The Amazing Spider-Man 3D Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Amazing Spider-Man 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

The 3D visuals may leave many viewers disappointed with an otherwise tremendous package from Sony.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 24, 2012

If anyone's destined for greatness, it's you.

Movie studios seem to be pushing up the timetable for remakes and re-imaginings to years, not decades. What was once something rare has become something commonplace has become something movie fans simply expect. Uproar over the ruining of various films has given way to begrudging acceptance of the new norm, which has itself given way to anticipation if the movie promises big things and new ideas, improving on older material and not simply cashing in on a name. Perhaps this new wave should be called "Revampings" (cooler than "Reboot," with the whole bloodsucker "vamp" angle; it sort of fits the Hollywood mold of sucking viewers dry of their cash, does it not?) rather than "Remakes" or "Re-Imaginings." Probably the most notable of the new "Revamps," before now, was The Incredible Hulk, a movie released a mere five years after the disappointing Hulk and, indeed, upping the ante considerably, making amends for Director Ang Lee's admirable but shaky effort with a crazy-good Superhero movie on the way to The Avengers (which, oddly enough, starred a third actor in as many movies playing the not-so-jolly green giant). What Marvel and Sony have done with the Spider-Man franchise, however, seems even more radical. The trio of Tobey Maguire-starring web-slingers grossed a combined $2.5 billion (yes, with a "B") from 2002 through 2007, give or take a few million. The movies were largely well-received by critics and embraced by fans. It seemed like a franchise that could do no wrong, or at worst only a little wrong (everyone remembers Tobey's sigh-inspiring song-and-dance routine from Spider-Man 3). But when plans for a fourth installment fell through, and with Spider-Man and Superhero flicks still as popular as ever, the decision was made to revamp (see?) the franchise, take it in a slightly new direction with new talent, and rake in the money for a brand-new trilogy of films. Hence The Amazing Spider-Man was born, a critical success that, even with more costly 3D showings, failed to beat out any of the Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire films in box office returns. The good news, however, is that The Amazing Spider-Man is, well, pretty amazing, a movie that gets off to a very slow start but picks up considerable steam once Peter Parker polishes his powers.

Ready for my close-up.

A young Peter Parker (Max Charles) is forced from his home when his father finds his study ransacked. He's left to live with his aunt May (Sally Field) and his uncle Ben (Martin Sheen). His parents never return for him. Years pass, and Peter (Andrew Garfield) is now something of a nerdy high schooler. He's an expert photographer and a science and technology wizard, but he's an easy target for bullies -- including jock "Flash" Thompson (Chris Zylka) -- and uncomfortable around the fairer sex. He does, however, have his eye on Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), a beautiful classmate who works as an intern at Oscorp. When Peter's uncle's basement floods, the family races to save its valuables. Peter uncovers his father's old satchel and finds inside of it a complex algorithm which leads him to Oscorp and Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), a research scientist with a missing right arm who's working on a process to regrow human tissue, mimicking the unique abilities of the reptile family. Peter impresses Connors with his extensive knowledge that seems to rival -- and maybe surpass -- the doctor's own. On a stealth visit to the facility, Peter is accidentally bitten by a spider housed inside a restricted area. He suddenly gains impressive powers he cannot initially control, such as super strength and a greatly enhanced grip. When tragedy befalls his family, Peter embraces his powers, fashions a suit, harnesses the technological power of a strong spider web-like "biocable" material, and transforms himself into a masked vigilante, calling himself "Spider-Man." As his relationship with Gwen blossoms, he becomes aware of a terrible secret and dangerous research that could lead Dr. Connors down a darkened path, leaving him in an altered physical state and possibly spelling doom for the entire city.

The Amazing Spider-Man tells the same core tale with which comic book and movie fans are already intimately familiar, that of the origins of Spider-Man and how his personal history, intelligence, humanity, and those closest to him all shape his destiny. The good news is that doesn't mean the movie brings nothing new to the table. Along with a new cast, a different director, and some good old 2012 movie polish, The Amazing Spider-Man creates a new feel for the franchise, not so much dazzling with high-flying adventure and huge action scenes -- those certainly remain an integral, important, entertaining, and necessary part -- but rather creating a deeper human element that's more fully realized here, that doesn't take a back seat to special effects but rather guides the movie from beginning to end, defining the action rather than vice- versa. The picture dabbles in deep and dark elements alike, notably in the idea of loss and how man copes with his past and tragedy and how he perceives the future and makes use of hope, hope in all forms: scientific, physical, and emotional. It's a film about the responsibilities of power, which has always been the central theme of Spider-Man but told here with less of a contrast and more of a fuzziness, a greater sense of the abstract, where heroes and villains are distanced not in black and white terms or even, really, shades of gray, but rather slight departures in thought processes that blossom into greater differences manifest in the physical and only then yielding the film's big action moments. The movie's grasp of human nuance, psychology, and the innate goodness of man, combined with themes centered on the ease with which good intentions can yield terrible consequences, all make The Amazing Spider-Man a rousing success, but of course the movie requires polish and skill in the shaping of its action and visual effects to truly become a Superhero movie epic.

