---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

As early reviews of "The Amazing Spider-Man" are being filed, more applause than criticism appears to be slung in its direction.

In this reboot, you've got young, appealing actors — Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker and Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy — helping you forget the largely-terrible Tobey Maguire-starring trilogy that went away after 2007, and start fresh.

Most of the critics remark that the film satisfies and charms while melding emotion with action throughout. In his sophomore effort, director Marc Webb ("500 Days of Summer") amplies the romcom angle, presents a more personalized origin story and dodges "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi's trademark campiness.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film is gloomier than Raimi's take, but also is directed with emotional depth and plenty of comedic touches. It "inserts a touching portrait of adolescent angst into an otherwise predictable dose of CGI-fueled action," Jordan Mintzer writes.

Variety calls it "a mostly slick, entertaining and emotionally involving recombination of fresh and familiar elements."

Not all critics can suppress their memories of the trilogy when evaluating this project. Chris Tookey of the Daily Mail says it doesn't really bring anything new to the table.

"There isn't a lot that hasn't been seen before, and although the special effects are impressive, they're no improvement on 'Spider-Man 2,' which remains by far the best of the franchise," Tookey says. The 3-D is effective in the flying sequences, but annoying during the fights, he says.

You can see for yourself when it hits theaters July 3. The film also stars Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary and Campbell Scott.

---