Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Fight Club Blu-Ray Review

Rated R (Disturbing and Graphic Depiction of Violent Anti-Social Behavior, Sexuality and Language)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 19 minutes

Cast-
Edward Norton-The Narrator
Brad Pitt-Tyler Durden
Helena Bonham Carter-Marla Singer
Michael Lee Aday/Meat Loaf-Robert 'Bob' Paulson
Jared Leto-Angel Face
Zach Grenier-Richard Chesler
Rachel Singer-Chloe
Eion Bailey-Ricky
Evan Mirand-Steph
Thom Gossom Jr.- Detective Stern
Peter Iacangelo-Lou
Joon B. Kim-Raymond K. Hessel
Van Quattro-Detective Andrew
Markus Redmond-Detective Kevin
Michael Girardin-Detective Walker

Directed by David Fincher

"Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club!"
Note: This is a review of the Steelbook Blu-Ray released in Germany in 2008, which was superseded by the "10th Anniversary Edition" released in the US a year later. 

David Fincher's "Fight Club" is certainly one of the strangest films I have ever seen with its powerful social message mixed in with bloody, sadistic violence but is it as good as fans make it out to be? I'm happy to report that it is despite a somewhat unfocused script. In fact, “Fight Club” is an excellent and unique film that warrants nothing but a full recommendation. It will change the way you perceive the world.

Based on the 1996 novel of the same name written by Chuck Palahniuk, "Fight Club" tells the story of...well, he has no name but we do know he is played by Edward Norton! This narrator works at an automobile company who travels to accident sites to see if a product recall is needed. He does this by using a simple formula and if the cost is less than the out-of-court settlement, a recall is issued. The Narrator also suffers from extreme insomnia. To cure this, he attends support groups (such as those recovering from testicular cancer) and finds weeping to be an emotional outlet for him, allowing him to sleep. Unfortunately, another 'tourist' named Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter) disrupts his routine and the insomnia returns. While returning from a business trip, the Narrator meets the charismatic Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), who makes and sells soap. The two strikes up an immediate friendship and after a freak accident that causes an explosion at the Narrator's condo, Durden invites him back to his home on the condition that he hit him as hard as he can. The two end up enjoying a fist fight and soon they attract a crowd. A 'Fight Club' is born. I don't want to say any more about what happens because this is something that you have to experience for yourself.

"Fight Club" is one of those films that you cannot use words to explain. The film is incredibly funny at times, featuring some black comedy and satire to keep it from being depressing. An example of this comedy occurs at the beginning where Norton's character is hugged by an enormous man (played by musician 'Meat Loaf') with 'bitch tits,' and he narrates that by surrounding himself with people who are really suffering, he can finally sleep normally. Another scene that stood out is when Durden splices single frames from pornography into family movies that appears for only a split-second. 'Nobody knows that they saw it, but they did...a nice, big cock,' he remarks. What really made "Fight Club" turn into such a cult classic is the way the story attacks consumerism as Fincher's film is pretty much anti-everything. This theme will require a lengthy explanation so let's get the other stuff out of the way first.

If there's one thing that people remembered when they watched the film back in 1999, it's Brad Pitt's amazing performance as the insane yet clever Tyler Durden. I know a lot of people rag on the actor because he's 'too pretty' but you can't deny how excellent he is in the role and it's a mystery as to why he didn't even get nominated for an Academy Award. He is to "Fight Club" as Heath Ledger is to "The Dark Knight." Durden is just a man, but the way he speaks has a magnetism that is hard to ignore, making you blindly follow him and not question his motives. He always has a plan, and explains how people around him have become so obsessed with material possessions. There's a big twist near the end of the film that reveals his relationship to the Narrator but again, this is something you'll have to found out for yourself. Suffice to say, thanks to Pitt's excellent performance, you can't help but start listening to Tyler Durden. Edward Norton is also excellent playing the everyman character. He even looks like a man who's just going through the motions, watching as his life flies by and allowing his possessions to define who he is. I must applaud his commitment as while filming, he starved himself while Pitt worked out. There's a reason for this but it ties into the twist. Helena Bonham Carter offers a great performance as well and does a fine job with an American accent. If I didn't know that she was British, she seriously could've fooled me.

