Spider-Man 3 (2-Disc Special Edition)

Amazon.com

How does Spider-Man 3 follow on the heels of its predecessor, which was widely considered the best superhero movie ever? For starters, you pick up the loose threads from that movie, then add some key elements of the Spidey comic-book mythos (including fan-favorite villain Venom), the black costume, and the characters of Gwen Stacy and her police-captain father. In the beginning, things have never looked better for Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire): He's doing well in school; his alter ego, Spider-Man, is loved and respected around New York City. And his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), has just taken a starring role in a Broadway musical. But nothing good can last for Spidey. Mary Jane's career quickly goes downhill; she's bothered by Peter's attractive new classmate, Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard); and the new Daily Bugle photographer, Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), is trying to steal his thunder. Enter a new villain, the Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), who can transform his body into various forms and shapes of sand and who may be connected to Peter's past in an unexpected way. There's also the son of an old villain, Harry Osborne (James Franco), who unmasked Spidey in the previous movie and still has revenge on his mind. And a new black costume seems to boost Spidey's powers, but transforms mild-mannered Peter into a mean and obnoxious boor (Maguire has some fun here).

If that sounds like a lot to pack into one 140-minute movie, it is. While director Sam Raimi keeps things flowing, assisted on the screenplay by his brother Ivan and Alvin Sargent, there's a little too much going on, and it's inevitable that one of the villains (there are three or four, depending on how you count) gets significantly short-changed. Still, the cast is excellent, the effects are fantastic, and the action is fast and furious. Even if Spider-Man 3 isn't the match of Spider-Man 2, it's a worthy addition to the megamillion-dollar franchise. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Batman, Aquaman, and Superman review Spidey3.......2007-09-17

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R112H4CU4FASW5 This is a SKETCH COMEDY MOVIE REVIEW. I improv comedy while giving an honest review of the film. Also, this is a review of the film NOT the DVD (so I don't cover the extras and so forth). Please enjoy!
Please check my other reviews!

A very poor follow up to the excellent Spider-Man 2.......2007-09-15

After the superb movie that was Spider-Man 2, I had high expectations for it's successor. I knew it had big shoes to fill, and I wondered how Sam Raimi would top Spider-Man 2.

Unfortunately, he didn't. He didn't even come close. Spider-Man 3 is without a doubt the worst of the three Spider-Man movies. It lost the heart and soul of it's predecessors. It's a horrible mix of rushed plot lines, under developed characters, and over the top stupid cheesiness [the dance sequences, those horrible reporters, and so much more].

Tobey Maguire does his best with a horrible script. But, his ludicrous dancing, ridiculous bad boy emo look, and constant crying, really water down his performance.
Kirsten Dunst delivers her worst performance yet. Her MJ is not at all endearing in any way. She pouts, whines, and complains thru the entire movie. Why does Peter love this girl?
James Franco fares much better, delivering a great performance as the tortured and vengeful Harry Osborn. He is the undisputed star of this movie.
Thomas Haden Church is wasted. The actor himself doesn't even appear on screen most of the time, as his character is usually a large CGI sand cloud or a giant sand monster. The character has virtually no personality, and because of that I failed to feel any kind of connection to the character. The Sandman connection to Uncle Ben was ridiculously contrived and utterly pointless.
Topher Grace is another wasted actor. Eddie Brock is reduced to a few brief appearances at random spots throughout the movie. There is no exploration of the character. No substance given to him. No development. His turn into a villain at the movie's climax is rushed, and brief. Venom is the most forgettable villain of the movie's villain trio, and of the whole Spider-Man movie trilogy.

It's not all entirely bad, though. J.K. Simmons delivers another great turn as Jonah Jameson. Bryce Dallas Howard is utterly sweet and charming as the kind Gwen Stacy, Peter's college friend. Lets hope she becomes the new love interest in future sequals.

Great film, but............2007-09-13

Spider-Man 3 was a great comic book film no matter what you think. Spider-Man 2 is still the reigning king of comic book to film adaptations but you've gotta give cred to Raimi and crew for this third installment. The introduction of Venom was long awaited but one of the flaws with this movie was the fact that Sandman really didn't fit into the movie. Sandman, in my opinion, was there for the sympathetic factor and just to add another villain because Venom didn't come around until the end of the movie(total drag!). Venom should've been around a lot longer in the film. The emotion and human-touch was there but a few scenes were alittle questionable, such as the Peter Parker jazz dance among other things. The action was top notch and the effects were as great as ever. Danny Elfman's score, or I think Chris Young did this film, was also a great listen.Overall, It was satisfying. I'm a huge Spider-Man fan and the movies do more than justify the comics, they honor them. It's great to see great comic book heroes made into movies and you've gotta thank Spidey

I became a chain smoker after this "MOVIE".......2007-09-09

ok so get this ,first off ima comic book fan so heading to the theatre i already have high hopes but low expectations 15 minutes into this atrocity i was pissed and as the movie progressed i slowly but surely found myself becoming more and more angry, i know people liked this one but try as i might i just dont get why, it was horribly put together too much singing too much dancing too much crying (wow this has quickly become a rant) every time i run into someone who says they liked it i cant get my brain to accept that i honestly think their messin w/ me and i follow them pointing out why i hated that tripe shortly after i have to have a smoke

The sad facts.......2007-09-07

The sad facts: 1 too many villains, 2 Tobey Maguire's dark side was comical, 4 what happened to the magic from the second film? 5 The ending sucked so hard the devil wept, 6 came real close to Batman 4, the bad out way the good.

