Rating summary
Movie | | 4.0 |
Video | | 5.0 |
Audio | | 5.0 |
Extras | | 4.5 |
Overall | | 4.5 |
The Amazing Spider-Man Blu-ray Movie Review
Sony's latest Blu-ray entangles viewers in a web of high definition greatness.
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.
Slingin'.
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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The Amazing Spider-Man features a flawless 1080p transfer. The digital photography never features that glossy
sheen, instead presenting crisp,
rock-solid imagery that's superbly defined from top to bottom. The image is naturally detailed, very sharp, and nuanced in the
tightest of shots. General
attributes such as facial and clothing details completely satisfy, and the image picks up the intricacies of cityscape elements
with ease, clearly showcasing
the
tactile craftsmanship down on the ground and up high even as Spider-Man swings from location to location. The image truly
dazzles in the tightest
close-up
shots, revealing the smallest ridges and intimate details of the Spider-Man costume with astonishing accuracy and efficiency.
Colors, on the other hand,
aren't blindingly brilliant. In fact, one might even call the image slightly dim, but the palette is steady and offers the brightest
and dullest shades alike
with the same natural efficiency throughout the film. Black levels are superb; nighttime exteriors are brilliantly captured, with
deep, accurate blacks and
perfect shadow detail all around. Flesh tones are consistently true-to-life as well. The digital image features no negative
anomalies; banding, noise,
blockiness, and other unwanted attributes are completely absent from the picture. Though not always breathlessly beautiful,
this is a rock-solid,
all-around technically perfect transfer from Sony.
The Amazing Spider-Man 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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
The Amazing Spider-Man contains an exhaustive assortment of extra content, headlined by an audio commentary track
and a lengthy
making-of documentary that runs nearly the length of the film. Also included is an assortment of deleted scenes, digital effects
featurettes, and more.
This set also includes DVD and Ultraviolet copies.
Disc One:
- 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.
- 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.
Disc Two: (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 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 2D-only Blu-ray release of The Amazing Spider-Man features picture-perfect video and faultless
lossless audio. A large array of
extras are included. Very highly recommended.