“The Amazing Spider-Man,” the latest addition to the Spider-Man franchise, is not just about an action hero and large-scale computer graphics on 3-D screen, according to its director Mark Webb.

Speaking at a press conference last Thursday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Seoul joined by Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield, Garfield’s on- and off-screen love interest Emma Stone, actor Riys Ifans who plays the villain The Lizard, and producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, Webb said the action film is also about the intimate relationships that an orphan builds with others, which eventually guide him to his identity.

“It is Spider-Man’s 50th birthday this year. We wanted a new story, a new saga. The movie is more about the search for his (Spider-man) father,” said co-producer Arad. “It is all about the search for who I am,” he added.

Despite its search-for-identity narrative, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is nevertheless an action film filled with gravity-defying stunts. Indeed, it is ironic that director Webb’s previous film was “500 Days of Summer,” a film which he described as the “most non-action film.” A self-professed fan of action films, Webb said he tried to create character-based action with “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

The film combines traditional computer graphics generated action with 3-D to create life-like movement that viewers will feel like they are part of.

“3-D lends itself so well to the narrative needs of the film. The film is in 3-D but you (the viewers) add the fourth dimension to it” by reacting emotionally and physically to the film, said Ifans.

“There is a long legacy to honor and do justice to. I wanted to do justice to the timeless mythical characters that Stan Lee created,” said Garfield on his role as Peter Parker and Spider-Man in the fourth Spider-Man film.

What may be different about Garfield’s Parker from previous portrayals is the fact Garfield’s character has a first love who plays a bridging role between Parker and the rest of the world.

“Parker is walled up because he is an orphan. Gwen has a lot to do with his ability to connect with others in this itineration of Spider-man,” Garfield said.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” opens in local theaters on June 28.

By Lee Hyun-jae, Intern reporter 
(ihj37@heraldcorp.com)