Spider-Man - The High Definition Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 2.1 / Spider-Man 3) [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Batman, Aquaman, and Superman review Spidey3
A very poor follow up to the excellent Spider-Man 2
Great film, but.....
I became a chain smoker after this "MOVIE"
The sad facts

Spider-Man - The High Definition Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 2.1 / Spider-Man 3) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Tobey Maguire
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000UR9T82
Release Date: 2007-10-30

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Customer Reviews:

Batman, Aquaman, and Superman review Spidey3.......2007-09-17

A very poor follow up to the excellent Spider-Man 2.......2007-09-15

Great film, but............2007-09-13

I became a chain smoker after this "MOVIE".......2007-09-09

The sad facts.......2007-09-07

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

No HD DVD version
Disney delivers magic on Blu-ray
Solid movie with brilliant picture and crisp sound make this a must-buy for Blu-Ray owners!
Wow, amazing picture!!
Great Quality

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Starring: Christopher Adamson , Lee Arenberg , Josie Dapar , Johnny Depp , and Spider Madison
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000N6UERU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product description

Charming rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back to wreak hilarious havoc on the high seas on Blu-ray Disc®! Also starring Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly, this swashbuckling joyride will amaze you as never before in this spectacular, "see-worthy" format! Jack's got a blood debt to pay: he owes his soul to Davy Jones, ghostly Ruler of the Deep. Get caught up in the whirlpool of Jack's misadventures as he schemes to avoid eternal damnation by seizing the fabled Dead Man's Chest. Thrill to the nonstop action, devilish humor, monstrous sea creatures and breathtaking black magic presented in astonishing 1080p and thunderous 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. Experience oceans of fun with Blu-ray™ High Definition.

Customer Reviews:

No HD DVD version.......2007-08-23

If I were the same as all the Blu-Ray fanboys, I'd rate this movie 1 star and complain that it's not on HD DVD and say how Sony has Disney in their pocket etc and swear I'll never buy any version of this movie until it comes out on HD DVD and secretly go buy the standard def version and have it packaged in discreet brown packaging.

That being said, Dead Man's Chest was not as good as the Curse of the Black Pearl, and only slightly better than the 3rd movie.

Disney delivers magic on Blu-ray.......2007-08-06

This movie was simply amazing in picture quality and sound. I had already owned Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest on standard DVD. When I compared the standard DVD with the Blu-ray version the Blu-ray outperforms on all levels. The scenes in the movie where you see the islands and ships sailing the ocean were very beautiful. Dead Man's Chest on Blu-ray delivers such sharp crisp picture quality. The people, plants, grass, and trees looked so real it was like you could reach out and touch them. Simply put everything looks life like in this Blu-ray movie. Also when watching Blu-ray scenes Davy Jones and his crew look very real. Unlike the standard version DVD you can actually tell Davy Jones crew have facial features. The sound quality of this Blu-ray movie was also very great as well. For all you Blu-ray naysayers when I compared watching the standard DVD versus Blu-ray the standard dvd looked like a bootleg movie. Yeah I couldn't believe myself but there it was. I could not believe how much I was missing out from the Blu-ray movie. Oh did I mention that I received an amazing Blu-ray experience with a outdated setup. I used my 1080i HDTV ,component cables, and Playstaion 3. Imagine how much better this Dead Man's Chest Blu-ray movie would look on a 1080p hdmi setup with surround sound! Overall this Dead Man's Chest Blu-ray was amazing and is the best Blu-ray movie out right now. I finally want to say that Disney you truly delivered a magical masterpiece on Blu-ray. Great job Disney keep delivering the Blu-ray magic : ) :) :)

Solid movie with brilliant picture and crisp sound make this a must-buy for Blu-Ray owners!.......2007-08-04

If you own a Blu-Ray player, this is a must-buy movie! If you're just a fan of great movies overall, this is a must-buy movie! Johnny Depp delivers in this non-stop action/adventure film, with loads of laughs as well. You all should know what this flick is about, so I will not go into details on that. If you are thinking of getting this movie on Blu-Ray but you already own it on SD-DVD, then that choice is up to you. The picture is pristine on BD-DVD, and the audio quality is very clean and crisp.