No surprise, The Amazing Spider-Man accomplishes both with a seamlessness and excitement befitting a major Superhero blockbuster. The film's second and third acts present audiences with a myriad of top-tier visual effects and amazing stunts that are largely simple but highly effective, whether Peter Parker learning of and playing with his newfound powers on the basketball court, taking out some longstanding frustrations on an old bully, or out in the world subduing the criminal element while still finding his stride, polishing his technique, and harnessing the full potential of his powers. Audiences will believe in Spider-Man's abilities to sling across buildings much as they believed in Superman's ability to fly. Certainly there's nothing so cutting edge, dazzling, classic, or memorable to these visuals, but the raw seamlessness with which Spider-Man maneuvers up around buildings and over roof tops will impress viewers at the very least with how well it's all integrated into the film, how effortlessly it's utilized and not made a gimmick to draw attention away from dramatic shortcomings which, here, largely don't exist. Perhaps the film's single most disappointing element comes in the rather cartoonish Lizard special effects. The creature looks fine but moves a hair awkwardly and doesn't quite find that sense of real life and buried humanity in its eyes. It's a serviceable digital villain but, to be sure, the film's nemesis is rightly built and developed more on human and emotional levels than it is on a purely digital one, which makes the slightly inorganic computer effect a little easier to swallow.

If there's one other thing to potentially dislike about The Amazing Spider-Man, it's the film's slow and terribly stale open. Granted, a film of this sort requires a trudging through the backstory motions, but it's not so much the character development as it is the generic way the film goes about it. It presents the same old "bullied teen" and "geeky nerd" angles to a monotonous fault. There's no spirit to the film's first act, no sense of awe or magic, but perhaps a somewhat more downplayed beginning actually, in a way, helps the film by making its lead character so nondescript that his elevation to superhero becomes all the more magical and dramatically satisfying. If nothing else that's a good theory to embrace, because without some sort of purpose the film's first fifty or so minutes are something of a lethargic drag. The good news is that afterward, The Amazing Spider-Man rocks. The movies does very well in intermixing all the keys to blockbuster cinema success, combining humor and action, serious drama and heart very well. The cast is excellent, too. Andrew Garfield is surprisingly effective as Peter and Spider-Man both, a bit more mature than Tobey Maguire but not completely absent a childlike sense of wonder. The movie's slightly more serious tone aids his performance considerably. Director Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer) humanizes the character so well and films him so exactly that even through the mask he and Garfield find a humanity in the darkened eyes, the postures, and the poses. Garfield rounds the character very well from lackadaisical beginning to rousing end, supported by an excellent performance from Emma Stone as the likable girl- next-door love interest who, of course, just so happens to be the daughter of Spider-Man's biggest 100% human nemesis played by Dennis Leary, making for an unoriginal but dramatically effective battle of wits and physical confrontation on the streets. Rhys Ifans digs deep inside his character and gives his Dr. Connors the life and vitality the digital lizard cannot, shaping his villain as more menacing in the flesh and through the mind than the larger-than-life altered lizard state.

The Amazing Spider-Man 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Generally, Sony's Blu-ray 3D presentation of The Amazing Spider-Man lacks invigorating 3D depth and pop. First, however, the boring stuff. The transfer retains the same exacting details as found on the faultless 2D-only release. The fantastic textures both digital and practical (the lizard skin and the Spider-Man suit) remain, as does the image's general clarity, sharpness, and precise definition. On the flip side, the image is notably darker; the movie wasn't the brightest by design in the 2D version, and the palette appears even dimmer in 3D. Colors are stable and consistent but lack much in the way of vibrancy, even in the most well-lit scenes and considering the brightest shades. There's a hint of shimmering around the 30:45 mark that's not really evident in the 2D version, but otherwise the transfer holds up in all other areas, never presenting any bouts of banding, blocking, or noise.

