Spiderman 2002 vs The Amazing Spiderman

I wanted to be able to compare the two so I decided to go back and watch Spiderman 2002. The movie has  the look and feel of a 90s movie. The slower pace, the lighting, many of the situations, the bad/unrealistic special effects. In the case of the lighting and the pace this is a good thing. I often find the plots of 90s movies a lot more well done and the lighting is a relief to watch compared to the dark movies of today! So there are ways in which Spiderman 2002 wins over The Amazing Spiderman and the other way around:

Plot Winner: Spiderman 2002

The stories start off with an almost identical plot, but as I said in my Amazing Spiderman review that movie becomes rushed and half-baked towards the end, whereas Spiderman 2002 maintains a slower pace and allows more time for us to get to know the character, to see him save many people and see what the city people think of him, and so on. I also really liked how they got rid of the shooter quickly so that it didn't feel like Peter was just on a personal vendetta. This is a good thing, but it's spoiled by the acting and the script. Many times throughout Spiderman 2002 I felt like I was listening to something written in the 1950s...

Characterization Winner: The Amazing Spiderman

While the story arc was better written in Spiderman 2002 the acting combined with the more realistic contemporary feel to the movie made The Amazing Spiderman the winner here. Andrew Garfield was much better as Peter Parker. He fit the teenage role much better and he has actual facial expressions, instead of Tobey Maguire's constantly cheerful look. I mean, even when he was mourning his uncle he looked like he was smiling. *shakes head* Gwen Stacey was also a much better written character than Mary Jane, who felt like a Mary Sue and did nothing useful throughout the movie. Dr. Connors is a little weird, but he wasn't as insane and overdone as the Green Goblin.

Peter Parker's quest to find out more about his parents was also a great addition and made his relationship with his aunt and uncle all the more interesting!

Special Effects Winner: The Amazing Spiderman

Hands down the better movie in terms of special effects. The jumping on roofs scenes were almost laughable in the 2002 film and even normal stuff felt dated.


Overall, I would say The Amazing Spiderman was a much more enjoyable and well-done movie. If only they had taken their time with the plot and slowed the pace a little when Peter found out about his powers!