"Fight Club" is filmed in a unique visual style that often makes it look bland and boring. Scenes that have Durden take place in torn down, dilapidated settings that serve to highlight the Narrator's decaying sense of reality. Many scenes are incredibly dark and the only lighting used is the ones that were already there at the time of filming. Even the lurid color palette creates a sense of unease in the viewer. Unfortunately this style doesn't especially lend itself well to Blu-Ray. Making it worse is the fact that the master copy used wasn't in good condition as there are black specks that pop up constantly. Many of the night scenes look incredibly fuzzy. "Fight Club" on Blu-Ray is currently only available in Germany so you'll have to import it, but I highly do not recommend this due to the poor video quality. Fortunately, audio is solid as we're treated to life-like and brutal sound effects during the fist fights. It does come in a stylish steelbook but unless you're a diehard fan or a collector, wait until 20th Century Fox announces it for North America as "Fight Club" is by far the worst Blu-Ray transfer I've ever seen.

Now comes the interesting part. Just what is the point of Fincher's film? Well, that's just it because the point is left ambiguous to the viewer. The film attacks consumerism head on with the Narrator talking about how he is obsessed with the 'Ikea nesting instinct.' He owns all of this great furniture to present himself as a happy, normal person but in reality, he's nothing inside. At one point, he remarks that his refrigerator has only condiments but no food. Condiments only serve to make food taste better but they can't be actual food. We buy all this stuff that we think we need so that we can make ourselves appear to have substance, but in fact, we don't. Durden also says that men today are raised by an increasingly matriarchal society and many times, the film questions masculinity, such as when the Narrator points out a Calvin Klein advertisement and asks, 'Is that what a real man is supposed to look like?' This goes hand-in-hand with the Ikea nesting instinct that Durden sees as a result of men being 'feminized.' "Fight Club" also attacks advertising because it gives people a false sense that you're special. You're not special, your job doesn't make you special, the money in your bank account doesn't make you special, the kind of car doesn't make you special, and what you wear doesn't make you special. 'You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else,' he says. What of the fight clubs then? Well, since all the men participating have an emptiness inside, the fight club fills that emptiness, gives them a sense of purpose, makes them a man. So is it glorifying violence? Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't; this is something you'll have to decide for yourself. By the end, Durden has come to attack all institutions and value systems, seeking to simply destroy. Is he right that we're all controlled by flashy commercials and the objects we own? That we work so hard to make ourselves feel special but end up leading purposeless lives? Again, you'll have to answer those questions yourself. "Fight Club" is a film that has incredible depth and you could spend years nitpicking but it does make the story a little all over the place and you're left with a lot of questions. Perhaps this is what David Fincher wants. To make up our own damn minds!

Despite its unfocused plot, I see no reason not to give "Fight Club" a full score. It remains as Fincher’s magnum opus and one of the best films I've ever seen, due in no small part that it will change your perception of the world. Not a lot of movies do that and if you find out that a friend hasn't seen "Fight Club," tie them to a chair and make them watch it. It currently holds an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes but it ended up flopping at the domestic box office, making only $37 million. Only by factoring in the overseas gross did it cover its $63 million budget. “Fight Club” still remains as one of the most talked about films to this day, its themes dissected and debated or dismissed as nothing but a bunch of pseudo-philosophical babble. Nonetheless, there’s no denying its impact. You will come to obey Tyler Durden!

