Spectacular Spider-Man: Attack of the Lizard

This is a DVD that contains three of the episodes from "The Spectacular Spider-man: The Animated Series." The DVD is somewhat mislabeled as a "full-length animated adventure" when the truth is that it is actually three episodes stuck end on end with the credits removed, only one of the original episodes deals with the Lizard. The problem with this type of DVD is that it will be somewhat redundant if they release the full season later, but until then this will do. The series takes the old Spider-man comics and updates it, and it works pretty well. It is just what a Saturday morning cartoon should be, fun and exciting.

The production values for the show, being a Saturday morning cartoon, are quite good, and a nice surprise. The animation of the series stays away from the talking heads of some of the anime series, and these Spider-man cartoons are actually animated. They move. The scripts have been written with care, and though the characters and background are stylized, within the scope of the series, it all works. This is a kids show, but one of the better ones.

Peter Parker is in high school, and has all the problems that go with it (the worst being he can't tell anyone he is Spider-man). They wisely left the essential ingredients of Spider-man in place, his smart mouth while fighting and his never ending series of personal problems, though some characters have been changed here and there. Aunt May is not as old and fragile as in the original comic strips, Gwen is portrayed as a brain, small changes, but they seem to work just fine.

The first two sections of the DVD have to do with Electro and the Vulture, with the final third dealing with the Lizard. Since this is a new series, the origins of all three characters are included, but unlike some of their movie counterparts, the story is never allowed to bog down, and everything keeps moving forward. Though as with most 30 minute slot TV shows, you wish they had a bit more room to stretch out. The tone never gets very dark, though the fight scenes are just what they should be. The first transformation of the Lizard was the highlight of the DVD for me, nicely done. They don't wimp out as many cartoon series do. The series does include a few of the shots of the bloodstream that are in those other Spider-man movies (Hulk movies to), do I really need to look at more blood cells. I grit my teeth when I see this gimmick on screen, can't we just show the guy changing without looking at his blood cells up close. When is the last time you took a look at your blood cells (don't answer that).

The sound is clear, though the surround sound is only used in a very few places. I really liked that they actually split the instruments up for the title section, some in the front speakers and some in the back speakers. This worked really well, though only briefly, and made me think of Altered States where the music was set up to be heard specifically in surround sound. I truly believe that movies have not really captured how much surround sound can add to an overall effect of a movie if done correctly (go grab your Blu-ray of Pan's Labyrinth). Of course most of this comes down to money, is it worth spending the extra money on (Hell Yes)? The sound is crisp, and the picture looked solid. If you haven't already caught this on TV check it out if you are so inclined. The DVD has only one extra, a music video (lets all do the Spidey dance)*.

You can write to James Harper at movielover77061@yahoo.com

* That's not what the music video is, if only it were.