Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Spiderman 2 DVD

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 12-05-2004, 12:30 AM:

I picked up the 2-disc "Spiderman 2" DVD (at Wal-Mart for $15) this week. The first "Spiderman" film didn't impress me enough to purchase that DVD, but I felt this sequel was really superior to the original. With viewing the movie on DVD, months after seeing it in the movie theater, I feel the story really holds up well. In fact, I liked the movie even more this time around.

What is it that improved my feeling about it? The theme about responsibility came through better. Peter Parker ultimately gives up being Spiderman for all of the sacrifices he makes that go unrewarded and unappreciated. The turning point comes in Chapter 35 with comments from Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), which are the most powerful, and quite profound, lines in the movie. In her speech about responsbility and self sacrifice she says, "I believe there is a hero in all of us." We have to hold steady, even if that means giving up our dreams.

When many of us watch a "summer movie," it's almost as if we were watching a porn film and wanting to fast forward to the action. Most people act as if they don't give a shit about character and story development and complain of being bored to tears if a movie bothers to do anything of service in that regard. We just wait impatiently for the next explosion.

There's a lot of different story arcs going on in "Spiderman 2" and it's really quite a feat for director Sam Raimi to hold it all together.

The 2nd disc in this set isn't totally loaded with extras. I'm one of those nutty people who like to have all the teaser trailers, theatrical trailers and even TV spots put onto a disc in "completist" fashion. But there is pretty interesting stuff anyway. The "Making the Amazing" 12-part documentary is the centerpiece, and has a lot of good stuff for people interested in the technical side of filmmaking.

For instance, I heard more than a few people griping, "aww, all those flying city shots with Spiderman going through the air are all 100% CG." Actually, no. Check out the "Spidercam" documentary. Unlike the first film, much of the flying through the city footage this time around is all real. Most FT members are familiar with cable controlled camera systems, mainly in relation to football games and other sports events. More movie productions are using these kind of camera systems. Check out the cannonball POV shot in "The Alamo." The Spidercam was used extensively in New York, as well as Chicago.

The Windy City had a certain section of elevated train track that fit with the big showdown between Spiderman and Doc Ock. It's been more than a decade since I lived in New York, but I was a little disturbed by the geography of that scene. Having traveled around Manhattan for five years, I knew there was no section of subway track in New York like that. In all of the wierd occurences in filmmaking, I am continuingly amazed how filmmakers jack around with the geography of Manhattan as though no one would notice. Really wierd. But a minor nitpick with regard to "Spiderman 2."