Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8711 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-11-05
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Russian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 98 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After an obligatory prologue in which its detective hero suffers a tragic professional setback, Along Came a Spider (based on the James Patterson novel) sets about its business of luring the viewer into its nefarious plot, relying on the magician's technique of misdirection to reveal a double-whammy surprise. The clever, late-coming plot twist is a bit too mechanical but effectively unexpected, making this a satisfying prequel to the hit thriller Kiss the Girls--based on the first) of Patterson's Alex Cross detective novels--and a welcomed addition to a promising movie franchise. It's no better or worse than a good vintage episode of Peter Falk's Columbo, adhering closely to the mystery-thriller's time-honoured traditions, but with Morgan Freeman settling comfortably into his role as seasoned sleuth Alex Cross, familiar formula is given fresh vitality. When a senator's daughter is kidnapped from her high-security private school, the kidnapper (nicely played by the underrated Michael Wincott) draws Cross into the case, knowing that the psychologist-detective's involvement will bring high-profile publicity. Cross partners with the Secret Service agent (Monica Potter) who botched her assignment, but wait... the movie's got a rabbit in its hat and that rabbit has an ace up its sleeve. Director Lee Tamahori (who brought similar intensity to The Edge) handles the sleight-of-hand with slick precision, dispensing just enough information to keep the viewer off guard without resorting to cheap manipulation. Don't look for much depth of character here, but Along Came a Spider is well served by everyone involved. It's the movie equivalent of a bestseller you'd impulsively buy at the grocery-store checkout, and on those terms it succeeds. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

Making of Along Came A Spider
Theatrical Trailer
English Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.0
Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, English, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish
Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1

Synopsis
The redoubtable Morgan Freeman returns as Washington, DC police detective Alex Cross, the master profiler, in an exciting thriller based on James Patterson's novel, ALONG CAME A SPIDER. The film is actually a prequel to the box office blockbuster KISS THE GIRLS. Here, Cross is pursuing a brilliantly twisted kidnapper who's holding the daughter of a U.S. senator. When the kidnapper, Gary Soneji (the effectively sinister character actor, Michael Wincott), who had posed as a schoolteacher for two years before making his move, contacts Cross and taunts him, but makes no demands for money, Cross starts to piece together a psychological profile. With the help of a clever and beautiful Secret Service agent, Jezzie Flannigan (Monica Potter), Cross begins his investigation of the bizarrely elaborate and ruthless crime. But as is usual with Patterson's work, just when Cross (and the audience) thinks everything is resolved, a stunning twist unfolds. Acclaimed director Lee Tamahori (THE EDGE, ONCE WERE WARRIORS) is adept at staging the action, including a tense chase through Union Station during rush hour, and Freeman's pensive presence lends an extra level of gravity to this darkly entertaining thriller.

Customer Reviews

Along came a brilliant film.
Along came a spider is a film that you will not forget in a hurry. It's packed with suspense, action and superb acting, with Morgan Freeman truely showing just why he is one of the greats. Agreeably, once you have seen the film, the ending is not hard to forget and does spoil it if you want to see the film again, but believe me once you have seen it ,you will just want to see it again and again and again!!!Truely brilliant.

Everything a thriller should be.
Wow. This has to be one of the greatest thrillers ever, for a simple reason: It actually keeps you thrilled. Morgan Freeman gives a great performance here, and you actually believe him whilst he's acting.
The story is about a senator's daughter who is kidnapped, and Det. Alex Cross is on the team to find her. Sounds simple, but the things that happen along the way make this an essential DVD to have in your collection.

Don't bother if you've read the book
After reading the James Patterson book and loving it, I couldn't wait to see the film. I was extremely disappointed with the film and wished I didn't bother. It follows the plot of the book, very loosely, but they have also changed the plot quite a lot. At first I thought maybe they couldn't keep exactly to the book, but then I watched Kiss The Girls, and that is exactly the same as the book. My boyfriend watched the film, and he didn't enjoy it at all, said it was too jumpy and didn't make much sense, he hasn't read the book.

So if you are a James Patterson fan, and enjoyed the book as much as I did, don't bother with this film.