I learned about this very first screen adaptation of Marvel Comics' Spider-Man while browsing through the Blockbuster Entertainment Guide To Videos And Movies 1999 version, and was surprised to see 'The Amazing Spider-Man' from 1977. I was intrigued naturally and was lucky enough to track down a decent copy of this feature film length pilot episode, and although dated it may be, it is still interesting to see the origin of a Marvel Comics character come alive on screen. Family friendly entertainment, I guess you could say, although it will probably not hold the attention of children very well nowadays, with it's primitive special effects and hammy acting and dialogue.
Nicholas Hammond is a good representation of Spider-Man, one can definitely see Sam Raimi searching around for Tobey Maguire to resemble him later on for the 2002 film version of 'Spider-Man' whose special effects I also felt were pretty pitiful and just looked extremely computer generated the entire time. This almost made me enjoy this version more, however the film drags along sluggishly most of the time, without any real action taking place for a good 45 minutes of the film. The actions sequences that do take place are again, primitive and slow, and the ending is a bit abrupt and anti-climactic.
None of Spider-Man's most popular villains make an appearance here, as the special effects wouldn't allow for it, but Aunt May does make an appearance here played by an actress named Jeff Donnell, as does J. Jonah Jameson who is played by David White.
The film is mostly forgettable, and is only really worth seeing for Spider-Man and Marvel Comics completists like myself, but for what it's worth in nostalgic value, this one is a keeper. I can't wait to see how the new 2012 film 'The Amazing Spider-Man' will look next to this one.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (PILOT) -----7/10.
Nicholas Hammond is a good representation of Spider-Man, one can definitely see Sam Raimi searching around for Tobey Maguire to resemble him later on for the 2002 film version of 'Spider-Man' whose special effects I also felt were pretty pitiful and just looked extremely computer generated the entire time. This almost made me enjoy this version more, however the film drags along sluggishly most of the time, without any real action taking place for a good 45 minutes of the film. The actions sequences that do take place are again, primitive and slow, and the ending is a bit abrupt and anti-climactic.
None of Spider-Man's most popular villains make an appearance here, as the special effects wouldn't allow for it, but Aunt May does make an appearance here played by an actress named Jeff Donnell, as does J. Jonah Jameson who is played by David White.
The film is mostly forgettable, and is only really worth seeing for Spider-Man and Marvel Comics completists like myself, but for what it's worth in nostalgic value, this one is a keeper. I can't wait to see how the new 2012 film 'The Amazing Spider-Man' will look next to this one.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (PILOT) -----7/10.