Rating: 
Summary: Nice Movie .. Shame about the DVD
Review: I bought this DVD with very high expectations. The movie fulfiled my expectations, it certainly is one of the best comic hero movies out there.BUT ... I was disappointed with the audio in this DVD. I was demonstrating my new Subwoofer to a friend when I first viewed this. We sampled Lord of the rings before this DVD and the difference in sound quality was unbelievable. The Dolby 5.1 soundtrack on this DVD is just terrible. It sounds very artificial, hollow, lifeless, no use of surround back speakers. There is no execuse for a lame release like this, specially for a new movie. I bought this thinking that it will have reference Audio and Video. I was wrong and am very disappointed. I am sure that there will be a re-release of this DVD with DTS and all the works (hopefully a better sound mix). If I did not happen to already have this DVD, I would wait for the Special Edition. Skip this one. Wait for the special edition if you can.
Rating: 
Summary: A Little Clarification on the DVD Features
Review: Years ago, Spider-Man (and his other Marvel compatriots) were some of my favorite Saturday AM cartoons. So I was thrilled to see such Spider-Man come to life on the big screen. I saw this movie several times at the theater, where it was most impressive, during that 1st record-breaking weekend. (Honestly, I rarely go to 1st run movies until they have a track record of decent reviews, but THIS was an exception!) I, like many others, am now a small part of cinematic history. I bought the DVD on Nov 1st, the first day it was released, then I spent the entire weekend watching Spider-Man over and over in it's various languages and with its special features. The Weaving the Web pop-up production notes are persistent, informative, and often witty. The blue notes are historical and production related, whereas, the white pop-ups compare the comic book Spider-Man to the movie version. The Spidey Sense web-i-sodes were sparsely populated but cool interviews of the man behind the live spiders, Randy "Bone-saw" Savage, and the various set-masters. A few more of those specialist interviews were in order here.
I'm sorry to say I could not bear sitting through even a few chapters of the movie as annotated by John Dykstra and the special effects crew...Dialog may not be their forte. On the other hand, watching the whole movie again with Sam Raimi, Laura Ziskin, Grant Curtis, and Kirsten Dunst was a real hoot-- funny, personal, and spontaneous. It felt informally intimate, as if they were all having a great time watching the movie together in my own living room. Music videos, trailers and TV commercials for the movie are all self-explanatory. DVD-ROM features on both discs, of course, require a blessing from Bill Gates. Gamers will like the Activision Hints & Tips. There are *2* making-of programs on disc 2 (HBO and E!'s Spider-Mania), separate interviews with Danny Elfman and Sam Raimi, and, yes, the Gag/Outtake reel is side-splitting hysterical. Comic book fans will enjoy the Spider-Man Comic Archives with book covers that traverse 4 decades of Spider-history, as well as the interviews with the artists who made Spider-Man possible. The account of the Spider-Man comic book issue dealing with 9/11 brought me to tears. (Actually, I would have liked to have seen those deleted scenes of Spider-Man *with* the Twin Towers in this section-- as a tribute to the courage of the comic book writers/artists involved with that issue number.) Speaking of comic book-- purists, that is: Even Superman was updated (remember the public telephone?). What do we now know about radioactivity in this post cold-war era? It causes harmful genetic mutations, aka birth defects, so if the comic book spider had been real, those mutations would likely have killed it. I find the genetically-engineered spider a much more credible device, just as the organic web-shooters make much more sense since genetic changes cause Spidey's powers. Just be glad they made the webs shoot from his wrists, whereas a real spider's spinerret is located on its posterior. (There is such a thing as being "too" authentic!) A note about the screen tests: Remember when Tobey Maguire was being considered for the lead, everyone KNEW he could do Peter Parker, but many DOUBTED he could BE Spider-Man. He insisted on doing a screen test to prove his physical ability. A "reading" would not have accomplished this, so his screen test was quite "produced". Other "screen tests" were unorthodox and done in foreign countries, so possibly may not have been available or print-worthy. A friend of Willem Dafoe video-taped him in a Spanish hotel lobby as he "performed" the Green Goblin. And a whole entourage went to Berlin (including Tobey who had strep throat) to have Kirsten Dunst "screen test" with Tobey to test their "chemistry". Do you really want to see T.M. in ill health? I doubt it. And don't be surprised if Dafoe's tapes end up on E-Bay! CGI effects aside (some could have been worse, some could have been better), this is one SUPER DVD SET of one SUPER MOVIE. So BUY IT, SPIN IT, SIT BACK and ENJOY!
Rating:
Summary: 50/50 split for the comic book fans
Review: Being and avid collector of the Spiderman comics, I was disappointed with the liberties taken to transfer the story to film... but as a fan of the comic I felt they tried to squeeze too much into 2 hours. The deviations I did not like included his origin, his discovery of his transformation and the romance with Mary Jane Watson...They should have at least left in the webshooters that he invented. Now for what I did like about the movie. His transformation happening over night makes more sense than the comic. His learning curve on swinging from his webs were funny and more 'realistic'. The special effects and action scenes were awesome to say the least. The Green Goblin costume was a passable interpretation of the comic, but a bit hokey. Randy Savage as the wrestler was a humorous casting and a welcome interpretation...Over all I liked the movie...it is a fine movie, but you'll find yourself longing for more
Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: I've gotta admit, I didn't expect [spiderman] to be such a hit, I also didn't expect it to be such a phenemonemon. My expectations were wrong. Spiderman is probably one f the best movies I have seen in agood while. It is a great mix of action, romance, action, and drama. Tobey MAguire was just born to be spiderman. he is a great actor. Also this DVD is a great example of a DVD player. It is loaded to the brim with special features, and DVD rom features. The special affects are just plain and simpley absoulutely beautiful! It is some of the greatest affects of all time(although not pioneering) All in all I would reccomend any comic book fan, or anybody else to come and see this wondeful movie. I can't wait for the sequel. ~Daniel~
Rating:
Summary: Defenently one of the best movies this year!!