I own a very cheap HDTV and sound system that I purchaed for my 15-month tour here in Iraq and am blown away by the quality and differance compared to the standard-def version of this movie. Simply put, if you own this movie already, it is entirely up to you if you wish to purchase and view it in high-def. But for those of you who do not own any version of this flick then the decision should be a no-brainer-buy this now!

Disney did a flawless job with this one, loaded with extras and bonus material galore. I'm not really big on the extras and junk, but all Blu-Ray releases should be as jam packed as this one. Way to go Disney and I look forward to future releases from you guys in the future!

Wow, amazing picture!!.......2007-08-04

I did a comparison with my 720p HDTV with this in my PS3 and my original DVD in my DVD player, and the picture quality is amazing in this Blu-Ray release. I would find a screen with a lot of detail and pause it and flip back and forth, and I can see details on Blu-Ray of things that I just couldn't make out on the DVD release. Add that to the fact that the Pirates series is, to date, one of the biggest and best trilogies since 2000, makes this Blu-Ray release a must have for any owner of a Blu-Ray player. I am really glad that I repurchased this in HD format. Thanks for picking my format side Disney!

Great Quality.......2007-07-25

Much in the same way movies like Top Gun were "show off" movies for the DVD format this movie really shows the quality in Blu-Ray.

The difference is very apparant in darker scenes where on a DVD the picture might not show everything as well as it does on the BD.

Plus the extra disc includes very interesting stuff. The little thing that shows Captain Jack and explains every detail that went into making the costume really shows off what some of the people in the credits go through to make Jack look the way he does. And shows how much of a primadonna Johnny Depp is!

Average customer rating:

This was one great "first" movie
Please enter a title for your review
A Comic Book Movie Done Right
best of the Spiderman movies so far
Nothing special

Spider-Man (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Stanley Anderson , Gerry Becker , Jack Betts , Bruce Campbell , and Willem Dafoe
Director: Sam Raimi
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005JKCH
Release Date: 2002-11-01

Product Description

Directed by Sam Raimi, Spider-Man centers on student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who, after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider, gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. He vows to use his abilities to fight crime, coming to understand the words of his beloved Uncle Ben: "With great power comes great responsibility."

System Requirements:
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, Tobey Maguire.
Directed: Sam Raimi.
Running Time: 121 Minutes, Color.
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2002 Colombia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

For devoted fans and nonfans alike, Spider-Man offers nothing less--and nothing more--than what you'd expect from a superhero blockbuster. Having proven his comic-book savvy with the original Darkman, director Sam Raimi brings ample energy and enthusiasm to Spidey's origin story, nicely establishing high-school nebbish Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) as a brainy outcast who reacts with appropriate euphoria--and well-tempered maturity--when a "super-spider" bite transforms him into the amazingly agile, web-shooting Spider-Man. That's all well and good, and so is Kirsten Dunst as Parker's girl-next-door sweetheart. Where Spider-Man falls short is in its hyperactive CGI action sequences, which play like a video game instead of the gravity-defying exploits of a flesh-and-blood superhero. Willem Dafoe is perfectly cast as Spidey's schizoid nemesis, the Green Goblin, and the movie's a lot of fun overall. It's no match for Superman and Batman in bringing a beloved character to the screen, but it places a respectable third. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

This was one great "first" movie.......2007-09-14

I've been a comics fan since the 1950s. I loved all the superhero comics.

Spider-Man was introduced in the early 1960's, along with several other Marvel Super Hero comics. I just loved them all.

In many ways I identified mostly with Spider-Man and Daredevil. They are "human" people, in addition to being superheroes. They have their own emotional problems, and their own challenges in their personal lives.

I anxiously awaited this first Spider-Man movie. I wondered how they could handle a character who's been a part of the comic scene for over 40 years. How could they appeal to "comics veterans" like myself, and to younger people who might be seeing Spider-Man for the first time?

I just loved the movie. It reached me on so many levels. Yes, I loved the thrill of action. I loved Tobey Maguire as Spidey, Kirstin Dunce, as MJ... All of the actors seemed just perfect for the parts they played.

Yes, I can't say it enough. I just loved the first Spider-Man movie, and the second one as well.

Please enter a title for your review.......2007-09-10

If you calculated how many other scenes each scene has relevence to you could show this movie to be statistically less cohesive than most. That's the problem with comic book movies, they try to be an origin story and an ultimate showdown between good and evil and cram it all into 90 minutes. There's no ongoing story throughout most of the movie, every marked out plot point is hit and then forgotten, none having an elaborate enough resolution to engage you before they're over.

A Comic Book Movie Done Right.......2007-09-07

When Spider-Man came out people were finally happy to see a comic book movie do justice. The X-Men movie also came out around this time but before this, Superman: The Movie reigned as the best example of a comic book movie, and this is in no way to say that Superman: The Movie or the first Batman are done badly. They could have been even better.

