Movie Review: Spider-Man 3
½I want to establish first, that I am a fan of this franchise. I enjoyed the first 2 films and went in wanting another dose of the web-flinging hero. What I was missing, was some of my friendly neighborhood Spidey that I have grown to love. But is it really Spidey's fault? I think not - chalk it up to the constant barrage of negative energy from all angles (otherwise known as a weak script trying to hide behind big effects and a lot of cash).
First - Sandman. A giant of a villain who is a bit dusty after being molecularly altered (personally, I think the CGI guys were from The Mummy franchise). Next, this creepy alien goo lands from above and infects its host by intensifying the negative energy - it takes over photographer wanna-be, Eddie Brock, and he becomes Venom.
You just think that is all the villains in this tale...oh no. Next, we have Harry trying to be nuGreen Goblin (Peter killed his father, yada yada) with a lot of the fancy toys his dastardly father left behind. