The A-Z of The Amazing Spider-Man
With new Spider-Man reboot The Amazing Spider-Man swinging its way in to cinemas on July 3rd, it's time to chop away the tangled webs of confusion and take a close look at our friendly neighbourhood wall crawler. In alphabetical order of course...
A is for Andrew Garfield
28 year old British newcomer Andrew Garfield has experienced a snowball of a career thus far, slowly gathering pace and accumulating an ever-growing fanbase. From his first major outing in two episodes of Doctor Who all the way to his award-nominated role opposite Jesse Eisenberg in Facebook biopic The Social Network, Andrew has shown he is capable of acting out everything from action packed scenes to the depths of human emotion - something Spider-Man has been forced to balance all through his hectic life. Taking over the role from Tobey Maguire, Andrew has called his intense acrobatic and stunt training as "terribly challenging and exhausting."
B is for Ben Parker
Peter Parker has lived his life as an orphan - following the mysterious disappearance of his parents at a very young age (something which seems as though it may be a continuing story arc throughout this series of films), he has lived with his aunt and uncle, May and Ben Parker. While unaware of his nephew's masked alter-ego, Uncle Ben still acts as a mentor and guide for Peter's conscience, making sure he stays on the correct side of life's right and wrongs. Ben will be played by Michael Sheen in the movie, who described his character as a surrogate father: "I'm dealing with this adolescent who is having problems with hormones changing and his getting out of hand."
C is for Curt Connors
Employee of Oscorp and a leading scientific mind, Dr. Curt Connors will be the film's main antagonist. Following the loss of his arm, Dr. Connors has been searching for the revolutionary regeneration serum to regrow limbs and human tissue. Using the experimental results on himself, Dr. Connors transforms into the terrifying Lizard. Rhys Ifans, who will portray the character, has said that he is not an evil person: "He's not like the Batman villains, like The Joker who are just plain evil. He believes he's doing the right thing."
D is for Development Hell
The Amazing Spider-Man is not a sequel to 2007's Spiderman 3 - it is a brand new, fresh tale of Peter Parker's transformation into the webswinging superhero. Unfortunately, this hasn't always been made clear. In 2008, Spider-Man 4 entered pre-production with director Sam Raimi and signature cast Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst ready to reprise their roles. Due to creative disagreements and time constraints between Raimi and movie studio Sony, it was announced in 2010 that all plans for the sequel had been scrapped, with Raimi noting he didn't feel any need for another movie other than "blatant money grabbing." The Amazing Spider-Man was announced shortly after with a brand new director and cast, and Sony citing it as the 'untold story'.
E is for Emma Stone
In contrast to Andrew Garfield's slow and steady rise to fame, 23 year old Emma Stone has catapulted to A-List stardom in recent years. From a kickass role in 2009's Zombieland to comedy queen in indie flick Easy A, she made a serious name for herself in award-winning movie The Help. Now she plays Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker's love interest and confidant, a role which Emma has said she has enjoyed exploring.
F is for Film Adaptation
I'm sure you already know this, but just incase you're an alien, Spider-Man originated in 1962 as part of comic book legend Stan Lee's series of Marvel publications. He was the most original superhero of that time, as teenagers were rarely given more than a sidekick role to the protagonist in any adventures. Stan Lee, however, believed a geeky, relateable teen boy would be more appealing to the masses, and thus Spider-Man was given his first full story. While Marvel commissioned various cartoons and animated TV-movies featuring Spidey, 2002's Spider-Man was the first live action film. Featuring Tobey Maguire in the titular role beforehand, the series has now been rebooted from scratch with Andrew Garfield donning the red and blue costume.
G is for Gwen Stacy
Peter Parker's girlfriend Gwen Stacy is no stranger to unusual and exciting phenomenons: as an intern employee of Oscorp, she is ambitious, intelligent and possesses a fierce passion for science. Emma Stone dyed her hair blonde for the role to stay true to the Gwen Stacy of the comics. If Ben Parker acts as Peter's conscience, then Gwen is his heart, keeping him with someone worth fighting for. That said, in the comics Gwen is killed by the Green Goblin, Spidey's deadliest and most famous nemesis. Is this a story arc that the films will replicate in future sequels?
