DVD Review: Spider-Man 2.1

After a very scary mornig where I thought I would see none of my pay this month, I saw my pay today. At least some of it. At this point I just want to say thank you to my incredible girlfriend Donna, without whom I would be a complete mess/idiot. On with the show...

DVD Review: Spider-Man 2.1 (Sam Raimi, 2004, 2007, USA).

This release is one of what is commonly referred to as a "double dip", essentially a new edition of a DVD, brought out to even poromote a closely linked film or, more likely, a sequel. And so this is the latter case. Now I don't usually deal with double dips, I think they are a waste of money as a rule and the features only seek to promote the latest film. Spider-Man 2.1 offers something that many others don't. Extra scenes put back in to create an extended cut. Not only this but they are editied into the film under the supervision of the director, the man, the legend, Sam Raimi. This is often not the case, if you look at X-Men 1.5, the scenes are put in through really distracting branching where the video and audio are not made to the qaulity of the finished product. With this, it is. And so the question is, is this "extended cut", note not director's cut, better than the theatrical version?
I won't be running through the story as I think anybody who reads this has seen Spider-Man 2 or at least knows what it is about. This also won't be a long review as this 8 minutes does not add a lot. What we do get is some fine stuff. Individual scenes sometimes feel longer, an extra couple of lines have been put in here and there, I feel most notably so in the backyard scene between Peter and MJ. I say most notably, because it is also the most distracting. The scene's sound design seems to have not been mixed properly and the feel kind of takes you out of it. The whole thing is seamlessly edited aside from this but the rhythm feels odd where nothing really needed to be added. The scene between Spider-Man and the guy in the elevator (whom the features tells us is an American comedian) also feels jarring. Whereas in the theatrical cut the banter bewteen them about the difficulty of wearing the Spider suit was a really funny moment, this different version just feels flabby and self-indulgent.
The good stuff now and yes oh yes, it is good. J Jonah Jameson in the Spider suit is a sight to behold. I love the way he still has the cigar in his mouth while he is goofing around and the whole scene is a delight. While I can understand that the tone is too light in the darkest part of the film, but I think it is a fine addition to this "extended" cut. The extended train fight sequence is also all good stuff. It feels more violent, I think this coupled with the terrific Evil Dead riffing is the satnd out moment of the film and this adds much more to it. I don't want to ruin the extra bits because hey it is only 8 minutes in total.
Is it a better film then? No, no it is not. It adds unecessary character bits that make the film a bit too bloated, although the run time is still a quarter hour shorter than Spider-Man 3 (thoughts to which I will get to after the review, no I haven't seen it). The extra action is terrific and adds to the epicness of the obviosuly biggest action sequence of the film. What this is however is a worthy "extended cut" in that it is for fans of the original film who want a bit more, another example of this being the Gladiator extended cut. These films are authorised by the directors involved but they are not neccesarily the cut the directors want to be seen defenitively. What this offers are moemnts the fan will enjoy but which may make the film more of a slog for the casual viewer. Me? I may stick with this one for the longer train sequence and more of the Dunst. Love the Dunst.
One ore thing which i raised on the Empire Online forums ealrier today. This is the fiurst time I have ever notcied the acknowledgement that this is a different cut in the titles of the film. Instead of Spider-Man 2, the film itself actually says Spider-Man 2.1. Never seen this before, and it was a nice touch.

Video: Same standard as the previous DVD, really very good but I have a feeling when I get Blu-Ray I ill be re-buying for the extra detail. Added stuff looks just as good as the original DVD.

Audio: Really involving soundtrack from the start, great use of bass but not distracting, great surround effects, terrific overall. Again, the audio of the additional bits fits in entirely.

Features:

I have not seen all of them. I really can't be bothered to listen to the Screenwriter/Producer commentary.

Inside Spider-Man 2.1: Shows us how they intergrated the extra stuff and why. Conspicuous by Raimi's absence but I suppose understandable given Spider-Man 3's apparently troubled production.

Spider-Man 3 sneak peek: 3 minute pointless exercise in advertising what anybody who buys this wil already be seeing opening weekend. Also get a admittedly terrific trailer, as all the Spider-Man 3 trailers have been

Other features, all self-congratlulatory.

I bought this for 6.84 and was intrigued. I would not recommend anybody buying this for more than a tenner but as a warm up for the new one, its all good.

The first reviews of Spider-Man 3 are out and... a bit meh really. When you knock the ball out of the park given number 2, this was to be expected. But I am still pretty much drooling for it. I will love it, I know I will. All I am worried about is the length of time we get some Venom, considering what I heard not a lot considering Raimi was kind of forced into including him...

Back tomorrow with This Is England, which I am hoping I love. Still though best brit-flick of the year? One word: Sunshine Two words: Hot Fuzz Three words (please!): 28 Weeks Later. We will see. Again I am working at 6am tomorrow morning so to those who read, have a great Friday night for me!