double life becomes complicated as he discovers the dangerous consequences of the scientific experiments conducted at Oscorp, leading to a conflict between his secret identity and the safety of those he loves.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the disappearance of his parents, Peter Parker is raised by his aunt and uncle. While investigating his father's past at Oscorp, Peter is bitten by a genetically modified spider, granting him superhuman abilities. He adopts the persona of Spider-Man to fight crime while trying to maintain a normal life and a relationship with Gwen Stacy. Meanwhile, scientist Curt Connors uses a serum involving lizard DNA to regrow his missing arm, but the process transforms him into a monstrous reptilian creature. After a series of incidents, including the death of his Uncle Ben, Peter tracks down criminals as Spider-Man. The conflict culminates when Connors plans to release a chemical agent to turn the city's population into reptilian hybrids. Peter must stop Connors at Oscorp Tower while Gwen prepares an antidote. During the final confrontation, Captain George Stacy discovers Peter's identity but allows him to proceed to save the city. In the aftermath, Stacy tells Peter to stay away from Gwen to keep her safe, a request Peter ultimately struggles to uphold.
- First release year
- 2012
- Runtime (minutes)
- 136
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Marc Webb
- Writers
- James Vanderbilt · screenplay; Alvin Sargent · screenplay; Steve Kloves · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Andrew Garfield · Peter Parker / Spider-Man; Emma Stone · Gwen Stacy; Rhys Ifans · Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard; Denis Leary · George Stacy; Campbell Scott · Richard Parker; Irrfan Khan · Rajit Ratha; Martin Sheen · Ben Parker; Sally Field · May Parker
- Genres
- superhero; action; romance
- Themes
- identity; loss
- Premise and plot tags
- superhero; origin story; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Marvel Comics
- Franchise connections
- Spider-Man
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 66 · scale: 100 · review count: 42
- Production trivia
- The film was the first Hollywood production to be filmed with the RED Epic camera.; The 'decay rate algorithm' was inspired by the real-life Gompertz–Makeham law of mortality.; The fight scene in the subway car was influenced by the physical comedy in the films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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