Review: If you want something you can probably enjoy forever this is it. There's some violence and would probably scare little kids. But this is for the big kids. Really cool. Clean,honest, TOTTALY fun. You'll really enjoy it. The movie takes you right along with it, and I got tottally enveloped by the story-line. Always wanting more. The effects were very good. On the levil with Star Wars, (better than the Phantom Menace) and the music was good. What really gets me into it is 'cause Parker started out as just an ordinary kid next door. And that just gives you something to relate with this character from the very biggining. I just got wrapped up in the story, it's really great. I think you'll enjoy it. Don't miss SPIDER-MAN!
Rating:
Summary: A very pleasant surprise
Review: When I first read that Tobey Maguire was cast as Peter Parker, I was crestfallen. "Tobey Maquire?!?!" I thought to myself. "Surely, there's someone better than that for the role!" Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Tobey Maquire plays Peter Parker in an endearing way that portrays both the human and the superhuman side of our friendly neighborhood Spiderman. He's perfect in the role! Having grown up with the Marvel Comics classic, I was a little skeptical of the whole project from the get-go. I didn't want another campy, cutesy movie based on a comic book that would ruin all the great feelings I had about the superhero. Thankfully, director Sam Raimi managed to pull it off -- with a little help from Maquire, Kirsten Dunst as MJ, Willem Dafoe as The Green Goblin, and a few other great character actors. Sometimes, movies based on books (or even comic books) require a knowledge of the material before the movie makes sense. That's not the case with Spiderman, however. This movie can be enjoyed with no prior knowledge of Spidey whatsoever. If you're looking for a little light entertainment, and want a fun, entertaining movie that's head and shoulders above most others released this past year, give Spiderman a try. Don't let the comic book theme or the hype scare you off. It's not a childish or overblown movie at all. Spiderman easily qualifies as one of my favorite movies of the past couple of years. I'm looking forward to the inevitable sequel!
Rating: 
Summary: Good for what it is
Review: This movie isn't meant to be high-brow entertainment, nor is it overly pretentious (like "The Man Who Wasn't There"). It's a good adaptation of a comic book, with dialogue that doesn't insult the intelligence of adults, but which can also be enjoyed by younger viewers.
Rating:
Summary: Just Not Good Enough...
Review: I love this movie. I would have bought the DVD even if it only had the movie on it, with few extras. But I find it truly disappointing that they include tons of non-movie related stuff. The videos are nice. The comic art gallery is nice. BUT WE ALL KNOW THEY RESHOT THE ENDING TO REPLACE THE WORLD TRADE CENTER FINALE. That's the "out-take" I want to see. And even as it is, the out-takes and gags they do include are pretty weak... So I give it three stars for basically being a glorified commercial for the comic book. DVDs are supposed to be about the MOVIE, stupid.
Rating:
Summary: Pop those corns...its time for Spidey
Review: An excellent effort. The 2-disc set is chock full of extras and even without a home theater system, the discs will still play smoothly and loudly. Cast is great. Maguire, Dunst, Dafoe all played their roles magnificiently. You'd feel sympathy for Dafoe's brilliant potrayal of a man with a split personality. But in the end, its either him or Spidey...so bye-bye Goblin. Kirsten Durnst is sadly only used as eye candy and for the typical 'damsel in distress' scenes. Hopefully a stronger MJ Watson role will be written for her in the sequel. JK Simmons was not used fully in his Jonah Jameson role. Thats an oversight that should be addressed in the sequel as well. Many scenes in the movie were adapted straight from the Amazing Spider-Man comics and Amazing Fantasy #15 and fans should be able to recognise them. Geeks rule (including those without the abilities of a spider)!
Rating:
Summary: Only 5 Stars? Spider-Man DVD Gift Set Infinitely Worth More
Review: I received my limited edition Spider-Man DVD set today ahead of schedule, and I was beyond elated. I'm childishly giddy & crying tears of joy...and I have yet to invest significant time with all the items. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but like many of the childhood Spidey fans that helped the theatrical release bring in $115 million in its first weekend, owning such a special film & collectibles is a must-have. Though, even if you don't want to spend extra for the gift set, everyone should at least have a DVD or even VHS copy of the movie. You'll appreciate the movie for the naturally human interactions and emotions the character portrayals bring to life in this extraordinary "save-the-world" superhero story. As for the other gift set contents, they complement the DVD well. I was born long after the Amazing Fantasy #15 comic book was originally released, so the reprint collectible is a wonderful bonus. The film cel and limited edition lithographic reproduction will make an attractive addition to anyone's display frames/cases. Of course, the set would not be complete without something showcasing & honoring Spider-Man's creator - Stan Lee's Mutants DVD. The sequel won't be released until 2004, but at least, we Spidey fans - old and new - will have something to keep us highly entertained until then.
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