Rating: 
Summary: Mighty Spidey
Review: I am a long time fan of the web head and was not sure if the movie would do the long time comic hero justice but it did in a huge way. The special effects are almost unbelievable. The characters are cast with great care and the main character, the web slinger (Tobey Maguire)does the part justice. The movie starts out slowly building the characters and half of the way through the movie you will want to restart it again. If you are a fan of Spiderman or if not you will want to get this on DVD and VHS. No collection is complete without this one.
Rating:
Summary: We are who we choose to be.
Review: This is, in my mind, the single greatest Superhero movie ever made. The only one that comes close is the original Christopher Reeve SUPERMAN of the late 1970s. The film is action-packed, and yet it has a heart. The special effects are awesome eye-candy, but are far from the sole reason to buy this DVD.The forte of this endeavor is that it succeeds where so many Superhero movies have failed: it humanizes a young man who has almost omnipotent powers. Tobey Maguire is a credible Peter Parker, and this movie is almost more about Peter Parker than it is Spiderman. The biggest flaw of most Superhero efforts is that they pay too much attention to the hero and too little attention to the hero's secret identity. Kirsten Dunst is wonderful as the object of Parker's infatuation. She has an adorable girl-next-door beauty as opposed to a glamorous / COSMOPOLITAN magazine-cover look. In short, this is precisely what the film needs as Dunst's character is the symbolic all-American sweetheart that so many of us guys fall in love with in high school - but are never able to actually date. Willem Dafoe is, quite simply, the greatest Super-villain of all time. Sure, Gene Hackman was great as Lex Luthor and Jack Nicholson was memorable as the Joker, but Dafoe is utterly PERFECT as the Green Goblin. What's more, as is the case with Spiderman, the film does a remarkable job of humanizing his character as well. This is perhaps the least comic-booky seeming villian I've ever seen, despite the fact that they pulled the Goblin straight from the pages of a comic book! I cannot say enough about just how well-done this movie is. The soundtrack, courtesy of Danny Elfman, is outstanding. The direction is terrific, as is the acting. As an added bonus, the 2nd disc offers commentary and backdrop material of both the comic strip as well as the movie. Most significant is an interview with the creator of SPIDERMAN himself: Stan Lee. It was terrific to see that he had a big hand in the writing and production of SPIDERMAN. The symmetry and length of the film are right on the money. The attack by some movie critics that the movie was too long is nothing short of ludicrous. It had just the right mix of the stories of the Goblin and Spiderman, enough grand standoffs + some mini-adventures along the way. The author C.S. Lewis once made the straightforward and yet trenchent observation that one should never critique a literary work that belongs to a genre that he dislikes. The same holds true for movies. If you don't like Superhero movies, you're most likely not going to like this one, for a Superhero movie is what it is. However, if you do enjoy Superhero films now & again, I can't imagine you NOT liking this production. The majority of movie critics who gave this film a poor rating did so not because it's a bad movie, but because they don't care for Superhero films. That is their prerogative, of course, but it also nullifies their tirades. After all, you can't "blame" a film for being of the genre it belongs to. As I walked out of the theatre as the credits rolled, I felt remarkably "ordinary" and mundane. I cannot give a greater compliment to a movie of the Superhero genre, for that is precisely what you should feel like after viewing a story such as this. SPIDERMAN ROCKS!