Spider-Man gives you a great character, plenty of action, and a great storyline. It's what action movies strive to do. And Sam Raimi was the perfect director for this one. With The Evil Dead (Book Of The Dead Limited Edition) and The Evil Dead 2 (Book Of The Dead Limited Edition) people knoew he could give these films justice...and did he ever.

These are two of the most packed DVD's in history. It disects the movie from every angle. Two commentaries, a trivia track, plenty of featirettes, and who knows what else are included on these discs. A Must Have for all comic book fans.

Highly recommended.

best of the Spiderman movies so far.......2007-08-03

I've seen all three of the Spiderman movies and I think that the first one is the best of the franchise so far. It's a great introduction to Spiderman - how he got his powers, etc. Good blend of action, humor, and romance.

Nothing special.......2007-07-14

I've been a spidy fan for ever and when I saw they were making a movie I thought Awesome.The move was'nt bad but tobey in the peter Parker role was a disapointment for me after reading the comics.He made a pretty good spidy but Peter he did not.

Average customer rating:

Batman, Aquaman, and Superman review Spidey3
A very poor follow up to the excellent Spider-Man 2
Great film, but.....
I became a chain smoker after this "MOVIE"
The sad facts

Spider-Man 3 (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Tobey Maguire , Kirsten Dunst , James Franco , Thomas Haden Church , and Topher Grace
Director: Sam Raimi
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000UR9T8C
Release Date: 2007-10-30

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Batman, Aquaman, and Superman review Spidey3.......2007-09-17

A very poor follow up to the excellent Spider-Man 2.......2007-09-15

Great film, but............2007-09-13

I became a chain smoker after this "MOVIE".......2007-09-09

The sad facts.......2007-09-07

Spider-Man 2 (Widescreen Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

This was an excellent sequel
The Best Superhero Movie Ever
My favorite Spider-Man Movie of all three
"Spider-Man 2" Weaves a... Depressing Tale?
Spiderman II..............widescreen

Spider-Man 2 (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Tobey Maguire , Kirsten Dunst , James Franco , Alfred Molina , and Rosemary Harris
Director: Sam Raimi
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00005JMQW
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Product Description

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.

System Requirements:
Running Time: 127 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

More than a few critics hailed Spider-Man 2 as "the best superhero movie ever," and there's no compelling reason to argue--thanks to a bigger budget, better special effects, and a dynamic, character-driven plot, it's a notch above Spider-Man in terms of emotional depth and rich comic-book sensibility. Ordinary People Oscar-winner Alvin Sargent received screenplay credit, and celebrated author and comic-book expert Michael Chabon worked on the story, but it's director Sam Raimi's affinity for the material that brings Spidey 2 to vivid life. When a fusion experiment goes terribly wrong, a brilliant physicist (Alfred Molina) is turned into Spidey's newest nemesis, the deranged, mechanically tentacled "Doctor Octopus," obsessed with completing his experiment and killing Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) in the process. Even more compelling is Peter Parker's urgent dilemma: continue his burdensome, lonely life of crime-fighting as Spider-Man, or pursue love and happiness with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst)? Molina's outstanding as a tragic villain controlled by his own invention, and the action sequences are nothing less than breathtaking, but the real success of Spider-Man 2 is its sense of priorities. With all of Hollywood's biggest and best toys at his disposal, Raimi and his writers stay true to the Marvel mythology, honoring Spider-Man creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and setting the bar impressively high for the challenge of Spider-Man 3. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Features:

The first commentary track is by director Sam Raimi and a self-deprecating Tobey Maguire speaking in tandem, and producer (and Marvel CEO) Avi Arad and coproducer Grant Curtis speaking in tandem. They discuss a number of topics, including Raimi's memory of his excitement over Richard Donner's Superman and how the character of Black Cat had to be dropped from the film. The second commentary is by six members of the Oscar-nominated effects team, and one of their primary focuses is how Doc Ock's arms were achieved by a combination of puppetry and CGI.

The centerpiece of the second disc is a massive two-hour documentary that can be viewed all at once or in 12 separate pieces. It covers the development of the story, the visual effects, costumes, stunts, and sound and music. Three shorter featurettes cover Peter Parker's struggle between his personal and hero lives, Doc Ock, and the women in Spider-Man's life, and what's interesting is how they discuss those topics not just in relation to the movies but to the comic books as well. (For example, Betty Brant and Gwen Stacy had a much greater impact in the comics.) There's a scene in which you can toggle among three different camera angles, and a gallery of 17 paintings Alex Ross created for the opening sequence. The sound and picture are spectacular, though only the Superbit edition has DTS. --David Horiuchi

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The First Film
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The Book

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Stills from Spider-Man 2 (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

This was an excellent sequel.......2007-09-15

It's not always easy to make a movie sequel. In some cases, it's not even a good idea. In my not so humble opinion, they did a great job with this one!

I admit I was worried. I wondered just how they'd handle Doctor Octopus. They did a good job.