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Spider-Man 3 Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Sequences of Intense Action Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 19 Minutes

Cast-
Tobey Maguire-Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Kirsten Dunst-Mary Jane Watson
James Franco-Harry Osborn/New Goblin
Thomas Haden Church-Flint Marko/The Sandman
Topher Grace-Edward Brock Jr./Venom
Bryce Dallas Howard-Gwen Stacy
Rosemary Harris-May Parker
J.K. Simmons-J. Jonah Jameson
James Cromwell-Police Captain George Stacy
Dylan Baker-Dr. Curt Connors
Bill Nunn-Joe 'Robbie' Robertson
Elizabeth Banks-Betty Brant
Ted Raimi-Hoffman
Cliff Robertson-Ben Parker
Willem Dafoe-Norman Osborn/Green Goblin
Theresa Russell-Emma Marko
Perla Haney-Jardine-Penny Marko
Elya Baskin-Mr. Ditkovitch
Mageina Tovah-Ursula Ditkovich
Joe Manganiello-Eugene 'Flash' Thompson
Michael Papajohn-Dennis Carradine/The Carjacker
Bruce Campbell-French Maître d'

Directed by Sam Raimi

In "Spider-Man 3," Peter Parker confronts his dark side when a parasitic alien attaches itself to his costume.
Note: Part of the "Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy" Blu-Ray set.

The trilogy is now complete, and no, we're not talking about "Star Wars" but "Spider-Man," specifically "Spider-Man 3," the latest installment of the series based on Marvel's flagship character. It certainly isn't the last movie, as both director Sam Raimi and lead actor Tobey Maguire has already signed on to do the fourth and fifth installments, filming both back to back like the second and third "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. Hopefully, they'll give the series a proper send-off as doing any more runs the risk of ruining the franchise. Despite the hype for the film exceeding both the previous movies, with tickets selling like hot cakes on Fandango, "Spider-Man 3" ultimately proved to be a disappointment and buckled under the weight of its overstuffed story.

The film takes place approximately six months after the events of "Spider-Man 2," with Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) on top of the world. The people of New York City now love him and he's planning to propose to Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). However, a storm is brewing on the horizon. A mysterious meteorite crashes into Central Park, and an alien 'symbiote' oozes out, attaching itself to Peter's moped. Peter soon learns that the actual killer of his Uncle Ben is still at large and it is none other than Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who becomes the Sandman after a freak accident. One night, while Peter is asleep, the symbiote bonds itself to his costume, turning it jet black and increasing his superhuman abilities tenfold. He uses his newfound power to defeat the Sandman but the symbiote soon begins to corrupt him, making him more aggressive and alienating his loved ones. To make matters worse, Harry Osborn (James Franco) takes matters into his own hands, recreating the experiment that turned his father insane and taking up the mantle as the second Green Goblin. Peter manages to shake himself of the symbiote's influence but it manages to find another host, Edward Brock Jr. (Topher Grace), a jealous rival and photographer at the Daily Bugle who becomes the monstrous Venom. Peter must now confront the darkness within his soul in order to face his greatest challenge yet.

If you were confused by that brief plot summary, that's all right because "Spider-Man 3" is like having breakfast, lunch, and dinner all at the same time. Written by Sam and Ivan Raimi—with Alvin Sargent contributing—the script is definitely the main reason why this installment is the weakest out of the entire trilogy. There are just way too many characters and way too many subplots. In fact, it's a miracle that the film is even coherent at all. Some of the new characters are given so little screen-time that it would've been better to excise them altogether to create a more streamlined narrative. Gwen Stacy, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, appears in only a handful of scenes and serves to create a love triangle between her, Peter, and Mary Jane. This is added to an already existing love triangle between Peter, Harry, and Mary Jane! Perhaps the biggest disappointment was the addition of Venom. For a character that has been a fan favorite for over a decade, he only appears for about twenty minutes during the final battle and is easily beaten. To be honest, the Sandman shouldn't have been in the film to begin with because he was never a compelling character in the comics. This would've allowed the story to focus more on Harry as the new Green Goblin and give enough breathing room to set-up Venom as a threat. If you must have Sandman, then an alternative would've been to end the movie when the symbiote attaches itself to Brock (which many fans speculated to be true) and then have the fourth installment devote itself entirely to Spidey and Venom's conflict. I have mentioned that the humor in the previous films provided a nice balance to its more serious aspects but here it got way out of hand, particularly when a corrupted Peter (with his emo-looking hair) starts dancing on the street like a moron. I did like how the symbiote made Peter look like a drug addict to show how it's slowly taking over him but the dancing was just too much for me. The story is certainly ambitious with its themes of revenge and forgiveness but the various subplots weight it down, resulting in a "Spider-Man" film that's a far cry from the high standards set forth by its predecessors.

The acting is still good for the most part, although I didn't like the characterization of Mary Jane this time around. I know the writers wanted to give her more obstacles but it ended up making her seem selfish at times. Thomas Haden Church did a great job as Sandman, making him a sympathetic villain who's not truly evil at heart and just wants to cure his sick daughter. Topher Grace gives a mixed performance due to the fact that there's just not enough back-story for him in the film due to the many subplots vying for our attention. Nevertheless, he tries his best with what little he has and the Venom suit does look cool. At least the special effects are still excellent, especially the sand effects. The action scenes are rather intense, particularly the first one where Peter and Harry engage in a brutal airborne battle over the rooftops of New York City. However, I'm not a big fan of Harry's 'New Goblin' costume, which makes him look like a surfboarding ninja. The only fight scene that bothered me was the last one involving the Giant Sandman. It just seemed a little too cartoonish for my taste.

When "Spider-Man 3" was released on May 4, 2007 (a three year gap was set to allow more time to refine the visual effects), reviews were initially promising but it ended up getting a mixed reception with 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the action scenes but concluded that the film wasn't 'quite as refined as the first two.' It made a whopping $151.1 million during its opening weekend (which has since been surpassed by "The Dark Knight") but ended up with only a domestic total of $336.5 million. However, it's the most successful film out of the franchise with its massive worldwide box office gross of $890.1 million. Arriving five months after its theatrical release, the Blu-Ray is flawless, with stunning picture quality and sound. Film grain is minimal, and the audio is sharp and loud, particularly during the fight scenes, which will give your sound system a workout. Unlike the previous two films, a plethora of supplements are included, with two informative audio commentaries (one with the entire cast and the other with the producers) and a feature-length documentary on the making of the film on a separate disc. I know a lot of people condemn this movie but I don't feel "Spider-Man 3" is that bad. In fact, it ended up being an entertaining comic book flick in its own right. No one will dispute that "Spider-Man 3" is the weakest out of the entire trilogy as it ends up collapsing under the weight of its lofty ambitions. However, that shouldn't stop you from watching it and overall, it provides a satisfying enough conclusion to one of the best comic book movie franchises we've seen in awhile.

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5

"Uncle Ben meant the world to us. But he wouldn't want us living one second with revenge in our hearts. It's like a poison that can take you over. And before you know it, turn us into something ugly."

Spider-Man 2.1 Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Stylized Action Violence)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 15 Minutes

Cast-
Tobey Maguire-Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Alfred Molina-Dr. Otto Octavius/Dr. Octopus
Kirsten Dunst-Mary Jane Watson
James Franco-Harry Osborn
Donna Murphy-Rosalie Octavius
Rosemary Harris-May Parker
J.K. Simmons-J. Jonah Jameson
Daniel Gillies-John Jameson
Dylan Baker-Dr. Curt Connors
Bill Nunn-Joe 'Robbie' Robertson
Elizabeth Banks-Betty Brant
Cliff Robertson-Ben Parker
Willem Dafoe-Norman Osborn/Green Goblin
Vanessa Ferlito-Louise
Aasif Mandvi-Mr. Aziz
Ted Raimi-Hoffman
Elya Baskin-Mr. Ditkovich
Mageina Tovah-Ursula Ditkovich
Bruce Campbell-Snooty Usher

Directed by Sam Raimi

"Spider-Man 2" finds our friendly-neighborhood wall-crawler facing off against Dr. Octopus.
Note: Part of the "Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy" Blu-Ray set.

After the unexpected success of 2002's "Spider-Man," a sequel was pretty much a no-brainer, and the hype leading up to its release in the summer of 2004 reached epic proportions. Although intended to be released in May, it was delayed a full month in order to allow director Sam Raimi and the crew to make sure the movie felt complete. Like the original, the film became a critical and commercial success but did not surpass the first film in terms of worldwide box office receipts. However, most people consider "Spider-Man 2" to be the best out of the entire trilogy in terms of story and emotional impact.