The 3D elements are largely lackluster. Much of the film appears fairly indistinguishable between 2D and 3D; to be sure, all of the dramatic dialogue moments offer little-to-no added depth, at least none that truly springs out as more evident than what the 2D version has to offer. There's a decided lack of added space even in sprawling city environments, spacious office lobbies, and basketball courts; none are all that dimensionally dynamic. To be sure, there's some depth and separation, but chances are quite a few viewers will forget entirely that the movie is in 3D for much of its duration. The good news, however, is that the action scenes yield considerably more "obvious" 3D effects, as somewhat more reserved than the "norm" they may be. The 3D effects appear more fluid and natural as Spider-Man swings from one location to the next, as he battles on the bridge, as he fights the lizard at film's end. The motion effects give the audience a fairly involved and even gratifying sense of high- speed natural movement through a 3D environment. The image, in these scenes, also adds some dramatic spacing visuals, usually making use of Spider-Man's web lines as they extend from a point inwards and, conversely, out towards the audience. Additionally, the holographic Oscorp visuals look quite dramatic, shapely, and extended from the screen in 3D. On the whole, however, this one's not going to really dazzle audiences looking for extreme depth and consonant pop. The action scenes work quite well, but audiences will have to decide if those scenes alone are worth the added cost of a 3D Blu-ray screening.

The Amazing Spider-Man 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Amazing Spider-Man's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is every bit the sort of thrilling Superhero movie sound experience listeners demand. The track places precision elements all over the stage, creating a seamless and real-world sound environment with perfect clarity. From small effects like a swinging, squeaky door to drenching rains and booming thunder, the track offers every element with the sort of natural reproduction reserved for the best of the best high definition tracks. More impressive is the seamless sense of space; Sony's soundtrack paints a vivid sonic picture of every environment, completely immersing listeners into the school hallway, the Oscorp labs, and the busy city streets. Directional effects move seamlessly from one channel to the next, and precision sound placement anywhere in the stage is amongst this track's specialties. Music plays with a faultless tone, reproducing James Horner's high quality score with the sort of lifelike realism that defines lossless audio at its best. Action scenes are powerful and incorporate the best elements described above. Sound swooshes about the listening area and does so seamlessly. Various action effects are aggressive and clear, precisely placed and naturally immersive. Bass is potent and hits hard but not so hard as to distract. Instead, the low end is a completing element that brings real life and heft to the proceedings. Dialogue is firm and absolutely clear, remaining focused in the middle except as dictated by environment. This is a stellar soundtrack. That should come as no surprise given all the factors -- big blockbuster new release, Sony title -- but it's still a pleasure to hear from start to finish.

The Amazing Spider-Man 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Amazing Spider-Man's Blu-ray 3D disc contains two 3D-specific supplements. This package also includes the entirety of the 2D-only release content, meaning the commentary, Second Screen Experience, Documentary, deleted scenes, and additional extras (including the DVD and Ultraviolet copes) are all available. For those who would prefer to listen to the commentary while watching in 3D, it's also available on the 3D disc.

3D Disc:

• Audio Commentary: Director Marc Webb and Producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach open with a discussion of defining the Peter Parker character and the central theme that both shapes the greater narrative and literally opens the film. They cover the themes and spell them out with some meaning. They discuss the nuance of the performances, how the actors helped define the drama and themes, and the detailed scripted shaping of all the characters. They also cover rebooting (revamping?) the series so quickly, the massive canonical material available, cut scenes, similarities to other classic works, crafting various action scenes, storytelling techniques and advancing the plot and drama, and plenty more. This is a fast, informative, and worthwhile commentary. With optional English, Chinese Traditional, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai subtitles.
• 3D 101 with Director Marc Webb (1080p, 3D, 6:22): The director offers a basic but fascinating overview of how photographing in 3D works. He also discusses a few specific scenes in some detail. Ironically, this supplement offers more pronounced 3D than the film. Note an obvious lip sync issue in the supplement.
• Iconic Poses and Digital Environments - 3D Image Progression Reel (1080p, 3D, 2:36): A collection of scenes that reveal the details behind the creation of Spider-Man's digital movements within the New York environment. The piece contains voiceover commentary by Additional Animation Supervisor David Schaub.

2D Disc:

• Audio Commentary: See above.
• Second Screen Experience / What is The Amazing Spider-Man Second Screen Experience? (1080p, 1:04): The former is an app designed for the iPad or Sony tablet devices that allow users to interact with a wide array of content on a second device while watching the movie on TV. The Blu-ray player must connect wirelessly with the device. Production notes, effects shots breakdowns, storyboards, digital models, and much more are available. The latter is merely an advertisement and crude tutorial for the "Second Screen Experience."
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.

Supplements Disc: (Special features available with optional English, Chinese Traditional, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese [Brazil], Portuguese [Portugal], Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Turkish subtitles).

