Well, it happened. Somehow, I got talked into seeing the latest Spiderman reboot and you know what? Coming from someone who did'nt like the trailers, hated the idea of a reboot, and did'nt want to see this film in the first place, it's actually REALLY good.

I was skeptical about this film not just because it's been so soon since the Sam Raimi films and they're still fresh in my minds, but I did'nt like the fact this was hyped up as a "gritty" reboot. Spiderman does'nt need to be "gritty" because he's not a gritty character like Batman or something. Surprisingly, the gritty approach really works. The human drama works really well and keeps this film contained in reality. The drama in this makes a lot of sense for this film and it's never too dark. It's sorta dark, but it never takes itself too seriously. Any time things might get too intense, there's some really funny comic relief to lighten the mood. On top of the film being really funny, it's really exciting. The special effects look great, there's some great suspense, and action sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat.

The acting is really great. Andrew Garfield is amazing (pun completely intended) as both Spiderman and Peter Parker. He makes both personas very likable and fun to watch. Emma Stone is really great as Gwen Stacy, who by the way is a huge step up from Mary Jane. Not only is she extremely faithful to Gwen Stacy in the comics, but she is a strong female character to root for. While Mary Jane did nothing but get captured and rescued, Gwen Stacy actually fights back and she's really smart. Her and Peter have terrific chemistry and you get a sense that they have genuine feelings for each other. Rhys Ifans does a great job playing Dr. Connors/The Lizard. He's a very interesting and complex character even if his character is a bit badly handled (I'll get to that later). Martin Sheen and Sally Fields are absolutely fantastic as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. You also get some really great performances from Denis Leary, Chris Zylka, Irfan Khan, and others within a very talented cast. This cast and the acting is better than that in Raimi's entire trilogy.

As enjoyable as this was, this isn't without it's problems. Some things feel rushed. Subplots and characters are'nt given the attention they deserve like Dr. Connors/The Lizard. He starts out as a really complex and interesting character, then when he takes the serum his character isn't handled as well. It's never clear if this left him with a split personality or it made him crazy or if he was already crazy. It felt a little rushed, not to mention they leave to much wide open for sequels, leaving too many questions open. Plus, there are some small but noticeable plot holes in this film.

Still, I was surprised how much worked and how much I enjoyed this film. Is it better than the original? As much as I love the original film and how much I hold it to my heart, a lot of things are handled better here than those films. Was it necessary to reboot this so soon? Of course not, but it's still a fun ride from beginning to end. It's more flawed than amazing, but it's still pretty damn good. It got my spidey senses tingling that's for sure!