Taking place two years after its predecessor, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is still getting use to his superhero career as Spider-Man but life continues to throw obstacles at him. He lives alone in a rickety apartment, can barely pay his bills or keep up with his classes at Columbia University. Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) continues to be the object of his affection but due to his responsibilities he cannot be with her. Meanwhile, Harry Osborn (James Franco) seeks vengeance against Spider-Man, believing him to have murdered his father Norman (Willem Dafoe) and straining his friendship with Peter. Harry is now part of Oscorp's research division and is funding one of Peter's idols, the brilliant scientist Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), who is about to make a breakthrough on fusion (random trivia: the experiment presented in the film is possible in theory but just cannot be done with the technology available right now). During the demonstration, something goes horribly wrong (again?!) and Otto's body is fused to four mechanical limbs through his spine, becoming the villainous 'Dr. Octopus.' He becomes obsessed with continuing his experiment, putting New York City at great risk. Unfortunately, Peter discovers that he has now lost his powers and decides to use this chance to reconnect with Mary Jane. When Harry, completely obsessed with capturing Spider-Man, forms an alliance with Dr. Octopus, Peter must discover the courage to accept his destiny before he loses everything he holds dear.

Before I delve into the movie itself, let me just say that when I saw it in the theater back in 2004, the entire audience gave it a standing ovation. At the time, "Spider-Man 2" was the best comic book movie ever made. If "The Dark Knight" was about how easily men were corrupted and what lengths a person would go to save a city, than "Spider-Man 2" is about a young man finding himself, and ultimately embracing his destiny and place in the world. Writers Alvin Sargent, Michael Chabon, Alfred Gough, and Miles Millar really delved deep into what a man would do if he had super powers and how he would sacrifice all sense of a normal life for the greater good. There was one scene where Peter finally admits to his Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) about him being indirectly responsible for his Uncle Ben's death and you think to yourself, would you be as strong as Peter to admit such a thing? To be honest, I don't think I could've been that brave and this is precisely why Spider-Man makes for such a great model despite being a fictional character. Excellent scenes like the one I just mentioned are all over the film and you'll be hard pressed not to sympathize with what Peter is going through, even if this is 'only a comic book film.' There's also a lot of humor but it never detracts from the story's more serious aspects, with the elevator scene and J. Jonah Jameson wearing Spider-Man's costume being laugh out loud funny.

The performances are even better than the original, as the cast is now more comfortable in their roles. Tobey Maguire continues to shine as Peter Parker, the everyman character that's just trying to make ends meet despite his superhuman abilities. When we imagine ourselves with powers, we'd think our lives would be easier but that's far from the truth; in fact it only serves to make our life harder than it already is. Kirsten Dunst is also great as Mary Jane Watson and although there are still people who complain about her acting ability, I just can't see anyone else playing as her. She has great chemistry with Maguire and proves why Peter and Mary Jane are one of the most beloved couples in comic books. Even James Franco went through a major improvement and perfectly captures Harry's slow descent into insanity. The depiction of Dr. Octopus by Alfred Molina is not entirely true to the source material as he's a much more sympathetic character here but this actually makes the movie stronger. It's a nice change of pace that the villain isn't defeated by pummeling them to death but having Spidey save Mary Jane again feels a little overused even though this is just the second film.

With a bigger budget, the special effects have been given an upgrade and this time around the camera follows Spidey swinging through Manhattan without getting so close that all you see is a red-and-blue blur (which was a problem in the first film). Dr. Octopus' tentacles were actually built from scratch and I applaud the film crew for utilizing practical effects as much as possible, with CGI only used when absolutely necessary. The action scenes are superb and will leave you feeling a sense of awe. The most memorable one would have to be the clock tower and the subsequent subway battle between Spidey and Doc Ock. You'll see Spidey try to stop an out-of-control subway while only relying on his strength and webbing and then raise your fists in the air when he succeeds!

Released on June 30, 2004, "Spider-Man 2" currently holds an amazing (pun definitely intended!) 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it for 'boasting an entertaining villain and deeper emotional focus,' concluding that this 'nimble sequel…improves upon the original' in every way. Roger Ebert even proclaimed the film as the best superhero movie since 1978's "Superman" and even pushed it as a potential Academy Award contender. It didn't get any Best Picture nominations but it did win the award for Best Visual Effects. Although its $783.8 million worldwide gross is less than what the original made, this is still an overwhelming success, all things considered. Swinging onto Blu-Ray in October 2007, this high definition release is pretty solid. The picture quality has just the right amount of film grain without smearing background details with an unseemly fuzz. Audio is excellent, as you're treated to another epic score from Danny Elfman and some incredibly loud kicks and punches. Hell, it'll feel like you're the one getting punched! The Blu-Ray contains the theatrical and extended version of "Spider-Man 2," dubbed "2.1," and contains an extra eight minutes of material. They're mostly dialogue scenes but the fights are longer and more brutal, making an already great film even greater. Unfortunately, there are no supplements at all. Like its predecessor, it's only the movie itself on a single BD-50 disc. "Spider-Man 2" improves upon its sequel in almost every way with its amazing story, performances, and special effects. Certainly that's enough to convince you to watch it again in glorious high definition!

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams."

Spider-Man Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG-13 (Stylized Violence and Action)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 1 Minute

Cast-
Tobey Maguire-Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Willem Dafoe-Norman Osborn/Green Goblin
Kirsten Dunst-Mary Jane Watson
James Franco-Harry Osborn
Rosemary Harris-May Parker
Cliff Robertson-Ben Parker
J.K. Simmons-J. Jonah Jameson
Bill Nunn-Joe 'Robbie' Robertson
Elizabeth Banks-Betty Brant
Joe Manganiello-Eugene 'Flash' Thompson
Gerry Becker-Maximilian Fargas
Jack Betts-Henry Balkan
Stanley Anderson-General Slocum
Ron Perkins-Dr. Mendell Stromm
Ted Raimi-Hoffman
Randy Savage-Bone Saw McGraw
Michael Papajohn-The Carjacker
Bruce Campbell-Ring Announcer

Directed by Sam Raimi

Mary Jane: Is it just me or are you happy to see me, Spidey?
Note: Part of the "Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy" Blu-Ray set.

When it comes to comic book movies, there's certainly no short supply, with two high profile ones scheduled for this year: the highly anticipated "Watchmen," based upon the celebrated graphic novel of the same name, and the X-Men spin-off "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," with Hugh Jackman reprising his role as the titular character. The most successful comic book movie franchise (so far) is Columbia Pictures/Sony's "Spider-Man" trilogy, based on the famous Marvel character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962. One of the most popular comic book characters of all time, Marvel had long sought to do a film adaptation of Spider-Man but the project was stuck in development hell for over twenty-five years. Production finally went underway in 2000, with the film being released on May 3, 2002 to critical and commercial success. I must admit, I was blown away when I first saw it in theaters and must've watched it over a hundred times when it came out on DVD, with all the dialogue firmly ingrained in my mind. The upside-down kiss scene quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. The simply titled "Spider-Man" is now available on Blu-Ray, courtesy of the "Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy" box set.

"Spider-Man" tells the story of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), who lives with his Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) and Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) in Forest Hills, Queens. Despite being your average everyday teenager, his peers often bully him due to his strong interest in science. Peter's best friend is Harry Osborn (James Franco), son of wealthy scientist/industrialist Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe), who owns the company Oscorp. His next door neighbor is the beautiful Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), whom he secretly pines for. While on a school field trip to Columbia University, Peter is suddenly bitten by a genetically altered spider (it was a radioactive spider in the comics) and wakes up the next day to find that he has 20/20 vision and a suddenly athletic physique. He soon realizes that the spider-bite has given him the proportionate speed, strength, and agility of a spider and attempts to use his new abilities for his own personal gain by entering a local wrestling contest. Peter easily wins but is cheated out of the prize money. A thief (Michael Papajohn) later steals all of the promoter's money and in retaliation, Peter allows him to escape. However, that same thief murders his beloved Uncle Ben. Peter realizes he could've stopped the thief if he chose to, making him indirectly responsible. Remembering his Uncle's words that 'with great power comes great responsibility,' Peter becomes the costumed crime fighter known as 'The Amazing Spider-Man'! Meanwhile, Norman Osborn has begun experimenting on himself through a pseudo-super soldier serum but everything goes horribly wrong (as they always do!) and becomes the maniacal 'Green Goblin,' who begins to threaten everything that Peter holds dear.

"Spider-Man" is one of the most faithful comic book film adaptations I've ever had the pleasure to see and the first hour successfully captures Peter coming to terms with the fact that he now has super powers (a metaphor for puberty) in both a serious and humorous tone (the scene where he attempts to shoot webbing is hilarious!). The second hour is somewhat derivative and moves at a somewhat rushed pace to lead into the final battle but nonetheless, "Spider-Man" still ranks as one of the best comic book movies ever made. There are some changes from the source material and the most controversial is having the spider-bite grant Peter the ability to shoot webbing organically from his wrists rather than having him invent mechanical web-shooters. Director Sam Raimi said that having Peter make his own web-shooters would've stretched the audiences’ suspension of disbelief too much despite it being a longtime staple of the comic book. Though it irked some fans, the change was more or less accepted. Perhaps the most criticized element of the film was the Green Goblin's costume, which resembled cybernetic armor but fans focused their complaints on the mask, which has a frozen, permanent grin that severely limited Willem Dafoe's expression. While the armor itself is well-designed, I agree with the fans' complaints about the mask. A 100% adaptation of his costume from the comics would've looked silly on-screen but a reasonable alternative could've been the 'medieval chainmail armor' that Osborn wore in Peter Parker: Spider-Man. Overall, these are minor issues at best and despite the second hour not being as good as the first, Raimi's passion for the character allows "Spider-Man" to shine even after seven years later.

The performances surprised everyone and while the initial casting of Tobey Maguire was met with skepticism, critics and audiences alike quickly embraced him and it’s hard to think of anyone else in the role. Willem Dafoe as the malevolent Green Goblin is also excellent and the scene where he begins to talk to himself in front of a large mirror perfectly captures the character's emerging insanity. Likewise, Kirsten Dunst is good as 'the girl next door' (love that red hair!). The only actor that felt bland was James Franco as Harry Osborn, with the actor delivering a flat performance and making the strained father-son relationship not as strong. Even though he's not on-screen much, J.K. Simmons steals every scene as Peter's boss, J. Jonah Jameson. Despite being released in 2002, the CGI holds up rather well, and you'll be wide-eyed with wonder as Spidey swings across the screen through the urban jungle that is Manhattan. Some of the CG is a bit obvious and overused but it doesn't detract from the experience. The final battle is particularly brutal and I was surprised Raimi got away with so much with a PG-13 rating.

Critical reception was overwhelmingly positive when "Spider-Man" finally swung into theaters on May 3, 2002, with an amazing (pun absolutely intended!) 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it for not only providing 'a good dose of web-swinging fun [but] also…heart, thanks to the combined charms of director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire.' The film grossed a whopping $114.8 million over opening weekend, which was an unprecedented record at the time, and went on to gross $403.7 million domestic and $821.7 million worldwide. It is currently the second highest grossing comic book film, surpassed by "The Dark Knight." Released back in October 2007, the Blu-Ray is somewhat of a mixed affair. The video quality is excellent during close-ups but background details can come off a little fuzzy. It still offers quite an improvement from the DVD version. Fortunately, the sound quality doesn't suffer from any problems, thanks to the sharp score by Danny Elfman and the appropriately loud action scenes, befitting a summer blockbuster. Sadly, there are no special features included; it's just the movie itself on a single BD-50 disc. It doesn't matter though because this is pure comic book movie goodness. If you're a lifelong fan like me, you owe it to yourself to experience "Spider-Man" again and go for the ultimate spin!

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: 'with great power comes great responsibility.' This is my gift, my curse. Who am I? I'm Spider-Man."