Some classic moments that stick with me: Peter Parker's frenzied attempt to make a timely pizza delivery, while fighting crime at the same time. Whoever thought a super hero would have such concerns? Peter Parker has difficulty paying the rent because he can't keep a job!

The funniest scene was one in which his spidey powers had failed him. He was forced to take an elevator wearing his Spider-Man suit. A man was in the elevator with him, and casually talked about the suit. It went something like this:

"Nice suit." Spider-Man, "Thanks... it rides up in the crotch a bit."

The most dramatic scenes involved Dr Octopus and Spider-Man fighting aboard the subway. Spider-Man had just managed to save the train and lie there, exhausted. His mask was torn, and everyone had seen his face.

They reassured him that his secret was safe, and he was their hero.

Dr Octopus arrived, ready to take Spider-Man away. The entire crowd stood up to support Spider-Man.

Spider-Man 2 is a much-valued addition to my collection. I only hope Spider-Man 3 will be just as good.

The Best Superhero Movie Ever.......2007-09-07

Spider-Man 2 is one of the best sequels ever and the best superhero movies ever. Heck, it's one of the best movies too. Though it's no The Godfather DVD Collection (The Godfather/ The Godfather - Part II/ The Godfather - Part III) or 2001 - A Space Odyssey (Two-Disc Special Edition), and it's not even Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) but it is one of the best comic book adapations ever put on the screen.

The DVd features much of what the first did. There's still two commentaries and plenty of featurettes, but there's other must have goodies you need to check out.

Highly, highly recommended.

My favorite Spider-Man Movie of all three.......2007-08-09

This is my favorite Spider-Man movie. The first one has to introduce the characters and show how Peter got his powers. This one doesn't have to do that. Plus, Octavius is my favorite villain. The third one had too many villains.

Brandon Simpson, Author of Learning Foreign Languages: Everything You Need To Know and If You Ain't Got No Grammer...

"Spider-Man 2" Weaves a... Depressing Tale?.......2007-08-01

It should be noted that I am a great fan of the first "Spider-Man" film. Aside from a too dark, not always appropriate musical score and a few glaring omissions in chronology (where did a kid living on a lower to middle-class income get the materials to make THAT suit?), it remains an endearing cinematic adaptation of the infamous wall crawler. But, as with everything in Hollywood, you're not important unless you can spawn a sequel, and that's what we've got. And whereas "Spider-Man" was an action-packed, uplifting but realistically somber tale of super-heroism, "Spider-Man 2" is... not. There, I've said it. Fans, get your torches and tie me to the funeral pyre. I'm sorry (I really am), but "Spider-Man 2" is a disappointment. Not a colossal one, but still... aw, heck. Just let me explain.

The film feels rushed. No, I'm not talking about fast cuts and the comic-book style. That was the first film. What I'm talking about is "hey-what-happened-that-was-significant-in-the-last-scene-and-why-should-we-care-about-some-secondary-character-we've-never-met-wait-here-comes-an-action-sequence" style rushed. And that's quite an amazing feat, when you consider the movie's over two hours long. Much of the problem lies in the script itself. Rumor has it that filming started before a final draft had been completed, and boy, does it show. This film covers NO new ground. All of the emotional punches, swings, twists, and turns that you'll see you've already seen in the last one. Peter Parker is Spider-Man; no matter what he does he can't win, so he keeps everybody distant to keep them out of danger; he loves MaryJane Watson and fears his best friend Harry Osborn wants to kill Spidey; Aunt May can't deal without the dead Uncle Ben; Pete's life is unbalanced because business always comes before pleasure; some scientist with an experiment comes along; oh, no, there's an accident in the lab; a super-freak is born; a threat to the world; Spidey the hero...

Or at least Spidey would seem to be the hero, if the filmmakers had crafted a unique story with a palpable villain. But Alfred Molina's Doctor Octopus is all style and no substance, like the tacked-on afterthought of a screenwriter who at the eleventh hour realized this was a comic-book movie. He enters the picture nearly a half-hour too late as an underwritten sort of iconic mentor to Maguire's troubled college student, and by the time his horrific (and I do mean horrific) accident occurs, the character has been so inadequately introduced to us that all the brutality present in his schemes just comes across as mean-spirited exhibitionism on the part of the filmmakers. A nightmarish operating room sequence is half over-the-top while the other half is dead-serious (screeching and grinding fingernails, anyone?), and Ock's descent into madness (why do they always have to start bloody talking to themselves?) isn't just demented; it's downright tasteless. (In other words, the Goblin was nasty; this guy's vicious.) Yet all this I could've overlooked, actually, because I was waiting for the villain to have something relevant to do with the rest of the movie. In part one, good old Green Goblin was integral--take him away and the story wouldn't work. Here, however, Doctor Octopus is so nonessential that when he kidnaps MaryJane it's almost as if the filmmakers are reminding us, "There IS a bad guy in this one, folks."

