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Features: Box Set, DVD
SPIDER-MAN (FEATURE): Average teenager Peter Parker is transformed into an extraordinary super hero after he is accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider. When his beloved uncle is savagely murdered during a robbery, young Peter vows to use his powers to avenge his death. Deeming himself "Spider-Man ," he sets about ridding the streets of crime, bringing him into conflict with malevolent super-villain "Green Goblin."SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004 FEATURE): In SPIDER-MAN 2, the latest installment in the blockbuster Spider-Man series, based on the classic Marvel Comics hero, Tobey Maguire returns as the mild-mannered Peter Parker, who is juggling the delicate balance of his dual life as college student and a superhuman crime fighter. Peter's life becomes even more complicated when he confronts a new nemesis, the brilliant Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) who has been reincarnated as the maniacal and multi-tentacled "Doc Ock." When Doc Ock kidnaps MJ (Kirsten Dunst), Spider-Man must swing back into action as the adventure reaches new heights of unprecedented excitement.Format: DVD MOVIE
"[2] ...smarter, hipper, faster, funnier, and flat-out more electrifying than the original..." Aaron Hillis, Premiere
"[1] It's hard to recall the last time a big-ticket summer movie delivered so fully on its promise." Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian
"[2] The pleasure is doubled in Spider-Man 2. Crackerjack entertainment from start to finish..." Todd McCarthy, Variety
"[1] ...exciting and satisfying...imagination and flair." William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Editor's Note
SPIDER-MAN: Based on the classic Marvel Comics series, Sam Raimi's SPIDER-MAN deftly details the origin of the web-slinging superhero. When awkward New York City teenager Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) attends a class field trip to a laboratory, he gets bitten by a genetically altered spider while taking photos of his longtime crush, the lovely Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Soon he discovers this bite has given him remarkable powers--heightened strength, dexterity, and awareness, along with the ability to cling to walls and shoot webs from his wrists. Hoping to win Mary Jane's heart using his new talents, Peter becomes distracted from home life with his doting Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson), ultimately leading to tragedy--and his new role as the crime-fighting Spider-Man. Meanwhile Harry Osborn (Willem Dafoe), the industrialist father of Peter's friend Norman (James Franco), undergoes a transformation of his own, bringing about the creation of Spider-Man's arch-nemesis: The Green Goblin. In order to save his loved ones--and all of New York City--from the devastating force of the deluded Goblin, Spider-Man must take on the villain in a series of stunning battles.By staying true to the essence of the comic book, Raimi accomplishes the rare feat of crafting a superhero movie with a real heart. Rather than focusing solely on action and explosions, SPIDER-MAN wisely shines the spotlight on the character of Peter Parker, played with perfect bewilderment by Maguire. The special effects, of course, are dazzling, but they are topped by an excellent cast that also includes the radiant Dunst, the menacing Dafoe, the brooding Franco, and the scene-stealing J.K. Simmons as Peter's tough-talking boss. (Raimi fans will notice cameos by the director's brother, Ted Raimi, and EVIL DEAD series star Bruce Campbell.) The result is a charming and amazingly entertaining film unafraid to combine CGI animation with sincere human emotion. SPIDER-MAN 2:Sam Raimi's follow-up to SPIDER-MAN finds Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) struggling to balance his everyday life with his alter ego as the web-slinging superhero. Still carrying the burden of keeping his crime-fighting identity from those closest to him--including his longtime love Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco), and his doting Aunt May (Rosemary Harris)--Parker must also face off against a dangerous new menace, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), a scientist driven mad by experiments involving powerful mechanical arms. When the deranged Octavius (AKA Doc Ock) forms an alliance with the vengeful Osborn, who blames Spider-Man for the death of his father, the wall-crawling hero is in for his biggest battle yet. With SPIDER-MAN 2, Raimi retains--and improves on--all of the elements that made the first film so good, including an excellent story (crafted, in part, by acclaimed novelist Michael Chabon), tight pacing, and stunning special effects. Parker's internal conflicts are even greater than before, and Maguire adds emotional depth to every scene. Returning actors Dunst, Franco, Harris, and J.K. Simmons (once again portraying Parker's tough-talking boss, J. Jonah Jameson) are all pitch-perfect in their roles, and, as the once-noble Octavius, Molina is remarkable, relishing his villainous lines, while giving the character a surprisingly vulnerable side. Throughout the movie, Raimi expertly balances drama and humor with dynamic action sequences, making SPIDER-MAN 2 feel more like a continuation of the original tale rather than an obligatory sequel. For a Hollywood movie, that's a real feat.