Rating:
Summary: Great transition from the comics to the big screen
Review: "Spider-Man" as directed Sam Raimi, serves to prove that a movie can be greater than the sum of its parts. There is no aspect of this movie that jumps out and makes the viewer gasp: the acting is solid, but not Oscar worthy, the special effects are more than serviceable, but not breathtaking, and the plot is entertaining, but not particularly complex. However, when all of these elements are rolled in to one, you get a movie that is not just good, but great. "Spider-Man" is a genuinely entertaining film that manages to avoid many of the pitfalls other comic book adaptations have encountered. For example, it is my opinion that the X-Men movie took itself far too seriously, while conversely, the later Batman films weren't anywhere near serious enough. Driving this movie is the acting of its two main characters, Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and Kirsten Dunst as his love interest, Mary Jane. While some have argued that Maguire's performance was somewhat leaden, I thought it was perfect within the context of the movie. Peter Parker is supposed to be withdrawn, a nerd really, and Maguire plays the role to perfection. On the flip side, Dunst absolutely sparkles in her role. Much has been made of her scenes wearing a tank-top in the pouring rain, and she is an undeniably beautiful woman. However, she is also a very talented actor who conveys the full gamut of human emotion in her facial expressions. I came into this movie not expecting much from her, and left very impressed. The supporting cast is likewise solid, particularly William Dafoe in the role of the schizophrenic Green Goblin. He deftly succeeds in turning what could have been a very cookie cutter villain into a surprisingly empathetic character. The story itself is relatively straightforward, and will be familiar to anyone who has even a passing knowledge of the Spider-Man comics. That said, it was no less enjoyable for its predictability. In particular, the early scenes, in which Peter is coming to grips with his newfound powers, contain just the right mix of humor and suspense. Finally, this DVD is loaded with special features. While deleted scenes are noticeably absent, they are more than made up for by outtakes, commentary, making of footage, music videos and DVD-ROM content. You definitely get a lot of bang for the buck with this two-disc set. Ultimately, "Spider-Man" accomplishes exactly what it set out to: entertain. It isn't pretentious, or riddled with 'inside' jokes, but it also doesn't descend into slapstick. It contains the perfect mixture of action, humor and romance, and combines very good performances from the cast with solid special effects. In conclusion, I guess the highest praise I can offer this movie is that I can't believe I have to wait another year for the sequel to come out! Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: If your DVD player is multi-zone, DON'T BUY THIS ONE
Review: Once again, Hollywood in their fear of not making the absolute most money on their product has programmed codes that prevent you from seeing certain films if your player is multi-zone. Don't even get me started on the insistance of Hollywood on having zones in the first place. If someone likes to see foreign films and wants to get a DVD from another zone (i.e. Europe, Japan, etc.), well, too bad for you, because where multi-zone players are common in other countries, they are relatively hard to get in the U.S., and you can't play a foreign DVD on a regular American DVD player. So, say you teach a foreign language/culture. You are out of luck if you want to show your students real films from other countries, not just the ones distributors deem profitable for U.S. release. And now, even if you own a multi-zone player you bought legally & legitimately in the U.S., you can't see certain American DVDs. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Good adaptation of the classic comic
Review: For it's entertainment value alone, movie enthusiasts who don't necessarily consider themselves Spider-Man fans, may actually enjoy the movie more than the hardcore Spider-Man fan. The movie is a fairly good adaption of the classic comic. But, there are some innacuracies and a couple of things I would have liked to see. Hardcore Spider-Man fans will first notice technical issues such as the organic web shooters that are inconsistant with Peter Parker's hand made web shooters from the original comics. That seemed to be such a big issue before the movie ever even came out, and such a departure may not be easily overlooked by an original fan. However, I think for this movie it worked pretty well and it may have actually helped tell the story a little better. And, while I realize that there was just too much to include in a 2 hour film, I still would have liked to have seen (or at least had some mention of) more of Spider-Man's many villians. There was absolutely no mention of some of the more infamous bad guys such as Doc Ock, Venom, etc. Of course, the movie ends leaving you with the impression that there is more to come, so perhaps there's a sequel in the works with more of the classic villians for Spidey to battle. In the genre of super hero movies, I think that Spider-Man is one of the better ones out there, if not the best. One reason is Green Goblin's tough guy factor. He seems to be a much stronger adversary than some of the other goofy, wise-cracking super hero villians, such as Superman's Lex Luther, or Batman's Joker or Penguin. Included on the DVD are notes and commentary by Spider-Man creator Stan Lee and many of the other writers and artists, along with background and history of the comic franchise. Overall, with all the extras included, I'd say this DVD is a must have for Spider-Man fans, and a good buy for the regular movie-goer looking for some entertainment value. The DVD extras alone will keep the Spider-Man fans busy, and will introduce many other viewers to the world of Spider-Man comics.
