Spider-Man

It's easy to ignore a host of petty quibbles and simply enjoy the heck out of the unabashed comic-book cool of Spider-Man; but after the credits roll, the pleasant candy-like aftertaste fades faster than 25-cent bubble gum. Tobey Maguire's reserved, contemplative style is perfect for Peter Parker, whose self-confidence and sense of purpose grows as he adjusts to his super-spider-bite-induced superpowers. Kirsten Dunst turns Mary Jane Watson into more than just a damsel in distress, and Willem Dafoe provides genuine soul while still sinking his teeth into the scenery as the evil Green Goblin. While the web slinging and swinging effects are spidey-rific and true to the comic in every way, director Sam Raimi's gift for great cheese (e.g. the Evil Dead movies) seems to have been suppressed here by overriding commercial concerns and an evangelical adherence to some hypothetical Marvel Comics Adaptation Rule Book that weighs on the movie like a ton of bricks. Still, this priced for sell-through release is a no-brainer. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras on this double-disc special edition--available in either full screen or widescreen versions--include two audio commentaries (one with director Sam Raimi, co-producer Grant Curtis, producer Laura Ziskin, and costar Kirsten Dunst; and the other with visual effects supervisors John Dykstra and Scott Stokdyk and animation director Anthony LaMolinara); "Spider Sense" branching "web-i-sodes," "Weaving the Web" pop up facts, text character bio files, trailers, TV spots, and two music videos: "Hero" by Nickelback's Chad Kroger with Josey Scott of Saliva and "What We're All About" by Sum 41 on the first disc. The second disc's "The Web of Spider-Man" section includes features on the Marvel comic series, such as a 25-minute "The Mythology of the 21st Century" featurette, extensive Spider-Man comic archives (with covers and brief descriptions), artist galleries, rogue galleries (of Spidey-enemies), and a guide to "The Loves of Peter Parker." Also included are the 25-minute HBO making of featurette, a 40-minute "Spider-Mania" special by E! Entertainment, a pair of near seven-minute director and composer profiles, four screen test segments, a three-minute gag/outtake reel, hints and tips for the Activision game, and a host of DVD-ROM features--including a Spider-Man visualizer. Bottom line: a spidey-riffic extras package for a megahit film.] (R. Blackwelder)[DVD Review--July 13, 2004--Columbia TriStar, 121 min., PG-13, $26.95--Making its third appearance on DVD (after the double-disc original release and the triple-disc deluxe edition), Spider-Man: Superbit Edition boasts slightly improved visual image and audio (thanks to the Superbit process's higher bit rate for recording), as well as a new commentary track by star Tobey Maguire and costar J.K. Simmons. Bottom line: given the fact that the extras-loaded triple-disc deluxe edition (which boasts a very fine image and sharp sound) is available for two dollars less at $24.95, this one is for completists only.]