SPIDER-MAN
With Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst,
James Franco Directed by Sam Raimi After decades of fanticipation,
the super-hero relief finally struck the globe (after even more waiting to rectify
scenes involving the World Trade Center). Now the major comic-to-screen adaptations
have been done: Superman,
Batman
and now old Spidey.
Approach this film with the mere need to be entertained. Evil
Dead trilogy creator Sam Raimi
is now a fully-fledged big time director (after his horror exploits, he made the
Fargo-like
Simple Plan
and the looong Costner romantic baseball drama, For
Love Of The Game). Good for
him. He does the Stan Lee comic book character justice, albeit with the
help of major CGI FX. Did you expect anything less in this day & age? Peter Parker
(convincingly portrayed by the ever-totally-guy-next-door Maguire) is the nerd
whose had a lifelong crush on his next door neighbour's daughter - a major driving
force behind the narrative. After being bitten by a genetically spliced spider,
he gains several spider characteristics with its advantages and shortcomings.
The words of his uncle that "with great power come great responsibility"
echoes through his exploits. While moonlighting as a wall-climbing, web-shooting
& -swinging crime fighter, his biggest nemesis comes in the shape of his flatmate's
industrial science dad, whose experiment turns him into a deranged Jekyll &
Hyde character, The Green
Goblin. With enough humour
and romance to counteract the violence, action, and dizzying web-flying scenes,
Spider-Man
does exactly what it set out to - entertain. Sequels are already in pre-production
- especially with its box office shattering openings worldwide. I'm just really
glad it was Raimi who got the shot - just disappointed that he could only squeeze
his old buddy Bruce Campbell (Ash from the Evil Dead flicks) into a small role
as wrestle ringmaster. The double disc contains a wealth of extras. Commentary
tracks from director and stars as well as FX guys. Multi-angle web-i-sodes. Subtitled
factoids. 4 featurettes - making of's and profiles of director Raimi and composer
Danny Elfman. A documentary on the comic book character with creator Stan Lee
and artists interviews. Outtakes. Screen tests. TV spots & trailers. Sum
41 ans Chad
Kroeger (Nickelback)
music videos. Spider-Man
villain profiles. Easter Egg. Photo gallery. DVD-Rom features like Comic/Feature
comparison, weblinks, 3 Marvel dot.comics, PS2 game levels, Record Your Own Commentary…Pretty
damn impressive, or what. Is it safe to say video is dead or at least halfway
out the door? 4 / B - PB
click for soundtrack review |