On a school trip, Peter (Tobey
Maguire) and his classmates are given a science demonstration on
arachnids; a genetically altered spider bites Peter. Soon after,
he discovers that he has unusual powers: he is endowed with the
strength and agility of a spider along with a keen, ESP-like
"spider sense." Peter first uses his powers to make money, but
in the face of a tragedy that hits close to home, he vows to
dedicate his life to fighting crime, taking to heart the words
of his beloved Uncle Ben (Cliff Roberston): "With great power
comes great responsibility."
Meanwhile, businessman Norman
Osborn (Willem Dafoe), is undergoing some changes of his own. An
experimental formula has gone awry, increasing his intelligence
and strength but also driving him insane. He is now the Green
Goblin, Spider-Man's archenemy, who will put young Peter
Parker's vow to fight crime and help innocent people to the
ultimate test.
Director Sam
Raimi does a magnificent job of getting the most out of his cast
while staying loyal to his material. The special effects are
impressive, but they never get in the way of the story.
SPIDER-MAN is a true classic, and a fantastic film, it is by
far the best film adaptation of a comic book character ever
made, and the film is the first great action packed adventure of
2002.
SPIDER-MAN appears in its
aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on this single-sided, double-layered DVD;
the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. The picture
looked strong and sharp. The sharpness looked clear and well
defined, with only a few wider shots that displayed some mild
softness. I detected no signs of edge enhancement; jagged edges
caused no problems, but I did notice mild speckles and grit here
in there. The print showed a little grain at times, but for the
most part the film was clean.
Colors looked somewhat accurate,
certain scenes could have appeared a bit bolder. Black levels
were deep and dark, and shadow detail appeared appropriately
dense. I did notice some minor compression, mostly noticeable on
dense backgrounds. Nevertheless, despite some shortcomings,
SPIDER-MAN presented a very pleasing image.
The
Audio
SPIDER-MAN
is presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. The mix showed good
stereo definition and created a reasonably lively and convincing
setting across the front channels. Effects came across
accurately displaying a powerful element to the mix, but don’t
get too excited, I guess I was expecting something a little more
from this DVD presentation – inconsistent use of the surrounds
only seemed lively during the action sequences, but for some
reason I found myself expecting more.
Maybe
Columbia/Sony will release the Superbit Deluxe addition
of SPIDER-MAN with a DTS track sporting the
commanding mix I’m looking for – hint, hint. In respects to the
audio, I thought the audio quality was good. Dialogue appeared
well incorporated, and speech always sounds natural and
distinct. Overall, not a very exciting audio experience, but
enjoyable nonetheless.
Subtitled Factoids "Weaving The
Web"
Commentary: Sam Raimi, Laura Ziskin, Kirsten Dunst & Grant
Curtis
SFX Commentary
Trailers & TV Spots
Filmographies & Character Files
Music Videos: Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scott, "Hero" & Sum
41, "What We're All About" DVD-ROM Features:
Comic/Feature Comparison
Record Your Own Commentary
Countdown To Spider-Man 2
Weblinks
Disc Two:
HBO Making Of Spider-Man
"Spider-Mania": E! Entertainment Special
Director Profile: Sam Raimi
Composer Profile: Danny Elfman
Screen Tests
Costume and Makeup Tests
Gag/Outtake Reel
Conceptual Art & Production Design Gallery
Historical Documentary
The Spider-Man Comic Book Archives
Rogues Gallery
The Loves of Peter Parker
Comic Book Artist Pin-Up Gallery
Activision Game Hints & Tips
DVD-ROM
Overall
SPIDER-MAN
is an excellent DVD. You get an action packed film with good
picture and pleasurable sound and don’t forget about the solid
extras. For those looking for a DTS track, I’m sure
Sony will release a new SuperbitDeluxe edition
sometime next year. Consumers may
want to hold off purchasing this 2-disc set if a DTS track is
your preference. However, if you
must have this film in your video library, this 2-disc set of
SPIDER-MAN comes highly recommended.
