The Amazing Spider-Man

Sure, this isn't Stan Lee's Peter Parker. And this red-and-blue arachnid is more Electric Company-Spidey than Brooding-Tobey-Maguire-Spidey. But the movie is entertaining, and worth a trip to the theater.

Here is MyTop 5 Reasons to watch The Amazing Spider-Man:

1. It's Time To Get A Real Life: As a comic book nerd, you've become sheltered, isolated, and you've developed a very narrow perspective on what's acceptable with the characters you love. I get it, man. I dig comics myself. But the most serious among us are like those snobby wine tasting freaks who sniff the goddamn cork and spit the first sip out before choosing a wine. Fuck that noise! Sometimes it's fun to buy some Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill at the local convenience store, screw the cap off, and just drink every drop from the bottle. Comic book movies are no different. The plot doesn't have to be perfectly in sync with the comic. Get a box of Goobers and a large soda, lean back in the theater chair, and enjoy a show once in a while

2. The Black Cat Rocks!: Emma Stone, who plays Gwen Stacy, should be in every scene. For two reasons: (a) Stone's acting is terrific, and she steals the film, and (b) the boots, high-socks and mini-skirt look she seems to wear throughout. (And those reasons are in no particular order.)

3. Legendary Actors: The crush I've had on Sally Field started during her Flying Nun days (I can't remember Gidget), then really kicked into gear with her sexy role in Smokey And The Bandit. She's still cute, and as Aunt May she now looks cute and wise. Field is terrific in the movie, and gives a meaty performance as the grieving widow perplexed about her nephew's unusual behavior.
(Oh yeah   . . Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben was very good, too.)

4. Avengers Assemble!: This reboot is really a way to get the character into the current Marvel-film universe, and tie him into The Avengers. Period. That would have been difficult to do with the Maguire's Spidey, considering Maguire's age and the isolated narrative of those three films. Andrew Garfield is fine as Spider-Man, and excellent as teen Peter Parker. And he'll be great in the Avenger's sequel, I'm sure.

5. Web-Shooters! I was giddy when I realized in this movie Peter Parker would (as intended!) invent the webshooters used to spin and direct his webs. I hated the story-line from the other three flicks that had webs coming from Spider-Man's wrists. Hated it! One of the coolest things about the early days of Spider-Man comics was the scientific genius of Parker. When I saw the idea teased early in the movie (a scene where Parker locks his bedroom door with a wireless remote) I hoped the web shooters would re-appear. When they did, I smiled from satisfaction.

(Note to self: Grab another Boone's Farm and re-read My Top 5 Reasons #1.)