Spider-Man 3

Directed by Sam Raimi

Starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Hayden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, J.K. Simmons, and Bruce Campbell, who made the opening credits this time!

Backstory

In this modern era of comic book adaptations, the Spider-Man films are the ones that have consistently hit home runs. People are nuts for Spider-Man. But, there’s also this perception that movie franchises fall apart in the third act…that the final film in a trilogy falls apart, and you can tell the makers are out of ideas. Would Spider-Man suffer a similar fate?

Plot

For the first time ever, things are going great for Peter Parker. He’s doing good in school, he’s dating Mary Jane Watson, and the public is finally starting to embrace Spider-Man. And, you know, all this kind of starts going to his head. Naturally, all hell has to break loose. Harry Osborn figures it’s time to avenge his father’s death, and becomes the New Goblin to achieve these ends. It’s revealed that the true killer of Uncle Ben is really a thug named Flint Marko, who just escaped from prison and, thanks to an accident with a particle accelerator, becomes the villainous Sandman. Plus, Peter Parker starts up a rivalry with a new Daily Bugle photographer named Eddie Brock. And, let’s not forget, a mysterious black substance from outer space that gives Spider-Man a new black costume…that turns Peter Parker into a hyper-aggressive jerk. So, Spider-Man has to a) bring in his uncle’s killer b) make up with Mary Jane c) reconcile with his best friend, and d) fight the evil of the black suit and accidentally create Venom in the process.

What I Liked

Venom. Sandman. Great special effects. Our core relationship of Peter, Mary Jane, and Harry, which has always been the core of these films. Did I mention Venom looks spectacular? Lots of great action scenes.

What I Didn’t Like

There’s was so much going on, that we really didn’t get to know the Sandman as a character. Same kind of with Venom. So many characters, so many subplots…a friend of mine once told me that the second film really felt like the second issue of a comic. There’s so much going on that this one is like reading three different ones at once. And the ending’s kind of a downer.

Final Assessment

I still think that this is a great film and worthy conclusion to the first two films. There is lots going on, but if you can keep up, you’ll have a grand time.

3.5 Nibs