| Features | [1] Audio Commentary: Sam Raimi (Director), Kirsten Dunst, Laura Ziskin (Producer) & Grant Curtis (Co-Producer) | | [1] Branching Web-i-sodes | | [1] Costume & Make-Up Tests | | [1] Gag/Outtake Reel | | [1] Screen Tests: Tobey Maguire, J.K. Simmons & CGI Spider-Man | | [1] Special Effects Audio Commentary: John Dykstra (Special Effects Designer) & Visual Effects Crew | | [2] Making The Amazing: A 12 Part Documentary Form Pre-Production To The Hollywood Premiere | | [2] Spidey Sense 2: Trivia Track About The Film & The World Of Spider-Man | | [2] Audio Commentary: Sam Raimi (Director), Tobey Maguire, Avi Arad (Producer) & Grant Curtis (Co-Producer) | | [2] Blooper Reel | | [2] Optional English Dolby Digital Surround Audio | | [2] Optional Spanish Dolby Digital Surround Audio | | [2] Technical Audio Commentary | | [Both] Audio: English, French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | [Both] Dubbed: French | | [Both] Interactive Menus | | [Both] Scene Selection | | [Both] Subtitles: English, French, Spanish |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Sony Pictures |
| Release Date: 12/20/2005 |
| Original Release Date: 2002 | | Catalog ID: 13928 | | UPC: 00043396139282 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Standard 1.33:1 [4:3] |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Nominee (2005) | | | MTV Award, Spider-Man 2, [2] Best Movie | |
Winner (2005) | | | Oscar, John Dykstra, et. al., [2] Best Achievement in Visual Effects | |
Nominee (2005) | | | Oscar, Kevin O'Connell, et. al., [2] Best Achievement in Sound | | | Oscar, Paul N.J. Ottosson, [2] Best Achievement in Sound Editing | |
Winner (2003) | | | MTV Award, Kirsten Dunst, [1] Best Female Performance | | | MTV Award, Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, [1] Best Kiss | |
Nominee (2003) | | | Oscar, Kevin O'Connell, et. al., [1] Best Sound | | | Oscar, John Dykstra, et. al., [1] Best Visual Effects | |
Winner (2003) | | | People's Choice, Spider-Man, [1] Favorite Motion Picture | |
Nominee (2002) | | | British Academy Awards, John Dykstra, et. al., [1] Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects |
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| | Professional Reviews | ReelViews 8 of 10
[1] Recent times have been good to Marvel comics, and the long-anticipated arrival of Spider-Man represents the latest step up the ladder. Long the underdog in the motion picture arena, Marvel has at last been able to catch up to rival DC comics by placing a trio of its superheroes into multiplexes - Blade, the X-Men, and Spider-Man. DC may have struck first with Superman and Batman, but, these days, the comics-to-cinema summit belongs to Stan Lee's corporation. The second X-Men movie is on its way, as are Daredevil, The Hulk, and, a little farther into the future, The Fantastic Four...This is a pure popcorn movie - the kind of film one can unabashedly enjoy for what it is. There's plenty of visual flash and dizzying action, but not at the expense of the other qualities that make for a complete motion picture experience. - James Berardinelli
Chicago Sun-Times 10 of 10
[2] Now this is what a superhero movie should be. "Spider-Man 2" believes in its story in the same way serious comic readers believe, when the adventures on the page express their own dreams and wishes. It's not camp and it's not nostalgia, it's not wall-to-wall special effects and it's not pickled in angst. It's simply and poignantly a realization that being "Spider-Man" is a burden that Peter Parker is not entirely willing to bear..."Spider-Man 2" is the best superhero movie since the modern genre was launched with "Superman" (1978). It succeeds by being true to the insight that allowed Marvel Comics to upturn decades of comic-book tradition: Readers could identify more completely with heroes like themselves than with remote godlike paragons. - Roger Ebert
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