The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
86
Studio and Year: Sony Pictures - 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 136 minutes
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: MVC/AVC
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, Rhys Ifans, Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan
Directed by: Marc Webb
Music by: James Horner
Written by: James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, Steve Kloves
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: November 9, 2012
"His past was kept from him. His quest for answers has just begun"
Film Synopsis:
Teenage social outcast Peter (Andrew Garfield) spends his days trying to unravel the mystery of his own past and win the heart of his high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). A mysterious briefcase belonging to his father, who abandoned him when he was a child, leads Peter to his dad’s former partner, Dr. Connors. The discovery of his father's secret will ultimately shape his destiny of becoming "Spider-Man" and bring him face to face with Connors' villainous alter ego, the Lizard.
My Take:
The Amazing Spider-man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), a brilliant outcast high schooler who as a boy was left by his parents, to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is struggling with his identity, while trying to understand the whys and wherefores of his parent’s decision. When Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, containing and unfinished equation, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. While exploring the lab Peter is accidentally bitten by a genetically altered spider and soon finds that he possesses super strength, agility, and a reflexively heightened sense of awareness for physical danger.
When tragedy strikes his family at the hands of a criminal Peter decides to use his newfound abilities in the pursuit of the perpetrator and before long begins fighting crime as the masked vigilante Spider-man. Unbeknownst to Peter his new found friend, Dr. Connors has opted to test an experimental serum based on Peter’s solution to the unfinished equation on himself. The results transform him into The Lizard. As Spider-Man Peter is set on a collision course with Connors'/The Lizard, and finds that he will be forced to make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.
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 come 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 plot points associated with villains.
I was intrigued when I learned of The Amazing Spider-man. I liked the idea of a re-imagining of the character and a re-boot of the series. When it was released in theaters earlier this year my son and I were there on day one. We both enjoyed it. The differing narrative spin regarding Peter’s past opens the door for further exploration even if it does tweak the Spider-man mythos a bit. Drawing Peter as more self confident with a contemporary loner persona is a nice touch as is the introduction of his relationship with Gwen and how it pertains to the storyline. While many of the plot points from 2002’s Spider-man are revisited (as they should be under the circumstances) I didn’t find the implementation to feel repetitive.
The decision to incorporate web shooters was on target and like the earlier films the design of the suit is spot on. The remaining production elements are top notch and support the action sequences which prove entertaining. The script is well crafted and the pacing is much improved over Spider-man. At well over two hours it moves along nicely. In addition to Peter, Gwen, and Dr. Connors the integration of the secondary characters as well as the subplot related to Peter’s parents is well done. The cast selection is complimentary all around and effectively enhances the film’s allure. The conclusion sets the stage for the continuing storyline regarding the mystery involving Peter’s parents.
As far as franchise reboots go I think that The Amazing Spider-man is a winner. I look forward to what lies in store in the next installment.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for sequences of action and 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: 92
3D Presentation: 80
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
The Amazing Spider-man 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 2.2 Mbps.
This film was shot natively in 3D and its elements positively translate to high definition on Blu-ray. The film was shot using a mix of live action and CGI and the reproduction of color, digital effects and wide angle background elements is quite good. Depth varies with some scenes exhibiting an appreciable sense of dimension while others seem to have limited virtual spacing. Like the 2D presentation resolution is rarely questionable in close ups and brightly lit interior/exterior sequences but it varies some in limited lighting. This isn’t a particularly bright film to begin with which doesn’t help. For much of the presentation there is a noticeable lack of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which makes for a somewhat less involving experience especially for a film of this type. Fortunately the action based sequences especially those occurring in the third act make 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 fair but ultimately unremarkable 3D video presentation.
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 an array 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 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 sequences later in the film that take place first in the sewer and later above the city at Oscorp the room is illuminated with an array of sounds that are both directional and ambient in nature. Low frequencies are rich, and occasionally room energizing as they accentuate the audio’s excellent dynamic range with palpable impact. 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: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
The Amazing Spider-man comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 24 Mbps.
This 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. It should be noted that this isn’t a very bright film which can sometimes impact the perception of depth/dimension but that was true of the theatrical presentation as well. 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:
Final Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Amazing Spider-man. It may not be the best genre reboot but it certainly revitalized the superhero’s big screen promise which makes it a winner in my book. It swings onto Blu-ray in this four disc 3D/2D Blu-ray offering from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment that features reference quality high definition audio/video and a fair but unremarkable 3D presentation. The supplemental package is extensive and well worth exploring if you enjoyed the film. If you really enjoy 3D this is probably the set to pick up. Otherwise the standard Blu-ray release is the way to go. Either way The Amazing Spider-man is a worthy addition to your Blu-ray collection.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS55 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
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
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
86
Studio and Year: Sony Pictures - 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 136 minutes
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: MVC/AVC
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, Rhys Ifans, Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan
Directed by: Marc Webb
Music by: James Horner
Written by: James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, Steve Kloves
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: November 9, 2012
"His past was kept from him. His quest for answers has just begun"
Film Synopsis:
Teenage social outcast Peter (Andrew Garfield) spends his days trying to unravel the mystery of his own past and win the heart of his high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). A mysterious briefcase belonging to his father, who abandoned him when he was a child, leads Peter to his dad’s former partner, Dr. Connors. The discovery of his father's secret will ultimately shape his destiny of becoming "Spider-Man" and bring him face to face with Connors' villainous alter ego, the Lizard.
