Check out our review of the second installment in the rebooted film series based on the iconic webslinger as The Amazing Spider Man 2 finds Spider Man/Peter Parker engaged by his deadliest foe yet while struggling to find balance in a life full of difficult choices.
The Review at a Glance:
(max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
90
Details:
Studio and Year: Sony - 2014
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 142 minutes
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC/MVC
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Colm Feore, Sally Field, Paul Giamatti
Directed by: Marc Webb
Music by: Hans Zimmer
Written by: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinker
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: August 19, 2014
"Everything comes at a price"
My Take:
We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead. It's great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there's no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.
As a youngster I was a big Spider-man fan. This was actually born first out of watching the cartoon series on TV then going on to read the comics. Spidey was and is easy to like and the character has a transcendent appeal that has endured. When the first film series came out I was initially skeptical about how effectively he could be brought to the big screen. Regardless about what some may think I thought that Tobey Maguire handled it well. What eventually made the series less appealing were the storylines, especially those revolving around Peter’s relationship with Mary Jane, and the unevenly handled plot points associated with villains.
When The Amazing Spider-Man debuted in 2012 I liked the re-imagining of the character and re-boot of the series. The differing narrative spin regarding Peter’s past opened the door for further exploration of the Spider Man mythos. Drawing Peter as more self-confident with a contemporary persona was a welcomed touch as was the introduction of his relationship with Gwen and its significance in the storyline. In The Amazing Spider man 2 we see further evolution of the character on both sides as we get to see Peter and his alter ego continue to struggle to maintain/find balance. Much of this has a tangibility that carries over from the story arcs in the early comics.
The narrative’s tonal shifts from drama/melodrama to action to purposefully integrated levity can sometimes be a bit distracting but I never found it distasteful. There is quite a bit crammed into the film’s 142 minutes including the unanswered questions surrounding Peter’s parents (carried from the first film), the relationship between Peter and Gwen, the backstory and formation of Max/Electro, the introduction of The Rhino, the introduction of Harry/The Green Goblin (with a small accompanying backstory), the battles between Spider Man and Electro, Oscorp’s growing threat and of course the final battle which ends in tragedy.
Both of my kids commented on the overtly quirky nature of Max and how perhaps he could/should have been toned down. To some extent I agree with them although I didn’t find it as bothersome. I liked the book end approach to The Rhino’s implementation and really enjoyed how both The Green Goblin and Electro were integrated into the plot and addressed from a production standpoint. The action sequences are engaging and superbly choreographed. The cast selection is complimentary all around and effectively enhances the film’s allure. While the script does occasionally favor spectacle over substance I found it equally entertaining in this second viewing (I saw it during its theatrical run). As you might expect the conclusion sets the stage for the continuing storyline which revolves around Oscorp and what appears to be the organization of foes that will present Spider man with his greatest challenge yet. I look forward to what is to come…
Parental Guide:
The rating is for sequences of sci-fi action/violence.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100/EXCELLENT = 83-91/GOOD = 74-82/AVERAGE = 65-73/BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency effects:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
- Low frequency extension * (non-rated element):
3D Presentation: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Depth (Onscreen):
- Dimension (Beyond the screen):
- Realism:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Color Reproduction:
The Amazing Spider Man 2 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.5 Mbps.
This film wasn’t shot natively in 3D however its high definition rendering on Blu-ray is terrific. The film was shot using a mix of live action and CGI and the integration digital effects, wide angle background elements and reproduction of color is excellent. Depth varies with some scenes exhibiting an appreciable sense of dimension while others have a less discernable sense of virtual space. Like the 2D presentation resolution is rarely questionable in close ups and brightly lit interior/exterior sequences but it varies some in limited lighting. The sporadic use of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen can seemingly make for a less involving experience especially for a film of this type. Fortunately when applied, predominantly during the action based sequences (the finale in the clock tower is a great example) there is effective use of the platform which bolsters the entertainment factor. I didn’t notice any overt instances of crosstalk or other video related anomalies. The end result is a very decent 3D video presentation that compliments the source material.
Action films like this live or die by their soundtracks and this DTS-HD Master Audio mix gets it right. This is an engaging surround sound mix that features a host of well-placed sound effects that at times prove very involving. I appreciated the attention to detail that went into creating the surround mix as it effectively replicates the various character specific sounds and environments featured in the film. Near field sounds are accurately placed within the sound field which gives them multi-dimensional perspective that places you right in the middle of the action. During the battle sequences with Electro beginning with the one in Times Square the room is illuminated with a blend of sounds that are both directional and ambient in nature. Low frequencies are rich, and room energizing as they accentuate the audio’s excellent dynamic range with palpable richness and room trembling impact (listen for the low frequency resonance in Electro voice). Dialogue intelligibility is never a problem even during the film’s active moments. This is a great surround sound presentation that makes for an entertaining home theater experience. Be sure to give the volume knob an extra turn.
2D Video Quality:
Video: 100
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black Level/Shadow Detail:
- Color Reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
The Amazing Spider Man 2 comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 24 Mbps.
This “Mastered in 4K” rendering from Sony is a superb looking and faithful Blu-ray presentation that delivers high level detail, razor sharpness and resolute definition that brings out the lifelike textures captured by the camera lens. Detail perception is nearly flawless with lucid visual acuity and fine rendering throughout. Colors are vividly pleasing with satisfying primaries and warm tonality. Flesh tones appear natural with appreciable delineation among the varied complexional types in the cast. Spot on contrast and inky blacks enhance sequences containing mixed content. Shadow detail is discerning which adds depth to the film’s variety of sequences shot in low lighting. From what I could see there are no compression related video artifacts or noise present in this whistle clean high definition video transfer that looks superb on my big screen.
Bonus Features:
- 3D Blu-ray – The Amazing Spider Man 2
- 2D Blu-ray – The Amazing Spider Man 2 (Plus the following bonus features):
- (HD) 4 All-New deleted scenes with director commentary
- Filmmaker commentary
- (HD) Alicia Keys “It’s on again” music video
- The Following content is exclusive to Blu-ray:
- (HD) 9 additional deleted scenes (including “Peter meets his father”) with director commentary
- (HD) The wages of heroism - The making of Spider Man 2 (6 segments totaling 103 minutes):
- Lessons learned: Development & direction
- Heart of the city: shooting in New York
- Triple threat: Attack of the villains
- A more dangerous world: Transforming Electro and the Green Goblin
- A bolt from the blue: Visual effects
- Spidey gets his groove back: Music and editing
- (HD) The music of The Amazing Spider Man 2 with director Marc Webb – 8 minutes
- Bonus DVD
- Digital HD Copy
Final Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Amazing Spider-man 2. As with its successor it revitalizes the superhero’s big screen promise, while revving up the action and setting the stage for what it to come. It swings onto Blu-ray in this 3D/2D Blu-ray Combo pack from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment that features reference quality high definition audio/video and a solid 3D presentation. The supplemental package is well worth exploring if you’re a fan. If you enjoy 3D this is the set to pick up. Otherwise the standard Blu-ray release should suffice. Either way The Amazing Spider-man 2 is a worthy addition to your Blu-ray collection.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4910 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6 Meter from Spectracal)
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8801 11.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103D Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (With Darbee video processing)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SVS PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
SVS PC12-NSD
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package