Amazing Spider-Man 2, The 3D

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 finds Peter Parker (Garfield) feeling quite comfortable as he swings between skyscrapers, embracing his role as New York City's hero and spending time with Gwen Stacy (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 (Foxx), a foe far more powerful than Spider-Man, he faces his greatest battle yet. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (DeHaan), returns Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: Oscorp. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with the filmmakers; 13 deleted scenes with commentary by Director Marc Webb, including Peter Meets His Father; the featurette The Wages Of Heroism: Making The Amazing Spider-Man 2; Alicia Keys' "It's On Again" music video; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.38:1 1080p MVC 3D picture was photographed natively with additional 3D conversion by Legend 3D. As with the previous release, both the 2D and 3D picture attributes are darkly cast, but the color palette is naturally well balanced with warm and rich hues. Contrast is excellent, with solid and deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Fleshtones are naturally cast. Resolution is superb and especially evident in the nuanced detail exhibited on Spider-Man's suit and on the composition of the Electro villain. As this is a relatively dark visual experience, for optimization view in a black, darkened room through a display device capable of excellent native contrast. The 3D elements are natural, if not slightly reserved, and deficient in dynamic dimensionality in some scenes. Still, the 3D depth and perspective tops the otherwise conventional 2D version, especially in closer views and within the canyons of New York City's tallest buildings. The action scenes do intensify the 3D effects, which effectively enhance the excitement and Spider-Man's fluid swings through canyons of the cityscape. It is these action scenes that deliver impressive 3D and dynamically shape the sense of natural space and effective depth. Absent is any trace of crosstalk ghosting. This is an impressive hybrid 3D viewing experience that delivers perfectly natural dimensionality and pristine imagery. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamically and spatially engaging, with an aggressive holosonic® soundfield that is immersive and enveloping, with effective directionalized atmospherics and sound effects. Atmospherics and sound effects move about the soundfield with precise pans and positioning. Such is enhanced with effective .1 LFE extension to, at times, below 25 Hz and provides a natural low-end foundation to project realistic explosions, jolts of electricity, crumbling structures, crashing cars, and other mayhem. Hans Zimmer's orchestral music score is dynamic and well recorded with a wide and deep soundstage and enveloping surround presence that floats seamlessly within the soundfield. Dialogue is always intelligible, though, more precise spatial integration is wanting at times. The soundtrack presents convincing soundscapes and nuanced atmospherics, and immerses listeners in such a way as to convincingly create the sonic environment of each scene. This is an impressive soundtrack, with plenty of nuanced sonics that nicely supports the 3D visual dimensionality. (Gary Reber)