Officially, the new Spiderman film also has a new name-- "The Amazing Spider-Man"-- separating it from its predecessors. Personally, though, I anticipate it being remembered as the Andrew Garfield Spiderman. The plot and aesthetics of this version differ in no discernible way-- it is only the actors' unique interpretations of their characters that make it a film worthy of a trip to the local cineplex.

Tobey Maguire's interprets the young Peter Parker with all the enthusiasm and excitement any uber-nerd would feel upon gaining superheroic powers. He memorably marvels over his transformed physique, screaming with delight as he falls from buildings, and jeers at his previous aggressors. Maguire did an excellent job portraying an earnest but somewhat awkward and estranged teenager.

Garfield's Parker, on the other hand, is closer to the indie heart throb-- he carries around a skateboard and a camera with a cool fabric strap. Therefore, it only makes sense that while Maguire's Parker would take a more traditional approach to his heroic tasks, Garfield is a little more down to earth and human about his responsibility. In one of the movie's inevitable, save-the-child-in-a-car-hanging-from-a-bridge scenes, Garfield takes off his mask and shows the child that he isn't emotionless and  scary-- just a regular guy.

Maguire's Spiderman is compelling and most likely a closer match to the original character, but Garfield's sweet, disheveled schoolboy portrayal is, to me, eminently more likable. This could be my own aesthetic prejudices (for who, I might ask, can resist a lanky Englishman?), but in the name of progress, I'm sticking with it.