Rating: 
Summary: Flawed but Essential For Spidey Fans
Review: "The Ultimate Villain Showdown" features the 3rd animated Spider-Man series (updating the original 60's series and the 80's 'Spidey and his Amazing Friends'). The DVD incorporates 'The Sins of the Father" story arc introducing Madame Web, reliving his origin and featuring Doc Ock, Kingpin, and the Green Goblin. I didn't care for the new 'spider sense' and the new theme song is grating. They dress Peter Parker in Don Johnson hand-me-downs from 'Miami Vice'. They commit the cartoon sin of focusing on stupid kids acting totally unlike real kids who get into trouble. They mix occasionally good art of Spidey in action with cheesy computer generated backround animation and I'd much have preferred the Venom stories to the ones presented here. Still, the episodes here have a certain charm and most are at least watchable. The animated menus and special features including Stan the Man expounding on his most famous creation as well as a classic episode from the original 60's series make this DVD a keeper.
Rating: 
Summary: A piece of junk. Only worth buying for one reason...
Review: ...the groovy, chuckle-inducing pilot episode of the Spider-Man cartoon series from the 1960's. The '90s episodes are lame beyond comparison. Yes, I suppose the animation is "better," but they're so slick-up and dumbed-down that I couldn't sit through any of them. The 1967 episode, however, is a real hoot. Dig those psychedelic skies! The '60s series had a more innocent charm... the '90s episodes are overblown junk and an eyesore to look at and listen to.
Rating:
Summary: This series is long overdue for DVD.
Review: Back in the early part of the 90's Fox Kids Spider-Man The Animated Series was probably the strongest show in their lineup. Now this series is finally making it's way to DVD. Unfortunatley, while still very good, this is NOT the best that this series has to offer. I can only guess why Buena Vista, who acquired the rights to this series when it bought Fox Family Channel, included the Rocket Racers storyline. This brings the whole DVD down. Any of the storylines with Venom, Michael Morbius, or The Hobgoblin would have made a much better entry ( or even my favorite story line featuring Daredevil). What's really interesting on this DVD is the interview with Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee. Lee offers some intriguing insight into the characters and the history of Marvel in general. Lee is a veritable treasure trove of comic book history. As for some of the bonus features? The 1967 episode of "The Origin Of Spider-Man" is included. When I was about 4 or 5 this was great. But now it looks and sounds terribley dated. The villain gallery is interesting. As you click on each villain you are treated to a commentary by Stan Lee. Overall this DVD is an exceptional value even with it's few shortcomings. If you're a new fan of the web head or an avid fan from his early days, you're sure to enjoy the Ultimate Villain Showdown.
Rating: 
Summary: It's Web Swinging Time
Review: Buena Vista has collected 5 animated adventures on this tape for your enjoyment. 4 of the shows are from the 1990's animated series third year "Sins Of The Fathers" story arc. "Make A Wish" - Spider-man is is about to give up the hero biz until he meets his biggest fan. While giving her a tour of the city Spidey style, Spider man is captured by Doctor Octopus. "Attack Of The Octobot" - Doc Ock has brain washed Spider-man to commit crime and it's up to Spidey's biggest fan, with the help from a New York cabbie, to bring him back to his senses. "Enter The Green Goblin" - Norman Osborn has disappeared after a lab explosion. Now one by one members of Oscorps Board of Directors are being kidnapped by a new villain who calls himself the Green Goblin. Has Normans son Harry taken matters into his own hands? Mary Jane thinks so and now it's up to Spidey to find out. "Rocket Racer" - Spider-man must stop one of Peter Parkers lab students with a past criminal record from using his science-savvy(and some "borrowed" technology) to return to crime while also trying to save the city from a gang of jet packed wearing thieves who are aided by a rampaging giant Gyro Wheel.
The fifth and final episode on this tape is from the 1960's animated series. "The Origin Of Spider-man" - Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider and his life is forever changed. If you enjoyed Spider-man The Movie or just a Spidey Fan period you will love this tape.
Rating:
Summary: It's great, but sad not to see Venom!
