Spider-Man (Superbit)

Columbia/Tristar | minutes | | | Standard DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) was a shy, introverted person, the kind who blends in and never stands out. But after an incredible turn of events, Parker will be different from everyone in the world, as he is given special powers. A routine field trip leads Parker to an exhibit on a rare spider, one which happens to be radioactive. The spider also happens to be loose, which Parker discovers when he is bitten. The bite isn't just painful, it snaps into motion a chain of biological events, ones which alter Parker's internal makeup. He soon starts to develop new talents, such as added speed and strength, not to mention a special sense whenever danger is close. He is also able to cling to walls and other surfaces, as well as fire off powerful webs, though he will need some time to master that last one. Parker tries to use his new skills, but a run at being a sports hero fails, then he allows a crook to escape right him. But when that same criminal murders his uncle, Parker vows to use his powers to enforce justice. At the same time, an executive named Norman Osborne (Willem Dafoe) has gained some powers of his own, thanks to exposure to a potent nerve gas. Now Parker has to deal with his new life as a crime fighter, keep his job at the newspaper, and try to win over the beautiful Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Even with some incredible powers, can even Spider-Man manage that kind of pressure?

I've never been fond of movies made from comic book sources, as the magic and expansive backgrounds just don't come across in cinema. After all, it would take ten movies to build up a proper level of depth for Spider-Man, unless of course, the producers just wanted to create a shallow sequel machine. As it turns out, that was the case and instead of depth, Spider-Man was a villain of the week type picture. I would have rather seen massive exposition in this first volume, then let the sequels cut loose with the action. Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead) tries to remain faithful to the comic book roots, with mild success, but he is rushed into action too soon, which means the storyline is shoved into about ten minutes of screen time. But even by popcorn action standards, Spider-Man is low on the chain, with rather mediocre set pieces. A few of the action sequences go well, or at least parts of the sequences, but not enough. In truth, I was bored with Spider-Man in theaters and on home video, I didn't change my mind. I found it to be a passable movie, but more of a wasted chance to bring a classic character to the big screen. The cast is atrocious, with Tobey Maguire in the lead, a role in which he seems lost throughout. I think Spider-Man could have been an awesome movie, but this was little more than a flat out disappointment. But if you're a fan, this Superbit edition is the best presentation, so you'll want to own the disc.

Spider-Man is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I've done comparisons with the original release and as expected, the improvements are minimal. After all, that original release looked excellent and as such, there was little room for enhancements. I did notice some sharper detail in a few scenes, but not enough to rave about. No worries though, as the original boasted a terrific transfer, so the movie looks superb here. The image is clean and has a lot of depth, which is good, since this movie relies a lot on flashy visuals. I do wish I could say this was more of an improvement, but a few small upgrades make it worth a look.

The video might not have offered sizable improvements, but the audio treatment more than compensates. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track is the same one found on the original release, but that's not bad news, as it sounds terrific. But as good as it sounds, the track falters when stacked up against the brand new DTS option. This new track opens up the material, which means action scenes are more explosive, while even reserved sequences have more presence. The small touches, the kind of subtle details that add to the atmosphere, which can make the experience more immersive, all come across well here. I was blown away by some of the more audio intensive sequences, so fans are in for a real treat here. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Thai, Chinese, and Korean.

In an unusual movie, this disc actually houses a supplement, whereas most Superbit releases have none. An audio commentary track with stars Tobey Maguire and J.K. Simmons is found here, an extra that cannot be found elsewhere. The track is a chatty one, with Maguire doing most of the talking, but not a lot of ground is covered. Maguire praises the cast and crew, while giving out sound bytes straight out of the press kit. Simmons is a little better, but Maguire doesn't let him get more than a few stories out.