There’s really something different in Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man. Many criticized he’s too cool to be the resident science nerd because he displayed an interest in skateboarding, and the actor had this rugged appearance in him that one wouldn’t even think he ever gets bullied.
Now, with three versions of the same character, it is not easy to choose which one accurately depicted the Marvel hero because he was brought to the big screen with an amalgamation of personalities, quirks, and the likes that are true to the actor. Garfield, in this case, made his own choice of incorporating some traits that weren’t found in Tom Holland’s or Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man.
Andrew Garfield’s Unique Spider-Man Swinging Style Revealed
A post from a Marvel fan page on YouTube revealed that Andrew Garfield’s distinct style of swinging in The Amazing Spider-Man was brought about by his love for skateboarding. Eagle-eyed fans would certainly notice that he did quite a lot of tricks while jumping from one building to another, instead of just swinging to reach his destination.
Garfield’s Peter Parker previously showed a scene where he’s practicing skateboarding moves inside a garage. The video’s narrator explained:
He also gets the idea for web-slinging while skating a half pipe and then swinging from a hanging chain so I think he transitioned his love for skateboard tricks into web-slinging tricks.
Now, this is a pretty neat explanation of why Garfield often did exhibitions on air and while swinging. Some fans even remarked that he was the only one who enjoyed being the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and his fighting style resembled the moves of a spider.
While he didn’t do all of the stunts as he worked with a body double, Garfield admitted he used to skateboard as a kid and it was his idea that this iteration of Peter Parker would be a skateboard enthusiast. The actor tried to explore the powers and abilities of Spider-Man by relating them to the physical action and danger that come with skateboarding.
Why Andrew Garfield Wanted To Incorporate Skateboarding In The Movie
Garfield’s skateboarding scenes in The Amazing Spider-Man were a brilliant way to showcase that Peter Parker isn’t terrified of heights or the act of swinging. In a press conference (via Digital Spy), the actor said that the sport “linked in so nicely with being able to activate the powers in a new way” which helped his character discover more about his newfound skills.
For the 41-year-old star, the most important thing is “the lightness, the humor, and the enjoyment” of a teenager finally acquiring his own powers after getting bullied a lot. This backs up the earlier comment about Garfield’s version showing he truly enjoyed being Spider-Man.
The Amazing Spider-Man is currently available to watch on Disney+.
