Date: 15th December 2002

Highly Anticipated Spider-Man Online Experience


SPIDER-MAN STAR TOBEY MAGUIRE CONNECTS WITH FANS THROUGH MUCH ANTICIPATED ONLINE EXPERIENCE, “THE SPIDER-MAN DVD-ROM ONLINE THEATRE”

Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment and Cingular Wireless Present a World-Premiere Online Event Only Available to Owners of the Spider-Man Special Edition 2-Disc DVD Featuring an Online Audio Commentary with Spider-Man himself, Tobey Maguire along with JK Simmons in Windows Media


Culver City, Calif. – December 9, 2002 – Fans of Spider-Man, the year’s most successful movie and DVD, will get an inside look at the blockbuster film when they take part in the world premiere online event, “The Spider-Man DVD-ROM Online Theatre” on Sunday, December 15, at 7:30 p.m. EST. The event, presented by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment and Cingular Wireless will be streamed using Windows Media.

Listen to some sound sound bites from the event in Windows Media player.
JK Ozcorp
TM edge of my seat
TM great time on this film
TM superman fan

This online exclusive event incorporates playback of the Spider-Man feature film from a participant’s PC DVD-ROM drive with a streamed online audio commentary in Windows Media featuring the film’s star, Spider-Man himself, Tobey Maguire, and JK Simmons, who played J. Jonah Jameson, editor of the Daily Bugle. The commentary portion of the event will start at 8:00 p.m. EST, and is only available to those who have the Spider-Man DVD in their PC-ROM drive at that time.

“Based on the success of Spider-Man, we have found that there are many loyal enthusiasts who cannot get enough of this year’s superhero,” said Benjamin S. Feingold, President, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. “We are pleased to offer fans the opportunity to experience Spider-Man in a whole new way.”

For complete details on how to participate in the event, consumers can get step-by-step instructions by logging on to sony.com/spiderman.

Through the “Countdown to Spider-Man 2” link on disc 1 of the 2-disc Special Edition DVD, Spider-Man fans can log on at 7:30 p.m. EST, Sunday, December 15, prior to the start of the online commentary to access all pre-show activities featuring Spider-Man specials: including an introduction from JK Simmons, revealing of the DVD’s hidden Easter Eggs; previews for the DVD release of XXX and the summer theatrical release of Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (sequel to Charlie’s Angels), as well as an exciting “Enter to Win” sweepstakes with prizes such as a walk-on role in the Spider-Man sequel or a signed, framed piece of one of the original Spider-Man costumes.


ABOUT SPIDER-MAN
From Columbia Pictures Presents, A Marvel Enterprises/Laura Ziskin Production, Spider-Man is a live-action feature of one of the world’s most popular comic book superheroes. Directed by Sam Raimi, Spider-Man centers on student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) who, after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider, gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. He vows to use his abilities to fight crime, coming to understand the words of his beloved Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

The journey of Spider-Man, from comic book to celluloid began in 1962 when the character first appeared in the final issue of the failing “Amazing Fantasy” comic book. It was such a hit that “Amazing Fantasy” was renamed “Amazing Spider-Man” and reappeared in 1963. Since then, the web of ‘not for the faint of heart’ readers, fans and collectors worldwide has grown into making Spider-Man one of the most popular superheroes among the young, old, women and men. And now, 40 years later, with great power and great responsibility, the tale of Spider-Man jumps from the screen into the home on DVD and VHS for the whole family to enjoy.

ABOUT COLUMBIA TRISTAR HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com

ABOUT MARVEL COMICS
With a library of over 4,700 proprietary characters, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. Is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused in four areas: entertainment (Marvel Studios), licensing, toys (Toy Biz) and comic book publishing. Marvel facilitates the creation of entertainment projects, including feature films, television and DVD/home video, based on its characters and also licenses its characters for use in a wide range of consumer products and services including video and computer games, apparel, collectibles, snack foods and promotions. Marvel's characters are created by its comic book division which continues to maintain a leadership position in the U.S. And worldwide while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. For additional information visit the Marvel Web site at http://www.marvel.com.

Source: Press Release