• Rite of Passage: The Amazing Spider-Man Reborn (1080p, 1:49:49): This seven-part documentary chronicles the process of bringing a new version of Spider-Man to the screen. In The Drawing Board: Development and Direction (13:09), cast and crew discuss reinventing the filmed franchise. They speak on moving on from the Sam Raimi trilogy, incorporating elements of the ultra-modern world but remaining true to the source, hiring Marc Webb and the attributes he brought to the film, the Peter Parker character arc, the villain's similarities with and contrasts against Peter Parker, and more. Friends and Enemies: Casting (15:19) examines the intricate and demanding process of assembling the cast, including Andrew Garfield, Rhys Ifans, Emma Stone, Dennis Leary, Sally Field, and Martin Sheen. Included are screen test clips of the actors' rehearsals. Next is Second Skins: Spidey Suit and The Lizard (11:23), a look at the use of modern technology in the film and designing both Spider-Man's suit and the prosthetics that shape the villain's lizard form. Spidey Goes West: Production - Los Angeles (16:37) opens with a look at the first day of shooting -- the wrestling ring scene -- and moving on to examine stunt work and the film's reliance on real stunts and action in its effort to enhance authenticity. Also examined are inspirations for the film's style. The piece also showcases the process of making various scenes in different locales and the advantages of shooting at, in, and around each. Also examined is Andrew Garfield's stunt work. Next is Safe Haven: Production - Sony Studios (15:27), a segment that looks at the making of more scenes in the Sony studios, including parts of the Williamsburg Bridge action sequence, the underground locales, school interiors hosting a major action piece, the Oscorp labs, and the end battle made in front of a blue screen. Bright Tights, Big City: Production - New York (9:32) focuses on, obviously, the scenes filmed in the Big Apple and the importance of the city in the film, the franchise, and Marvel properties. Lastly, The Greatest Responsibility - Post Production and Release (28:50) looks back at how well the film works, the editing process, creating the film's many complex digital effects, the authenticity of the animation (bringing in the Iconic Poses and Digital Environments - 3D Image Progression Reel supplement from the 3D disc), James Horner's score, sound design, the lasting themes of Spider-Man, and more.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 16:50): A Different Fate; Connors' Condolences; Tracking Connors; Hacking Connors; Going Away; Top To Bottom, Part 1; Top to Bottom, Part 2; Bad Lizard; Help Me; All The Power You Feel; and Lost Something.
• Pre-Visualization (1080p, 39:08): Storyboards and animated visualization sequences for many of the film's pivotal scenes, all set to music. Included are Revised Opening Sequence, Spider Room, The Subway, Birth of Spider-Man, Handstand, Rooftop POV, Overpass, Bridge, Love Swing, Lizard Sewer, High School, Lizard Ambush, Standoff, Crane, Oscorp Lab, and Oscorp Finale.
• The Oscorp Archives Production Art Gallery (1080p): An interactive collection of concept art broken down into three categories: Spider-Man, The Lizard, and Environments.
• Image Progression Reels (1080p): Detailed examinations of how all-digital scenes progress towards the end products that appear in the film. Included are High School Fight Sequence (commentary by Sr. Visual Effects Supervisor Jerome Chen), Iconic Poses and Digital Environments (commentary by Additional Animation Supervisor David Schaub), The Lizard Emerges (commentary by Sr. Visual Effects Supervisor Jerome Chen and Digital Effects Supervisor David Smith) and Sewer Battle (commentary by Sr. Visual Effects Supervisor Jerome Chen and Digital Effects Supervisor David Smith). Note that this piece also recycles the Iconic Poses and Digital Environments - 3D Image Progression Reel supplement.
• Stunt Rehearsals (1080p, 11:52): Raw on-set footage of stunt preparation work. Included are Subway, Testing Powers, Alley Fight, Escape Under Bridge, Sewer Fight, Spidey vs. Lizard, Lizard Attacks SWAT, and SWAT Attacks Spidey.
• Developing The Amazing Spider-Man Video Game (1080p, 3:30): A brief look at the game with its developers.

The Amazing Spider-Man 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Amazing Spider-Man works on every level. It's not just a "cool new movie" but also a rather deep character study and human drama mixed together with polished action and fine visual effects. The movie is a little slow out of the gate and the digital monster doesn't look seamlessly fantastic, but otherwise this is a real winner, a superb picture and an excellent movie revamp of a franchise that, perhaps, didn't scream out as needing a second look but that definitely benefits from it. Director Marc Webb's slightly more human take on the series works very well, as does the ensemble cast that largely beats out the primaries from the earlier films. Overall, The Amazing Spider-Man is a winner and one of the best of the recent crop of Superhero movies. Sony's Blu-ray 3D release of The Amazing Spider-Man contains all the great bonus features of the 2D disc -- plus added 3D content -- as well as the same fantastic lossless soundtrack. The 3D presentation may disappoint a good many viewers, however. Completists will get the entire experience here, but fans on a budget are encouraged to save a few dollars and pick up the superior 2D-only release instead.