The first striking aspect of The Amazing Spider-Man is how unlike the Raimi films this really is, in both positive and negative regards. When it comes down to it, Marc Webb and his stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone have managed to make the quick revisit to the world of Spider-Man a positive one. Although it struggles during the latter parts of the film, it is a fresh, and at times lovely look at a new side of the web-slinging superhero.

From the onset it becomes clear that director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) has created a wholly new approach to this tale, which is an encouraging sign, to say the least. The whole character of who Peter Parker is feels different, thanks in large part to the terrific portrayal by Andrew Garfield. Parker is less of the picked-on nerd here than in the past Spider-Man films, instead opting to portray the character more as a rather guarded individual who keeps to himself.

The film, written by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac), Alvin Sargent (Spider-Man 2) and Steve Kloves (Harry Potter), does a nice job of adding an early mystery: the disappearance of Parker’s father and mother (Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz) after they drop him off at his aunt and uncle’s house, played here by Martin Sheen and Sally Field. Determined to discover the mystery behind his parent’s abandoning him, Parker himself puts the ball into motion when his research leads him to Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), a former colleague of Parker’s father at Oscorp. Connors is an amputee who is researching in the field of cross-species experimentation in the hopes of regrowing his arm, as well as giving a new power to the human race.

Photo: Columbia Pictures.

It is at Oscorp that Parker comes across a genetically-modified spider, which bites him, creating the super-powered web slinger we’ve come to know so well. For Dr. Connors, meanwhile, an experiment with the cross-species work injects powerful lizard genes into his body, creating the terrible creature out to harm New York City this time around.

The first act of the film is truly where all aspects are working. Less action-oriented than perhaps the more ardent superhero fans would like, Webb focuses on what’s essentially a very well executed teenage drama with flashes of what makes Spider-Man special. The chemistry between Garfield’s Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy (the ever-so talented Emma Stone) is evident from the start, as the pair develop a budding romance, despite the uneasiness of Stacy’s father, Police Captain Stacy (Denis Leary).

Much of the film, particularly the first half, is simply marvelous. The characters and the drama here is simply fun, interesting and well thought-out. This is a whole new side of the Spider-Man origin story that works wonders. Unfortunately, the execution and payoff of the film is where it falls flat.

Photo: Columbia Pictures.

As a villain, The Lizard/Dr. Connors is fundamentally flawed in that what’s driving this character simply doesn’t work. Apart from the painfully obvious fact he’s an amputee, Connors’ sudden urge to benefit the human race by creating a powerful lizard/human hybrid is both silly and uninspired. The action set-pieces, meanwhile, feel less significant and overall work less well when compared with the first act character work. The payoff here is quite lazy, although not altogether unsalvageable thanks to an admirable performance by the always-talented Rhys Ifans and Andrew Garfield.

While The Amazing Spider-Man suffers mightily from a lackluster payoff, the characters and performances here are in good hands. Director Marc Webb has his finger on the pulse of the film throughout, and even when the more action-oriented sequences begin to get a bit out of hand, he is able to reel the film back in for its closing moments. Thanks in large part to terrific chemistry and performances from Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, this is an origin story worth telling, even considering Spider-Man is a character we’re all-too familiar with.

Grade: B-

Rated: PG-13 (for sequences of action and violence)

The Amazing Spider-Man opens in theaters on July 3, 2012.