Even worse, the script goes to great lengths to convince us that Ock isn't even bad. And that, fans, is always a mistake. I'm all for sympathetic villains, but there has to be something that sets him apart from the hero. Else, why fight him? But nope, in this film it's just the artificial brain in Ock's tentacles that wants him to create fusion for the entire world's benefit. Never mind that all this'll wipe out half of NYC in the process. It's okay, because Octavius means well; he's not evil, just misguided. (Uh-huh. And critics said the Goblin was a tool.) This really hurts the film, because how do you expect to feel if Spidey swings heroically into action and starts beating the snot out of a bad guy who isn't even that bad? Suddenly the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man doesn't seem so friendly anymore... (What's worse is that he doesn't even do a double take when he sees his old role model going insane. In the first film Pete was floored when he discovered the Goblin was Harry's dad. Here he just suits up and starts pummeling chin.)

Maybe such plots will satisfy the morally ambiguous, but for a genre that basically operates by reinforcing our notions of right and wrong, you've got to give your audience something more tangible to chew. So, they try to do just that by focusing solely on the Spider-Man character. Two years have passed, and the life of a superhero is slowly killing Peter. He's late for work (in a pretty neat pizza-delivery sequence), has no social life (he regretfully attends his own birthday party because he hates himself), and is about to flunk out of college (after all, you can't fight crime if you're sitting in a classroom). Oh, yeah. Did I mention MJ is engaged to the son of J.J. Jameson? Stick a fork in Spider-Man, because Petey has had it. Not that you'll notice a change in his attitude. Maguire still plays the guy like he's just discovered his powers. The silent, unconfident act should've been let go at the end of his first adventure. It's two years later; start knowing thyself and being true, Parker. At least show some frustration!

Apart from a tearful flashback with Uncle Ben (really the only scene that required such subtlety), Peter is a sap. Except that now that he's an adult, it's no longer endearing. One of the things about the comics is that once Parker got out of high school, he wasn't a geek. He shaped up into a pretty cool guy. Even a bit of a ladies' man. Not here, though, and it's a shame, because you can only watch so much of a man in misery before it loses its poignancy and just becomes preachy and depressing. A failed burning building rescue that is such a retread of the first film it even recycles the music note-for-note proves just that. So does the endless, pondering self-doubt he puts himself through in his crappy one-room rental ("Am I supposed to be unhappy?" he asks, presumably talking to God or whomever else is listening). Even when he does accomplish something noble as Spider-Man, his life is such a personal hell and the story such a downer even YOU will feel guilty that Uncle Ben got shot. Where the guilt lies, however, is in the production team, who are working from a lazy screenstory that creates characters, then drops them. Who is Mrs. Octavius, that we should care about her unfortunate demise caused by her brilliant, misguided (but not evil!) husband? Or, for that matter, who's the guy stealing MJ away from Peter? They never do meet, the two of them; you'd think the script would be decent enough to set up the love triangle that's obviously there. No, Spidey may be an amazing guy, but this here adventure he's stuck in is just plain lazy.

I sound awfully critical, but I'm not trying to be. The movie isn't terrible, just terribly unsatisfying. Even the payoff to a number of revelations is inadequate, because after 2+ hours of build-up you can't wrap up with three minutes of paltry resolution. The film moves in fits and starts, then just ends. So, if a sequel to the first film seemed promising, a sequel to this one seems almost mandatory. Not to mention cruelly calculated... but I digress. If what you want is nifty special effects, by all means give it a look. It is in the nature of superheroes to satisfy our cravings for thrilling action-adventure. And this movie delivers the wild fight scenes, only with much less heart. It has the action-adventure, but it skimps on the thrilling. (Still, you've got to love that webslinging.)

I liked "Spider-Man" because as bittersweet a victory as it was for Pete, he still kept trucking on, fighting for goodness, a homespun/absolute-values sort of everyman who recognized an ideal truth ("With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility") and tried to stand up for it no matter how much it hurt or cost him. Left adrift in a world of moral uncertainties, however, this film opts to suggest that the torch of responsibility and the quest to do what's right might not be worth it. And if you believe that, fans, then Peter Parker is no longer a hero. He's just a teenage madman who dresses in tights. Now, tear up page one, Mr. Jameson, and see how many papers you can sell with THAT for a headline.

Spiderman II..............widescreen.......2007-07-28

Service was prompt and product was as advertised , nice folks to do business with.

Average customer rating:

awesome
Great Movie!
One of the best kid movies ever
Cute!
Not just an itsy bitsh spider!

Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Julia Roberts , Steve Buscemi , John Cleese , Oprah Winfrey , and Cedric the Entertainer
Director: Gary Winick
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NA6CPE
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Amazon.com

E.B. White's classic tale gets a Babe-like makeover in Charlotte's Web, a delightful and well-made film that is sure to become a family classic. Directed by Gary Winick (13 Going on 30), the new version eschews the musical numbers of the 1973 cartoon and mixes CGI with live-action animals. Dakota Fanning brings the right amount of chutzpah to Fern, the young farm girl who rescues a runt, Wilbur, from death and visits him every day at her Uncle Homer's farm. But it's Wilbur's friendship with Charlotte the spider (voiced by Julia Roberts) that ultimately saves him from the "smoke house" (a kid-friendly alternative term to the slaughterhouse), for Charlotte's talent for weaving praiseworthy words about Wilbur into her web turns the Zuckerman farm into a tourist attraction. The more tragic elements of the book are handled sensitively by Winick, working from a script by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), and Roberts' soothing, maternal voice (who knew it would work so well?) makes it all go down easy. It turns out to be just one of many perfect celebrity voice-casting choices, for the farm animals, voiced by an all-star cast including Oprah Winfrey (the goose), Robert Redford (the horse), Steve Buscemi (Templeton the rat), and John Cleese (the sheep), lend plenty of sharp humor. But it's two corn-hungry crows, voiced by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin who steal the show. (Ages 4 and older) -- Ellen A. Kim

Beyond Charlotte's Web

Other Children's Book Adaptations on DVD
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
The Original 1973 Charlotte's Web Cartoon

Stills from Charlotte's Web (click for larger image)

Product Description

The classic story of loyalty, trust, and sacrifice comes to life in this live-action adaptation. Fern (Dakota Fanning) is one of only two living beings who sees that Wilbur is a special animal as she raises him, the runt of the litter, into a terrific and radiant pig. As Wilbur moves into a new barn, he begins a second profound friendship with the most unlikely of creatures - a spider named Charlotte - and their bond inspires the animals around them to come together as a family. When the word gets out that Wilbur's days are numbered, it seems that only a miracle will save his life. A determined Charlotte - who sees miracles in the ordinary - spins words into her web in an effort to convince the farmer that Wilbur is "some pig" and worth saving.

Customer Reviews:

awesome.......2007-09-11

I thought this movie was nice and the animals look so real and they help out there friend .

Great Movie!.......2007-08-22

This movie is great for kids or adults of any age. Very good animal personalities and voices. Recommended!

One of the best kid movies ever.......2007-08-07

I like this movie even better than the original animated movie. It's a favorite for kids and adults in our house.

Cute!.......2007-08-03

Look, nothing beets the book, but this live action version is pretty good! I like that the pig isn't as whiny as in the cartoon. However if you've read the book Wilbur does come across as whiny and needy. A little too much for my taste. This version makes him much more enjoyable. Just my opinion.

Not just an itsy bitsh spider!.......2007-07-25

As a kid, CHARLOTTE'S WEB was my favorite story, and I vividly remember it making me cry (several times, in fact!). I was thrilled to hear that they were coming out with an ambitious theatrical release of the story. I was not disappointed!

The ensemble of voices is impressive, featuring Reba McIntyre, Cathy Bates, Steve Buscemi, Robert Redford, Oprah Winfrey, John Cleese and Julia Roberts as Charlotte. The CGI effects are wonderful and they bring all the barnyard animals to life.

If you're in the market for a family friendly movie, you would do well to pick this one up. They stick pretty close to the book w/out doing too much improvisation, and it's clear by the big names associated with the project that CHARLOTTE'S WEB is a story that is / was dear to the hearts of a great many people.

Average customer rating:

Batman, Aquaman, and Superman review Spidey3
A very poor follow up to the excellent Spider-Man 2
Great film, but.....
I became a chain smoker after this "MOVIE"
The sad facts

Spider-Man 3 (Two Discs) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Tobey Maguire
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000UR9T7I
Release Date: 2007-10-30

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Batman, Aquaman, and Superman review Spidey3.......2007-09-17

A very poor follow up to the excellent Spider-Man 2.......2007-09-15

Great film, but............2007-09-13

I became a chain smoker after this "MOVIE".......2007-09-09

The sad facts.......2007-09-07

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 11 (Ring of Terror / The Indestructible Man / Tormented / Horrors of Spider Island)

Average customer rating:

Too much Joel...
Mystery Science #11
Four more with Joel, Mike and the 'Bots
Love it!
Solid collection of episodes from TV's greatest show

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 11 (Ring of Terror / The Indestructible Man / Tormented / Horrors of Spider Island)
Starring: Alexander D'Arcy , Barbara Valentin , Rainer Brandt , Harald Maresch , and Elfie Wagner
Director: Vince Rodriguez , and Fritz Böttger
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000PC1PBG
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