H is for Home-Made Webshooters
With a reboot of the franchise comes a biological reboot of the character himself. Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker had webshooters built in to his skin; the new and improved Peter Parker, however, will invent his own. The webshooters will now be courtesy of a wrist-strap attached to Spidey's costume. Appropriately named director Marc Webb has defended the decision, saying that this will "dramatise Peter's intellect." Which brings us to...
I is for Intelligence
Peter Parker is not just any teenager who's been bitten by a radioactive spider: he is an incredibly clever and scientifically astute teenager who's been bitten by a radioactive spider. Opting to portray Peter as a very intelligent individual, Andrew Garfield has said he believes this is where Spider-Man's strength lies: "Not in his power or speed but in his mind."
J is for Joker
Just kidding. He's a Batman villain.
K is for Knowing
While Sam Raimi's original trilogy saw Spider-Man desperate to hide his identity from everyone but himself, it would appear that the Peter Parker of 2012 is rather less secretive about his webshooting abilities. Several scenes from the trailer show him in costume but with no mask, and others see him discussing his responsibilities to Gwen with regards to taking down the Lizard. Even Dr. Connors seems to be in on the act, as in a breathless action scene he quips "If you want to know the truth, Peter...come and get it."
L is for Lizard
One of Spider-Man's most famous foes, the Lizard is the alter ego of Dr. Curt Connors. After taking an untested experimental serum in an attempt to regrow his missing arm, Dr. Connors transforms into the beast. Losing control of his senses, the Lizard begins terrorizing the city of New York forcing Spider-Man to intervene.
M is for Marc Webb
Taking over the directorial reins from Sam Raimi, Marc Webb has taken the cinematic Spider-Man experience to darker, more mysterious territory. His previous movie, 500 Days of Summer, is a modern indie classic which captured the realism and detailed the genuine non-Hollywood esque struggles of a relationship destined to fall apart. With The Amazing Spider-Man, eyebrows were raised as to the director's talents with regards to action sequences, however judging by the trailers, Marc is giving us a definitive Spider-Man that stays true to the comics and the frantic scurrying and nimble webswinging of our hero.
N is for New York
Yellow cabs, the Empire State Building and always attracting trouble - New York is the definitive hotspot for superhero movies. The original Spider-Man used the city as its setting; even earlier this year, The Avengers used it as the location for its epic climax. Like the comics, The Amazing Spider-Man will also take place in New York, giving us an authentic city for Spidey to swing and climb his way around in his battle with the Lizard.
O is for Oscorp
The workplace of Dr. Connors and Gwen Stacy, Oscorp is the home of New York's finest scientific minds. With headquarters to rival the Empire State Building and more money than Bruce Wayne, Oscorp gives Dr. Connors the ingredients to add to his experimental serum. Marc Webb has confirmed that, in his movies, Oscorp is owned by a certain Norman Osborn, who we know turns into the Green Goblin in the comics...
Interesting fun fact about Oscorp: the headquarters building nearly made it into The Avengers movie but unfortunately ownership struggles between Sony and Marvel created a barrier. While there was no sign of Spider-Man in The Avengers, it looks like the movie executives do want him to be part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I smell a crossover...
P is for Peter Parker
The boy behind the mask, Peter Parker is our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. When he's not out fighting crime and lizards, Peter is an intelligent yet shy schoolkid with a keen mind for science. With only his girlfriend Gwen Stacy for company at school, Peter turns to his aunt and uncle for advice and solace. He is a superhero, but he's still going through adolescence and learning all the lessons that come with that which can cause serious complications. Andrew Garfield described Peter as someone he can relate to, claiming that the character was incredibly important and inspirational to him when he was younger, even reciting Spidey's lines in the mirror.
Q is for Questions
So many questions! With this new series acting as a reboot for Spidey's franchise, it begs the question - will Marc Webb stay true to the Ultimate Spider-Man comics as he says? If so, does that mean the end for Gwen Stacy? How many villains will appear? Who is the man threatening Dr. Connors in the trailer - a potential big boss? My money's on the Green Goblin, but as with every superhero - anything is possible.
R is for Rhys Ifans
44 year old Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is most famous for his roles as Spike in Notting Hill and Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One. He will play Dr. Curt Connors, who as we know transforms into The Lizard, in The Amazing Spider-Man. Rhys has confirmed that they have used motion capture technology for the vast majority of The Lizard's scenes. "Each and every time you see the Lizard, the technology is so advanced now that when the Lizard's eyes move, they're my eyes. If I frown or show any emotion, they're my emotions. That's how spectacularly advanced technology is."