Review: Don't get me wrong, I love this DVD. I just think they picked the wrong episodes for Spider-Man's first time on DVD. But the episodes them selfs are great. I hope to see more Spider-Man DVD's in the future. If you love Spider-Man, this is a must have.
Rating:
Summary: Not exactly "The Ultimate Villian Showdown" but
Review: First of all, I feel the title "Ultimate Villian Showdown" is about as crazy as a soup sandwhich. Thank heaven part of the 90's 'Spider-Man' cartoon has finally gotten into the next millenium's technology: DVD format. Now, this DVD has a good amount of Web-Slinging fun: "Stan's Soapbox" a featurette where Stan Lee talks about Spider-Man's evolution over the years. For those of you who were actually around to see first ever Spider-Man cartoon episode of the 60's, that's sure to make your several decade old spider sense tingle with nestalgia by seeing it again, or is it just me? An interactive Villian finding game is an added bonus if you need to catch up on your villian savvy noodle. Also has clips from other episodes with the specific villain too! I'd say there was pretty exceptional work on the professional layout of the menus of the 90s cartoons, chapter to chapter. Overall, Spidey fans will not be disapointed. Definitely something you want your webbing to connect with.
Rating:
Summary: Mid 90's TV Series
Review: I believe this is a compilation of episodes or clips of Spidey battling most of the prevalent villians from the TV series a couple of years ago.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Origin Episode Worth Price
Review: I bought this only for the classic 1967 episode, "The
Origin of Spiderman". Just to have that excellent series
represented in my DVD collection. But it's a depressing
thought that 51 other episodes remain unreleased on
digital disc and that most consumers appear to be interested
instead in the 1990s series.
While I concede the 1990s series is more technically laudable,
it's a soap opera. Episodes aren't self-contained, and there is
just too much going on. Too many characters in a given episode
and not enough focus on core characters (Parker/Spidey, Aunt May, Jameson, Betty Brant) from the original comic book. The computer generated backgrounds are an eyesore, the music while driving is charmless, devoid of character, and why must all footsteps be sounded by a constant distracting clackety-clack? Click, clack, click, clack. Enough already. I don't want to hear tap-dancing shoes on concrete. I want to hear webs being spun and Spidey quipping a la the classics while engaging in mortal combat with madmen of grandiose schemes and villainous supermen. And I'm inclined to agree with an earlier reviewer that stories about the origin of villains are a waste of time. Show Spidey's origin, establish that these villains already exist, and then get on with the adventures. Also, too many 1990s episodes had banal adventures with storylines about common folk getting into trouble. Where's the fantasy that the Spidey universe is supposed to be? The trippy psychedlia of the 1960s stands in stark contrast to the sudsy approach of the 1990s. Aside from the Venom episodes which I'll concede were thoroughly exciting, the 1990s
Spidey was a to-watch-once-is-enough affair. The true attraction on this DVD is for me the 1967 episode, but the Stan Lee comments are entertaining as well.
I do recommend this disc for the 1967 episode first and foremost, and if the 1990s serial format is to a person's liking, fair enough. This DVD will deliver there as well.
Rating:
Summary: Disapointing, but if you're a spidey-fan get it
Review: I was so psyched when I heard of Spiderman TAS episodes on DVD. Unfortunately, I felt ripped off. All the episodes (with the exception of the Green Goblin episode) were plain stupid. I expected better episodes. Perhaps the story of the Black Costume Saga(Origin of Venom). Nevertheless, the special features on this DVD were outstanding. An interactive super villains gallery, original spiderman episode, and the interviews almost made up for the disapointing choice of episodes. Despite my negative criticism, its a must-have for Spidey fans.
Rating:
Summary: Disapointing, but if you're a spidey-fan get it
Review: I was so psyched when I heard of Spiderman TAS episodes on DVD. Unfortunately, I felt ripped off. All the episodes (with the exception of the Green Goblin episode) were plain stupid. I expected better episodes. Perhaps the story of the Black Costume Saga(Origin of Venom). Nevertheless, the special features on this DVD were outstanding. An interactive super villains gallery, original spiderman episode, and the interviews almost made up for the disapointing choice of episodes. Despite my negative criticism, its a must-have for Spidey fans.
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