Spider-Man Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Spider-Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony's 2012 individual Blu-ray release of 2002's 'Spider-Man' contains a bevy of supplemental content not previously available on the 2007 boxed set. Video appears to be identical to the 2007 release but Sony has switched up the audio to a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Read on for more on what's new.

Spider-Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a full video review, please click here. Note that the score in this review reflects the overall video score awarded to the 2007 release.

Spider-Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As mentioned above, Spider-Man contains a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack rather than the original Blu-ray's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track (which, curiously, was included on the Mastered in 4K disc released in 2013, and the studio went back to the DTS track for the Blu-ray discs included in the 2017 DigiBook set set, so it's been a soundtrack merry-go-round for the films on Blu-ray). At this point, the track requires little expansion into great detail. It's unsurprisingly excellent, offering exceptional clarity whether in the finest dialogue exchanges or the most intense action scenes where music and effects alike swarm the stage with precision movement and detail. Surround implementation is strong, musical definition exacting, environmental support pieces precisely placed. It's a wonderful track, and fans cannot go wrong listening to either this or the TrueHD presentation from assorted other releases.

Spider-Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Spider Man's 2012 release contains a number of supplements previously not available on Blu-ray prior to its release. A now expired UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Spider Sense Trivia Challenge: A multiple choice quiz with questions that appear throughout the film. Various video-based prizes are awarded based on final score.
• The Spider-Man Cutting Room: An interactive tool that allows users to create their own clips with some music and sound effects. Also includes an intro to the Cutting Room (1080p, 2:17).
• Audio Commentary: Filmmakers and Cast: Director Sam Raimi, Producers Grant Curtis and Laura Ziskin, and Actress Kirsten Dunst deliver a pleasing, intricate track that, with a roster of participants from three key fields, covers a lot of ground including film construction, shooting schedule and locations, cast and performances, production design, visual effects, and plenty more. Of the three, this is the best one-stop shop for Spider-Man commentary.
• Audio Commentary: Actors Tobey Maguire & J.K. Simmons deliver the lightest track of the three while still offering some quality insight into a number of details surrounding the film, with emphasis, of course, on the happenings on their side of the camera.
• Audio Commentary: Visual Effects Designer & Crew: Visual Effects Designer John Dykstra is joined by Visual Effects Supervisor Scott Stokdyk and Animation Director Anthony LaMolinara for an in-depth discussion of the film's technical details. The nature of the track means it's not for everyone, but anyone interested in the ins-and-outs of how to make a 21st century effects-heavy movie will find it of great value.
• Spider-Man: The Mythology of the 21st Century (480i, 25:29): Stan Lee discusses his five-decade career in comics and the piece continues to explore the history of the Spider-Man character, both on the page and the people behind the art and storylines. It's a fascinating piece about evolution, the process of creating art and stories, the number of people involved in the process, large story arcs, the series' draw, character qualities, fun moments from the comics, villains, and much more. This is a fun, fast, and comprehensive piece that comic book fans are going to love.
• HBO Making of Spider-Man (480i, 24:42): A detailed making-of that includes cast and crew discussing the film's core qualities and narrative arc, the franchise's comic origins, cast and performances, making key scenes and visual effects, Sam Raimi's direction, set design, and more.
• "Spider-Mania" An E! Entertainment Special (480i, 40:32): This piece again explores the character's history in comics (including the publisher's initial doubts), Raimi's love of the franchise, character qualities, the complex process of transitioning the comic to the screen, the technological advances allowing the film to be properly made, the film's love story, casting and performances, cast chemistry, character details and interaction in the film, working with spiders in the film, talk of sequels, and much more.
• Director & Composer Profiles (480i): Cast and crew talk up two of the film's key crew. Included are Director Profile: Sam Raimi (7:05) and Composer Profile: Danny Elfman (7:27).
• Behind the Scenes of Spider-Man (480i): Shorter pieces that focus on specific aspects of the filmmaking process. Included are Costume Design (8:27), Designing the World of 'Spider-Man' (6:20), Spider Wrangler (1:31), Wrestling Match (2:48), World Unity Festival (2:19), Oscorp Lab (3:24), and Goblin's Arsenal (7:28).
• Screen Tests (480i): A few early run-throughs for the camera. Included are Tobey Maguire (1:13), J.K. Simmons (0:49), CGI Spider-Man (0:21), and Makeup and Costumes (2:55).
• Gags & Outtakes (480i, 3:04): Funny moments from the shoot.
• Webisodes Spider-Man (480i): More brief and narrowly focused featurettes. Included are Spider-Wrangler (8:52), Bone Saw McGraw (1:47), The Model Maker (1:48), Production Designer (3:18), Set Design (2:33), and Set Builder (2:15).
• Music Videos (480i): "Hero" Performed by Chad Kroeger and Featuring Josey Scott (3:26) and "What We're All About" by Sum 41 (3:43).
• TV Spots (480i, 5:22 total runtime): Amazing, Epic, Thread of Hope, Kids Suit Up, Upside Down, Suit Up, Blockbuster Countdown Thursday, Destiny Countdown, Cingular, Chasing Kids Down, and Review #1.
• Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:19).
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.

Spider-Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sony's 2012 Blu-ray release of Spider-Man offers no change in video and a lateral move in audio from one 5.1 track encode to another, but does include a large assortment of new-to-Blu-ray supplemental content, including a trio of audio commentary tracks. This is no longer the definitive version considering all that's available in the new UHD set. That said, it does add supplements not previously included in 2007 but lacks the picture quality from the "Mastered in 4K" discs. Note that this same disc is included in the 2013 trilogy boxed set.