S is for Sequel
Sony intend to release a sequel for The Amazing Spider-Man, which has just entered pre-production. The writers of Star Trek, Transformers and TV show Fringe have been hired to write the script, and Marc Webb has promised a deeper, darker storyline. "There are hints of the sequel's villain in the 2012 film," he said. "And the origin story won't just unfold here, it will be spread out across the whole series." I'm betting that this will culminate in a trilogy, if not more.
T is for Training
Andrew Garfield has undergone intense acrobatic and stunt training to prepare his body for the role. Spider-Man is strong and possesses plenty of muscle, however he's also lean, nimble and flexible on his feet. Before taking on the role, Andrew was already 'good-looking' in Hollywood's eyes. He just needed to add the extra muscle. He has succeeded in building that muscle with enough mobility to carry out the stunts required from a wall-crawling webslinger.
If you're into that sort of thing, here's an excellent website detailing Andrew's diet and training regime in his preparation for the role of Spider-Man: http://www.squidoo.com/andrew-garfields-spiderman-workout-plan
U is for Underdog
The definition of Peter Parker: underdog. He's the boy who goes from shy, boring geek to webswinging, ass-kicking hero and protector of New York.
V is for Villains
Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, Venom, Carnage, Chameleon, Hammerhead...just some of the hundreds of villains Spider-Man has encountered during his comic book adventures. Just four have been portrayed in film thus far: the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman and Venom. Following The Amazing Spider-Man's villain The Lizard, which direction will the films take next? Like I said, my money's on the Green Goblin however I'd be happy with any bad guy making an appearance just as long as one movie doesn't try to throw three in at once...not looking at you, Spider-Man 3...
W is for Webswinging
One of the greatest thrills of a Spider-Man movie is the gorgeous camera work which follows Spidey as he swings his way around New York. What with The Amazing Spider-Man coming out in IMAX and 3D, this may be one of those rare times where 3D actually adds to the fun of the movie.
X is for X-Men
Surprised I got one for X aren't you? Well, you'll be happy to hear it's ridiculously obscure! Spider-Man is yet another superhero who was once part of something bigger. In various cartoons and comics, superheroes would cross into each other's worlds. X-Men VS The Avengers was a big one, as well as "The Amazing Spider-Man meets the Fantastic Four". It's highly unlikely that all of these characters are going to meet in a mega movie together, however Wolverine of X-Men fame has featured in various Spider-Man comics in the past.
Y is for YOLO
The cinematic Spider-Man franchise has proven to be the exception to the rule, showing that it doesn't only live once.
What? Yes, I hate YOLO too.
Z is for Zero to Hero
Okay, let's get serious again. Peter Parker's story is one that we can all relate to: we've all felt lonely, stubborn and lost without a purpose. We've all felt that need to strike back against everything that tries to keep us down. Peter is that embodiment that we crave: he fights back, he saves the people he loves and he never backs down no matter what.
With a great hero comes a fantastic story, and I for one hope that whether it be in films or comics, our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man will always be right around the corner.
The Amazing Spider-Man will be released on July 3rd 2012. Check back to Movies Under the Microscope shortly after for my full review!
By Dean Johnstone
Dean Johnstone is a Media and Communications student who desperately seeks your approval. Let him know much you love him by sending heartwarming comments/loveletters/poems to:
Twitter: @DJJohnstone
Email: dean.james.johnstone@hotmail.com
Interesting fun fact about Oscorp: the headquarters building nearly made it into The Avengers movie but unfortunately ownership struggles between Sony and Marvel created a barrier. While there was no sign of Spider-Man in The Avengers, it looks like the movie executives do want him to be part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I smell a crossover...
P is for Peter Parker
The boy behind the mask, Peter Parker is our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. When he's not out fighting crime and lizards, Peter is an intelligent yet shy schoolkid with a keen mind for science. With only his girlfriend Gwen Stacy for company at school, Peter turns to his aunt and uncle for advice and solace. He is a superhero, but he's still going through adolescence and learning all the lessons that come with that which can cause serious complications. Andrew Garfield described Peter as someone he can relate to, claiming that the character was incredibly important and inspirational to him when he was younger, even reciting Spidey's lines in the mirror.