Rating:
Summary: Stuck on You
Review: It took Spider-Man 40 years to make his movie debut, but this fast-paced entertainment is a surprisingly successful mix of spectacle and human-scale drama. Orphaned high-school senior Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) lives in Queens with his elderly Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson), loved at home but snubbed by his cooler peers. Peter nurses a hopeless crush on the pretty, vivacious girl-next-door, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), who's too busy with her thriving social life to notice his infatuation, and pals around with another misfit, poor little rich-boy Harry Osborn (James Franco). Harry's father - ruthless industrialist Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) - alternately ignores and berates him for not being tougher, smarter, more disciplined... more like his clever, studious friend. Then comes the moment that changes everything: Peter is bitten by a genetically rejiggered super spider (back in the sixties it was merely radioactive, but these are more high-tech times) and undergoes a painful but exhilarating physical transformation. His eyesight sharpens, he acquires a gym rat's physique overnight and finds he can extrude a sort of spider silk with the tensile strength of steel cable from his wrists. After Uncle Ben's death at the hands of a carjacker, who Peter could have apprehended earlier but didn't (not his responsibility, he thought), the budding superhero realizes he must use his powers to defend the weak and helpless. This mission swiftly pits him against super-freak Green Goblin, Mr. Osborn's murderous alter-ego - under pressure to hang on to a lucrative military development contract, Osborn rashly tested an experimental formula on himself and unleashed his inner Hyde. Purists may quibble about tweaks to Spider-Man's original story, but director Sam Raimi and screenwriter David Koepp remain true to its soul. Beneath the spiffy costume, Peter Parker is a smart, geeky teen trying to reconcile his inner turmoil with complex moral responsibilities thrust upon him by unasked-for super powers. Spider-Man paved the way for the outcast agonies of the X-Men, but Raimi (whose comic-friendliness was evident as far back as 1990's DARKMAN) has a lighter touch than X-MEN's Bryan Singer - he keeps things moving, has a little fun with the self-dramatizing conventions of comic book villainy and includes cameos for his brother, Ted, and longtime associate Bruce Campbell. The extensive CGI work isn't always convincing, but the movie's real Achilles heel is the Green Goblin. Dafoe's best efforts to dramatize Osborn's inner struggle with his worst impulses can't quite overcome his character's clunky costume and rigid fright mask.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN!
Review: This is a spectacular movie. The special effects are kind of cheesy, but it is still a good movie. It's better than Superman and Batman! This is a must see movie. It's about a boy named Peter Parker (school nerd) who has a crush on Mary-Jane (school babe) and gets bit by a radio active spider and obtains really cool super powers and fights a villian named The Green Goblin who in reality is the father of Peter's only friend. You must see this. Some people will try to tell you that this is a joke, but it isn't. Although the venom (even of a radio active spider) couldn't effect the DNA of the person in anyway. You must see this today!
Rating:
Summary: I can't believe I loved it!
Review: My daughter begged me for weeks to watch this with her. I was thinking....NO not another superhero "kapow" "Klablooey" film. I finally agreed. WOW, what a film. Tobey McGuire is so sweet and cute and you just had to love him. This was a definite evil versus good movie and I found it quite entertaining. A must to watch and own. WONDERFUL!
Rating:
Summary: Spider-Man DVD
Review: First all of, this DVD comes in two editions identical except for the video format, one being widescreen and other normal 4:3. Buy the widescreen version. A very good video transfer with good sound, this film has a few minor plot points to quibble with and is satisfying overall. Excellent performance from Tobey Maguire demonstrating the dichotomy of his existence. The one major disappointment for me with the film is the title sequence, I was hoping for a modern version of the Spider-Man song!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies of the year....
Review: This movie is amazing, and the DVD is even better! I never read comic books, or really cared to listen about Spiderman, and a LOVED this movie! It has all the makings of a great movie: action, drama, romance, and a great cliffhanger. The plot is amazing, the speacial effects are awesome, and surprisingly, there's very little blood, and no gore. The DVD has great extras, like commentaries and actor profiles. The second disc was really informative. It was all about the comic-book Spiderman, and it gave great backround information, especially for someone like me who has never read Spiderman before. All around, this DVD is worth the buy, so get it!
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