My Take:
The Amazing Spider-man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), a brilliant outcast high schooler who as a boy was left by his parents, to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is struggling with his identity, while trying to understand the whys and wherefores of his parent’s decision. When Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, containing and unfinished equation, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. While exploring the lab Peter is accidentally bitten by a genetically altered spider and soon finds that he possesses super strength, agility, and a reflexively heightened sense of awareness for physical danger.
When tragedy strikes his family at the hands of a criminal Peter decides to use his newfound abilities in the pursuit of the perpetrator and before long begins fighting crime as the masked vigilante Spider-man. Unbeknownst to Peter his new found friend, Dr. Connors has opted to test an experimental serum based on Peter’s solution to the unfinished equation on himself. The results transform him into The Lizard. As Spider-Man Peter is set on a collision course with Connors'/The Lizard, and finds that he will be forced to make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.
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 come 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 plot points associated with villains.
I was intrigued when I learned of The Amazing Spider-man. I liked the idea of a re-imagining of the character and a re-boot of the series. When it was released in theaters earlier this year my son and I were there on day one. We both enjoyed it. The differing narrative spin regarding Peter’s past opens the door for further exploration even if it does tweak the Spider-man mythos a bit. Drawing Peter as more self confident with a contemporary loner persona is a nice touch as is the introduction of his relationship with Gwen and how it pertains to the storyline. While many of the plot points from 2002’s Spider-man are revisited (as they should be under the circumstances) I didn’t find the implementation to feel repetitive.
The decision to incorporate web shooters was on target and like the earlier films the design of the suit is spot on. The remaining production elements are top notch and support the action sequences which prove entertaining. The script is well crafted and the pacing is much improved over Spider-man. At well over two hours it moves along nicely. In addition to Peter, Gwen, and Dr. Connors the integration of the secondary characters as well as the subplot related to Peter’s parents is well done. The cast selection is complimentary all around and effectively enhances the film’s allure. The conclusion sets the stage for the continuing storyline regarding the mystery involving Peter’s parents.
As far as franchise reboots go I think that The Amazing Spider-man is a winner. I look forward to what lies in store in the next installment.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for sequences of action and 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: 92
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
3D Presentation: 80
(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 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 2.2 Mbps.
This film was shot natively in 3D and its elements positively translate to high definition on Blu-ray. The film was shot using a mix of live action and CGI and the reproduction of color, digital effects and wide angle background elements is quite good. Depth varies with some scenes exhibiting an appreciable sense of dimension while others seem to have limited virtual spacing. Like the 2D presentation resolution is rarely questionable in close ups and brightly lit interior/exterior sequences but it varies some in limited lighting. This isn’t a particularly bright film to begin with which doesn’t help. For much of the presentation there is a noticeable lack of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which makes for a somewhat less involving experience especially for a film of this type. Fortunately the action based sequences especially those occurring in the third act make 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 fair but ultimately unremarkable 3D video presentation.
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 an array 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 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 sequences later in the film that take place first in the sewer and later above the city at Oscorp the room is illuminated with an array of sounds that are both directional and ambient in nature. Low frequencies are rich, and occasionally room energizing as they accentuate the audio’s excellent dynamic range with palpable impact. 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: 94
(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 comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 24 Mbps.
This 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. It should be noted that this isn’t a very bright film which can sometimes impact the perception of depth/dimension but that was true of the theatrical presentation as well. 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:
Disc 1:
- The Amazing Spider-man 3D Blu-ray
- Audio commentary with Marc Webb, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach
- 3D (HD) 3D 101 with director Marc Webb – 6 minutes
- 3D (HD) 3D image progression reel – 2 minutes
Disc 2:
- The Amazing Spider-man 2D Blu-ray
- Second Screen App (enabled for iPad, Xperia, Sony Tablets) - The App syncs with the
film as it plays in “Timeline” mode and features “Production” mode allowing users to “sling” content from their tablets to the TV screen for a greater and more interactive HD experience. Content includes interviews, storyboards, concept art, pre-visualization sequences, stunt rehearsals, and more.
- Audio commentary with Marc Webb, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach
- (HD) Rite of passage: Spider-man reborn (7 featurettes):
- The drawing board: Development & direction – 13 minutes
- Friends and enemies: Casting – 15 minutes
- Second skins: Spidey suit and The Lizard – 11 minutes
- Spidey goes west: Production Los Angeles – 16 minutes
- Safe haven: Production Sony Studios – 15 minutes
- Bright tights, big city: Production New York – 9 minutes
- The greatest responsibility: Post production and release – 28 minutes
- The drawing board: Development & direction – 13 minutes
- (HD) 11 deleted scenes
- (HD) 17 pre-visualizations
- (HD) The Oscorp Archives production gallery
- (HD) 4 Image progression reels with commentary by the FX team
- (HD) Stunt rehearsals (8 segments)
- (HD) Developing The Amazing Spider-man video game – 3 minutes
- Bonus DVD
- Ultraviolet Digital Copy
- BD-Live enabled
Final Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Amazing Spider-man. It may not be the best genre reboot but it certainly revitalized the superhero’s big screen promise which makes it a winner in my book. It swings onto Blu-ray in this four disc 3D/2D Blu-ray offering from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment that features reference quality high definition audio/video and a fair but unremarkable 3D presentation. The supplemental package is extensive and well worth exploring if you enjoyed the film. If you really enjoy 3D this is probably the set to pick up. Otherwise the standard Blu-ray release is the way to go. Either way The Amazing Spider-man is a worthy addition to your Blu-ray collection.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS55 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
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
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package