The Bull Pen

The new Spider-Man movie has often been called "unnecessary."  Sure, it is, the same way most of Sylvester Stallone's career was unnecessary, or the TV show "Glee" has been unnecessary since about two-thirds of the way through season one.

I admit, I was skeptical about the reboot of a series that debuted only ten years ago, but "The Amazing Spider-Man" is an entertaining, mostly new, and somewhat different take on Peter Parker's alter-ego.

The movie is smartly written and well-acted.  Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are endearing in the lead roles of Parker and Gwen Stacy.  Gwen is more than just a damsel in distress.

You will have to make some leaps of logic (Gwen is pretty handy in a billion-dollar science lab for someone still in high school), but the movie clips along nicely.  It both adheres to the key parts of the Spider-Man legend, while giving a modern setting to his adventures.

The Lizard is an adequate villain who batters Spidey through a couple of rollicking action scenes.  Thankfully, the Lizard speaks instead of just growling and hissing like so many movie monsters.  The final battle is both thrilling and heartbreaking.

By the end, I was satisfied, yet also eager for more.  Enough questions are left unanswered that a sequel to "The Amazing Spider-Man" is absolutely necessary.