Product Details

• Actors: Christopher Daniel Barnes, Sara Ballantine, Roscoe Lee Browne, Rodney Saulsberry, Jennifer Hale
• Writers: Joe Simon, Larry Lieber, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
• Producers: Avi Arad, John Cawley, John Semper, Joseph Lampone Jr.
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Run Time: 79 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000633Y6
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,169 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Spider-Man takes on Dr. Octopus, the Kingpin, and the Green Goblin, and takes us on a flashback trip to his origins for good measure, in this four-episode arc from the third season of the 1990s animated series. These web-slinging moral tales have none of Batman's sleek style, and the breathless pacing doesn't quite make up for the awkward animation and pedestrian writing, but the episodes are bright, busy, and action packed. --Sean Axmaker

Product Description

Swing into action with America's most amazing superhero as Spider-Man faces off against arch-rival The Green Goblin and a host of his most evil foes in "The Ultimate Villain Showdown." Bitten by a radioactive spider while on a high school field trip, young Peter Parker is transformed into a human web-slinger with incredible spider strength. Now, for the first time on video or DVD, you can discover how the Spider-Man legend began and watch as he learns the dark origins of The Green Goblin and wages spectacular battles with supervillains Dr. Octopus and Kingpin. You'll get caught in a web of excitement with this thrilling animated adventure.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spidey is back in full sling!, April 25, 2002

By	J. Wagner "jjwspider" (Oil City, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Spider-Man - The Ultimate Villain Showdown (Animated Series) (DVD)

Morbid curiosity - that was the sole reason I considered picking up this DVD especially after reading that the Mouse House had did a cut and paste job to what is easily one of my favorite cartoons of all time. When I found it released early I couldn't pass it up.

Let me say one thing - I was wrong.

The chapter sheet features the cover art for the front and back of the DVD and the disk is just a picture of the Spider-Man face reflecting back the Green Goblin. When I put the disk in I found something else to be amazing - no forced trailers, something Buena Vista home video is notorious for. The menu opens with a bunch of screen caps of villains flashing onto the screen and eventually leads into the city with a still Spidey in mid crawl on the side of a building.

Starting the movie will lead you to the long opening theme for the Spidey toon and only has one change - an added "The Ultimate Villain Showdown" label under the Spidey logo. By now you probably want to know what is on the disk - the episodes go in order - "Make a Wish", "Attack of the Octto Bot", "Enter the Green Goblin", and "Rocket Racer". This is also known as Chapter 2,3,4 and 5 in the Sins of the Fathers story arc. The transfer was very well done but a little slow at times - altho this is more than likely the animation and not the transfer. The episodes still contain the original title cards and at the end of the first three episodes flow directly into the next episode, avoiding the end credits until the end of the movie.

The special features include the 1967 Origin of Spider-Man toon with an intro by Stan "The Man" Lee. There is also a Stan's Soapbox feature which is about 20 mins long and features Stan talking about the creation of Spidey and some other details of the Marvel U. As a fan boy I found this feature very enjoyable and even got a couple of chuckles out of Stan. There is also another feature that allows you to watch commentary by Stan before each episode - once again, great stuff. Another feature is a Villains Gallery that allows you to select either Venom, Doc Ock, the Hobgoblin or the Green Goblin and get a complete bio of the character. Each villain has at least two clips that show some aspect of the character as well as Stan's thoughts about the character. The final feature was a sneak peek section - featuring Spy Kids 2, Snow Dogs, Digimon and a couple others that I can't remember right at the moment.

Conclusion - Overall I think the disk is really worth the pick up and was very happy that Disney hadn't pasted together a new movie and followed a story arc from the series. While the DVD had a lot of features I wish there had been an easter egg with Sins of the Fathers Chapter 1 but overall this DVD comes with a lot more extra features than the X-Men DVD's that were released by Universal. Hopefully sales will be good on this disk and we'll see Disney release season sets. An added note to Disney - make Origin of the Silver Surfer your next attempt.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Web Swinging Time, April 26, 2002

By A Customer

Buena Vista has collected 5 animated adventures on this tape for your enjoyment. 4 of the shows are from the 1990's animated series third year "Sins Of The Fathers" story arc.

"Make A Wish" - Spider-man is is about to give up the hero biz until he meets his biggest fan. While giving her a tour of the city Spidey style, Spider man is captured by Doctor Octopus.

"Attack Of The Octobot" - Doc Ock has brain washed Spider-man to commit crime and it's up to Spidey's biggest fan, with the help from a New York cabbie, to bring him back to his senses.

"Enter The Green Goblin" - Norman Osborn has disappeared after a lab explosion. Now one by one members of Oscorps Board of Directors are being kidnapped by a new villain who calls himself the Green Goblin. Has Normans son Harry taken matters into his own hands? Mary Jane thinks so and now it's up to Spidey to find out.

"Rocket Racer" - Spider-man must stop one of Peter Parkers lab students with a past criminal record from using his science-savvy(and some "borrowed" technology) to return to crime while also trying to save the city from a gang of jet packed wearing thieves who are aided by a rampaging giant Gyro Wheel.

The fifth and final episode on this tape is from the 1960's animated series.

"The Origin Of Spider-man" - Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider and his life is forever changed.

If you enjoyed Spider-man The Movie or just a Spidey Fan period you will love this tape.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Brief Introduction to Spider Man., April 29, 2002

By	tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This video contains four cartoons from the 1990's Spider Man series that aired on the Fox Kids network. The four episodes are parts 2-5 of the "Sins of Our Fathers" story arc. Part Two gives the origins of Spider Man while Part Four illustrates the rise of the Green Goblin.

The final part of the tape includes the 1967 cartoon "The Origins of Spider-Man". The animation is really bad (after all it was 1967), but is worth watching just to hear that great theme song a couple of times.

A decent animated collection that works well as an introduction to who Spider Man is.