This is the fourth film of the spider-man series and it is not a sequel but the rehash of the same old story. However, the pre-release hype is because it is being released in India even before the united states. Dubbed in a few languages, its reach is immense an the amazing spider-man certainly lives up to expectations. Marvel comics and Hollywood has put together a whole variety of super heroes, from superman to batman but spider-man is never more at home than in new york, or specifically manhattan, where he scales the sides of those towering skyscrapers as though he’s jogging on the waterfront.The few spider-man Andrew-garifield  is clearly an improvement on toby magiure or have we seen too much of Maguire? As peter parker garifield is more intense, even energetic, yet underplaying his role at the right times and emma stone is no less enthusiastic as his charming girl-friend gwen Stacey. The pair imbues the story with zest and zing.

Here they show spider-man’s parents cute web is woven around his birth, though now he lives with his uncle ben (martin sheen) and aunt may (sally field). But it was dad’s former colleague Dr curt Connors (ryhs ifans) whose experiment with spider DNA go wrong and hence is estranged from the parkers. Gwen’s dad george (denis leary) is a police chief, making matters worse.

The screenplay by james Vanderbilt, Alvin sergeant and steve kloves is smooth as are the establishing shots and director gives this latest version a head start over its predecessors. In fact spider-man only appears halfway through the film. And our own irrfan khan plays Dr rajat ratha, a senior scientist.

Spider-man of course does his double-act like zorro and enjoys it as much but he doesn’t have to change form a will. Pitted against him is Dr Connors, who after getting a magic formula starts creating giant figures set to attack the super hero. If zorro has whip, spider-man uses his webby threads to satrike at the enemy. It is in the latter half that the film is heavy with FX and here the 3D is very effective. There is a giant mutant lizard and a hunk at their destructive best immortal, succumbing only at the director’s behest.

But thankfully director webb (talk about puns!) doesn’t go overboard as in some of the recent actioners. Cameraman john Schwartzman goes to town with the aerial shots and slick editing makes the fare absorbing even though it is all of 136 minutes.

Garifield is the superb right through while the pretty emma stone provides adequate support, reminding one of judy geeson a couple of decades ago. Rhys effans, however, is inconsistent while irrfan khan, given a higher status for an Indian, is rather stiff before his sudden exit. Martin sheen and sally field, who picked an oscar early in her career for playing a labour activist in norma rae, do their nominal cameos reserved for golden oldies.

Yes, this superhero is quite amazing and well worth watching.