Book your return flight to the Satellite of Love and join Joel, Mike and the 'bots for another fearful foursome of flops in this collection of episodes from the Peabody Award-winning series Mystery Science Theater 3000. First up on Volume 11's menu of muck is Season Two's Ring of Terror, with Joel, Crow and Tom Servo riffing furiously on a half-baked story of fraternity pranks gone wrong; it's partnered with another interminable episode of the Bela Lugosi serial The Phantom Creeps. Next is Season Four's The Indestructible Man, in which Joel performs a frightening imitation of the movie's star, Lon Chaney Jr.; an episode of The Undersea Kingdom is also celebrated with a parade that goes predictably awry. Season Four's Tormented features headless ghosts, a guilt-ridden Richard Carlson, and Joel stuck in a ventilation shaft, plus a day-rescuing round of happy thoughts. And last but not least is Season Ten's Horrors of Spider Island, a German-made monster movie about dancers on a deserted island and a giant spider than transforms their manager into a hideous creature; Mike also undergoes a man-to-spider switcheroo after getting trapped in the 'bots' homemade spider web. For veteran MiSTies and pop culture fanatics, it doesn't get funnier than this.

Extras include theatrical trailers for all of the films save Ring of Terror; a brief interview with Tormented director Bert I. Gordon, his daughter Susan, and star Joseph Turkel, and wrap-arounds from the syndicated Mystery Science Hour, with Mike Nelson as an obsequious Jack Perkins, are also included. However, the best supplement is the second MST3K Jukebox, which compiles some of the show's funniest and most memorable musical numbers, including "Sidehackin',"Joel and the 'bots' garage-rock tribute to The Sidehackers and the incredible "Patrick Swayze Christmas" from Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Too much Joel..........2007-09-07

I have bought EVERY one in the series, and as long as they are made I will buy them. After having time to watch the difference between Mike leading the show and Joel, Joel is boring. Mike was a writer and then stared as the lead. Mike's shows just seem to be a great deal funnier than the ones with Joel. There are too many episodes in this pack with Joel. I have watched the first 2 and the movies and the comedy are a bit boring. But I will keep watching and buying one of my all time favorite shows.

Mystery Science #11.......2007-09-04

Quick delivery-good and/or new condition. Haven't watch the whole DVD, but so far-it's very funny

Four more with Joel, Mike and the 'Bots.......2007-09-03

Some movies are so bad, they're good. Other movies are just plain bad. Fortunately, there is Mystery Science Theater 3000 that can sweeten these bitter pills.

In Volume 11 of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, we get another four awful movies. The absolute clunker in the bunch is the first one, Ring of Terror, a story of a fraternity prank gone horribly wrong. As is typically the case, it isn't as much the plot that is the problem as the execution: with bad writing, acting, direction and effects, this supposed tale of terror is around as scary as a rock. This film comes with an episode of the serial, The Phantom Creeps.

The Indestructible Man has Lon Chaney, Jr., who towards the end of his career was in a lot of bad movies. In this one, he is an executed convict who is revived by well-meaning scientists and rampages against the partners who set him up. This one also has a serial episode, in this case an episode of Undersea Kingdom.

Tormented has Richard Carlson as a pianist who is responsible for the death of an ex-lover. Facing blackmail is bad enough, but he also has to deal with the woman's ghost. Or is it all his imagination? This one is directed by Bert I. Gordon, a semi-legendary B-movie director also responsible for movies like Village of the Giants and Attack of the Puppet People.

Finally, there is Horrors of Spider Island, a poorly dubbed movie about some dancers shipwrecked on an island with a single semi-large spider who dies rather early on. It does, however, transform a person into some sort of monster who preys on the others. Once again, it's not the premise but the execution that ruins this movie.

All the movies are given plenty of dead-on, funny commentary by humans Mike and Joel and the robot pals Crow and Tom Servo. The idea of quipping wittily over a bad movie is hardly original to Mystery Science Theater, but this show turned it into an art. If you are a fan of Mystery Science Theater, this is another collection worth watching.

Love it!.......2007-09-02

I cannot get enough of MST3K! Oh, bring on those "B," "C," or worse movies! How can anyone NOT appreciate the humor?

I have all the boxed sets and the single releases. Love 'em! Even my sons like them (of course, they can't tell their friends that they do).

Looking forward to the release of Vol 12!!!!!!!!!

Solid collection of episodes from TV's greatest show.......2007-08-31

This is certainly one of the better collections of MST3K. Each of the four episodes is a winner. The Indestructible Man has a nonstop barrage of riffs, the Ring of Terror is great fun for fans of the show, Tormented is a solid episode, and Horrors of Spider island is from season ten when these guys had perfected the art of riffing. The extras are icing on the cake--especially a glimpse into MST history with the MST3K Hour sketches. Enjoy the old-fashioned cheesy horror movies, laugh out loud until you can hardly breathe, and watch in groups to enhance the effect.

Average customer rating:

awesome
Great Movie!
One of the best kid movies ever
Cute!
Not just an itsy bitsh spider!

Charlotte's Web (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Julia Roberts , Steve Buscemi , John Cleese , Oprah Winfrey , and Cedric the Entertainer
Director: Gary Winick
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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