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Stars:
Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris,
Donna Murphy, J.K. Simmons, Ted Raimi, Cliff Robertson, Bruce Campbell, and
Willem Dafoe
Writer:
Alvin Sargent
Based
On A Screen Story By: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Charon
Based
On The Marvel Comic Book By: Stan Lee
Director:
Sam Raimi
Feature length: 128 minutes
Languages: English DTS Digital 5.1
Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles: English Captions and
Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging: Amaray Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 52
Sound: DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical
Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 2004/DVD
Release: 2004
Theatrical Distributor: Columbia
Pictures
Home Video Distributor: Sony
Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
“Spider-Man” is one of the
best live action superhero films I’ve ever seen. In fact I’d say it is the
best live action superhero feature film to have been produced since the original
1978 “Superman: The Movie,” which starred the late Christopher Reeve. While
many people say “Spider-Man 2” was better than “Spider-Man,” I have
found that very few sequels are better than the original and the best sequels
advance the story and characters while taking the viewer in a different
direction. “The Empire Strikes Back” is an excellent example of this because
it deepened the characters and delivered the action, but it did it in a way few
expected it to go. Thus “The Empire Strikes Back” is considered among the
best entries in the Star Wars Saga, but as good as it is, I think it is
equal to the original “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope” and to me that is
a great accomplishment. For the record the only genre film sequel that comes to
mind as being truly better than the original for me personally is “Mad Max 2:
The Road Warrior.” Of course just as I type this a few other film series come
to mind and I will add that perhaps the second and definitely the third films in
The Man With No Name Trilogy are increasingly more complex and
entertaining than the first, but I’m not even sure if “The Godfather Part
II” is better than “The Godfather.” Please note that the Mad Max
films are essentially a variation on the same kind of westerns Clint Eastwood
made in the 1960s and 70s so for me anyway, it really is tough to identify an
original sequel that is better than the original film that inspired it. It is
like when a person poses the hypothetical question, “If you could have one
wish granted this very moment, what would it be?” The general consensus would
either be an impulsive response or a reply of “I don’t know.” So as far as
I am concerned “Spider-Man 2” is truly as good as the first film and from me
I consider that a very high compliment because “Spider-Man” still is a
terrific movie and it is not easy to hit two home runs in a row let alone one.
When things come together in such
a right way consistently as is the case with both “Spider-Man” and
“Spider-Man 2” it is truly sublime and feels almost like it was ordained
from above and maybe it was? It’s not just the excellent special effects and
the casting that make these films so good. The screen direction by Sam Raimi
truly shows that all three “Evil Dead” movies and even the original “Dark
Man” help prepare him for “Spider-Man” because in the case of the “Evil
Dead” movies Ash (Bruce Campbell) becomes very much like a comical if not
unlikely super heroic figure. Bringing in writers from “Smallville,” which
reinvigorated the “Superman” mythology for yet another TV generation truly
had a profound impact on the storytelling of “Spider-Man 2” because the
characters are deeper and more interesting. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is a
struggling student and his life outside of being Spider-man is just as engaging
because his life has many elements that viewers can identify with. This is true
for everyone. Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) is a terrific villain because he is
a tragic character. He is a brilliant man driven mad by his creation. Not unlike
Willem Dafoe’s portrayal of The Green Goblin in the first film. That’s why
we like them or as they say “we love to hate them.” It is what makes Darth
Vader one of the most memorable sci-fi villains ever. There’s humanity in all
of these characters and that humanity is what creates the drama and I think one
can argue that “Spider-Man 2” is also as much a drama as it is a comic book
film, a sci-fi adventure, and an action picture. I believe we will have to wait
until 1997 to see the third “Spider-Man” feature film, which is tough since
after two films released two years apart from each other came out so well that
it is not easy wait longer for the next installment, but as long as it is as
good as the first two, it will be well worth it. Personally I hope the Academy
remembers “Spider-Man 2” at Oscar® time because at the very least, I think
it deserves a Best Screenplay nomination.
I love bonus features as much if
not more than any person and in the case of “Spider-Man 2” I love the film
so much that I ran out and purchased the “Widescreen Special Edition” just
like everyone else, but with a series like Spider-Man I also want the
best possible picture and sound quality available and Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment’s “Spider-Man 2: Superbit” delivers on this promise. Until
the eventual high definition Blueray® disc hits the market, this will be the
best possible home video version of “Spider-Man 2” available commercially.
The picture is presented in a vibrant anamorphic widescreen (2.40:1) aspect
ratio and the image quality is practically flawless. Add to that a true kick-ass
English DTS Digital 5.1Theatrical Soundtrack mix and what consumers get is an
excellent demo disc to show off to their friends and relatives and a great film
on DVD to enjoy over and over again too. An English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack is also included along with English Captions and Closed Captions for
the hearing impaired and French and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded onto the
dual layered DVD as options. In keeping with the nature of most “Superbit”
DVD titles, nearly the entire disc is used purely for the best possible picture
and sound quality commercially available so there are no bonus features except
for DVD-ROM web links to press reviews, www.SonyPictures.com,
and www.superbitDVD.com. Yet with
films as good as Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” or Peter Jackson’s big screen
adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, I don’t mind owning two
copies of the same film to have all the bonus features and the best possible
picture and sound on DVD. I think it’s worth it.
“Spider-Man 2: Superbit” is
available on DVD-Video now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment.
© Copyright 2004 By Mark A.
Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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