Spider-Man Trilogy - Sam Raimi [DVD]

Triple bill featuring the first three movies from the hugely popular 'Spider-Man' franchise.

In 'Spider-Man' (2002) high school student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a genetically-altered spider while on a visit to a scientific institute, and he soon begins to experience unusual side effects such as increased strength, enhanced wall-climbing skills and the ability to spin webs out of his wrists. Peter first attempts to make use of these skills to impress girl-next-door Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), but after his Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) is killed in an armed robbery, he is compelled to work for the greater good and reinvents himself as Spider-Man, the enemy of criminals everywhere. Meanwhile, arms manufacturer Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) transforms himself into the Green Goblin, begins to terrorise the city, and lays down the gauntlet to Spider-Man by abducting his beloved Mary Jane.

In 'Spider-Man 2' (2004) two years have passed since the events of the first film, and the mild-mannered Peter Parker faces new challenges as he struggles with trying to balance his dual identities as the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man and his life as a college student. Tormented by his secrets, Peter finds that his relationships with all those he holds dear are in danger of unravelling. His life-long yearning for Mary Jane becomes even stronger as he fights the impulse to reveal his secret life and declare his love. His friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) is complicated by the young Osborn's bitterness over his father's death and his growing vendetta against Spider-Man.

In 'Spider-Man 3' (2007) Peter Parker and Mary Jane are on the cusp of contentment - but not for long, as Peter's former friend Harry Osborn, son of the Green Goblin, becomes the New Goblin in his desire for revenge against Spider-Man. Fugitive Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), killer of Peter's Uncle Ben, has been transformed into the shape-shifting Sandman, possibly Spider-Man's toughest foe so far. To complicate matters further, a parasitic alien symbiote has attached itself to Peter's suit, giving him even greater powers but also bringing out the evil side of his personality. He has to struggle not only against two major adversaries but also against himself.