ALONG CAME A SPIDER

PARAMOUNT has released the sequel to “KISS THE GIRLS” on dvd, and fans of the first film should enjoy Morgan Freeman’s return here as Dr. Alex Cross, the detective best suited to find and stop psychopathic serial killers.  In “KISS THE GIRLS” he was teamed with Ashley Judd, and here he’s teamed with Monica Potter.  Potter is actually a better actress than Judd and certain surprise twists revolving around her character make this a superior film in terms of the plot 

Cross teams up with an FBI agent when a child is kidnapped from a prestigious private school. The duo must race against time to figure out the real identity of the sociopath, whom disguised as a teacher, abducted the girl.  Director Lee Tamahori does a fine job moving the film along at a brisk pace, and there are enough clever twists along with a surprise ending, to keep most viewers at the edge of their seats.  

PARAMOUNT has preserved the film’s 2.35:1 aspect ratio with 16:9 enhancement.  The image is extremely sharp, allowing for a polished look in spite of the film having some subdued colors at times.  Fleshtones appear natural throughout and the contrast is excellent.  

 The soundmix is offered in Dolby Digital 5.1, wherein most of the surround moments are used to boost Jerry Goldsmith’s score.  The front soundstage utilizes most of the directional effects with creative and pleasing affect. The rear effects are primarily atmospheric.