For audiences less familiar with
Spider-Man 2 - and who are thus less likely to watch the extended cut in the first place - the "Inside
Spider-Man 2.1 featurette does a great job explaining and exploring the changes and additions implemented for this new cut. While many of the comments by folks like Avi Arad essentially recount conflicts well-established in the original version, there are some specific acknowledgments the producers describe, such as the opening conversation between Harry and Peter and the clock tower fight. At 15 minutes, it actually runs longer than the sum total of the additions themselves, but it highlights enough of the major ones to feel like a legitimate extra rather than the kind of self-glorifying padding that usually fills out most Double Dip DVDs.
The "Great Recognition" featurette, meanwhile, highlights the award-winning efforts of the special effects team. Through a collection of interviews, the feature explains the process by which effects houses submit their work to the Academy, while four members of the effects team describe what they feel were their defining contributions to the design and innovation of effects work on
Spider-Man 2. Beyond revealing some of the submission process, this does delve into special effects work in a way we seldom see, and it's an interesting resource for fans of Spidey as well as special effects movies.
The multi-angle featurette shows multiple frames of action at the same time as Danny Elfman discusses his creative process putting together movie music, both in general and on a sequel like
Spider-Man 2. Technically speaking this multi-angle format only halfway works, but it's good if you're enraptured enough by the movie that you want to watch it only with the score playing; otherwise, it isn't necessary to watch this short featurette after you've heard Elfman's insights.
The trivia track really is kind of a technological step forward from the previous release, since it provides pop-up facts as well as actual branching sequences that show behind-the-scenes footage. These are for the most part seamless, and one suspects this will be first-gen technology on HD releases when and if they replace standard-definition DVDs; as a sort of "gateway drug" for users susceptible to the charms of more complicated DVD extras and entertainment technology, this is a great extra that might rank as one of the best of the year. And the commentary track by Ziskin and Sargent thankfully seems to offer information recorded
after the movie's release, not before as so many tracks usually do.
This means they can comment on critical and fan reaction to the film, and talk about creative and commercial decisions implemented during the production. And while they still don't offer anything resembling a real justification for that damn chocolate cake scene - Sargent feebly suggests it allows the film to breathe, though that's exactly what May's hero-speech scene and Peter's "I'm back/ my back" scene serve the exact same purpose - they do at least explain the rationale for the car-throwing: it was conceived before the script was finished and the producers had to shoe-horn it into the story beats.
On the other hand, the VFX breakdowns are actually among the best special effects featurettes I've ever seen: without covering much of the ground of the "Recognition" featurette, this follows the process of designing effects shots in the film. This is largely done by showing four images on screen, each of which contributes to the final picture we see in the film. It's great to actually see this described in detail and without just passing it by in the rigmarole of a making-of overview; if you're an aspiring filmmaker this is must-see material.
Finally, the
Spider-Man 3 speak peek offers precious little in the way of information about the upcoming movie, instead providing standard-fare promotional gibberish about upping stakes and introducing new characters. Personally speaking, I have major trepidations about the flip-flop making Sandman Uncle Ben's killer (no spoiler, it's been in every trailer yet released), but am otherwise excited to see the film - no thanks to this half-assed and altogether insight-free preview.
Overall, the additions do really enhance the Spider-Man 2 experience, and for my money make this the definitive version of the film. In this context, even Aunt May's interminable speech about what it means to be a hero - which I believe is still going on as I type this - seems to feel relatively natural, instead of being a screenwriter's soliloquy purge. By and large,
Spider-Man 2.1 is itself a terrific addition to the growing canon of Spidey DVDs on the market. Even if you choose not to buy it, give it a rent; it's one of the first cases in memory of a Double Dip that truly allows you to have your cake - and not mind watching it, too
.... But do wait until the PS3 comes out. No sense in buying a blueray-player when it comes with the new playstation!... HD/Blue-Ray is so absolutely sharp and clean that it almost hurt your eyes!... I remember seeing the superman returns teaser-trailer in the highest HD quality, when it first came out; because of that I could actually (in the end close-up of superman) litterally SEE that the man was wearing BLUE contacts! THAT'S how good it is!
t: All the train scenes from the trailer were new.
