5 Reasons Why The Amazing Spider-Man Is Better Than Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man

2. We Actually Mourn The Loss Of Uncle Ben

One thing that director Marc Webb and screenwriters James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves, focus on strongly is character. In a rare turn from tradition, they follow in the footsteps of films such as Batman Begins and Hulk; to make the origin story something more than three dialogue scenes and a montage. For the impatient viewer crying, €œWe already know this plot!€ I encourage you to pay a bit more attention. Motivation is often a key factor for superheroes, and none more so than Peter Parker. By the time Uncle Ben takes a bullet to the gut, we genuinely feel that loss on behalf of Parker. The reason for this is a) Martin Sheen is a terrific actor who we€™d all love as an uncle, and b) the bond between Peter and Ben has been constructed and developed into a functioning surrogate father/son relationship. It is always sad to see a pensioner bite the dust (see Cocoon), but no one can really say they felt the full weight of Uncle Ben passing in Raimi€™s Spider-Man, whereas here it is fully felt. The poetic and underplayed offset of this death brings me nicely to point three.

Contributor
Contributor

Part critic-part film maker, I have been living and breathing film ever since seeing 'Superman' at the tender age of five. Never one to mince my words, I believe in the honest and emotional reaction to film, rather than being arty or self important just for cred. Despite this, you will always hear me say the same thing - "its all opinion, so watch it and make your own." Follow me @iamBradWilliams