Q is for Questions
So many questions! With this new series acting as a reboot for Spidey's franchise, it begs the question - will Marc Webb stay true to the Ultimate Spider-Man comics as he says? If so, does that mean the end for Gwen Stacy? How many villains will appear? Who is the man threatening Dr. Connors in the trailer - a potential big boss? My money's on the Green Goblin, but as with every superhero - anything is possible.
R is for Rhys Ifans
44 year old Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is most famous for his roles as Spike in Notting Hill and Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One. He will play Dr. Curt Connors, who as we know transforms into The Lizard, in The Amazing Spider-Man. Rhys has confirmed that they have used motion capture technology for the vast majority of The Lizard's scenes. "Each and every time you see the Lizard, the technology is so advanced now that when the Lizard's eyes move, they're my eyes. If I frown or show any emotion, they're my emotions. That's how spectacularly advanced technology is."
S is for Sequel
Sony intend to release a sequel for The Amazing Spider-Man, which has just entered pre-production. The writers of Star Trek, Transformers and TV show Fringe have been hired to write the script, and Marc Webb has promised a deeper, darker storyline. "There are hints of the sequel's villain in the 2012 film," he said. "And the origin story won't just unfold here, it will be spread out across the whole series." I'm betting that this will culminate in a trilogy, if not more.
T is for Training
Andrew Garfield has undergone intense acrobatic and stunt training to prepare his body for the role. Spider-Man is strong and possesses plenty of muscle, however he's also lean, nimble and flexible on his feet. Before taking on the role, Andrew was already 'good-looking' in Hollywood's eyes. He just needed to add the extra muscle. He has succeeded in building that muscle with enough mobility to carry out the stunts required from a wall-crawling webslinger.
If you're into that sort of thing, here's an excellent website detailing Andrew's diet and training regime in his preparation for the role of Spider-Man: http://www.squidoo.com/andrew-garfields-spiderman-workout-plan
U is for Underdog
The definition of Peter Parker: underdog. He's the boy who goes from shy, boring geek to webswinging, ass-kicking hero and protector of New York.
V is for Villains
Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, Venom, Carnage, Chameleon, Hammerhead...just some of the hundreds of villains Spider-Man has encountered during his comic book adventures. Just four have been portrayed in film thus far: the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman and Venom. Following The Amazing Spider-Man's villain The Lizard, which direction will the films take next? Like I said, my money's on the Green Goblin however I'd be happy with any bad guy making an appearance just as long as one movie doesn't try to throw three in at once...not looking at you, Spider-Man 3...
W is for Webswinging
One of the greatest thrills of a Spider-Man movie is the gorgeous camera work which follows Spidey as he swings his way around New York. What with The Amazing Spider-Man coming out in IMAX and 3D, this may be one of those rare times where 3D actually adds to the fun of the movie.
X is for X-Men
Surprised I got one for X aren't you? Well, you'll be happy to hear it's ridiculously obscure! Spider-Man is yet another superhero who was once part of something bigger. In various cartoons and comics, superheroes would cross into each other's worlds. X-Men VS The Avengers was a big one, as well as "The Amazing Spider-Man meets the Fantastic Four". It's highly unlikely that all of these characters are going to meet in a mega movie together, however Wolverine of X-Men fame has featured in various Spider-Man comics in the past.
Y is for YOLO
The cinematic Spider-Man franchise has proven to be the exception to the rule, showing that it doesn't only live once.
What? Yes, I hate YOLO too.
Z is for Zero to Hero
Okay, let's get serious again. Peter Parker's story is one that we can all relate to: we've all felt lonely, stubborn and lost without a purpose. We've all felt that need to strike back against everything that tries to keep us down. Peter is that embodiment that we crave: he fights back, he saves the people he loves and he never backs down no matter what.
With a great hero comes a fantastic story, and I for one hope that whether it be in films or comics, our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man will always be right around the corner.
The Amazing Spider-Man will be released on July 3rd 2012. Check back to Movies Under the Microscope shortly after for my full review!
By Dean Johnstone
Dean Johnstone is a Media and Communications student who desperately seeks your approval. Let him know much you love him by sending heartwarming comments/loveletters/poems to:
Twitter: @DJJohnstone
Email: dean.james.johnstone@hotmail.com
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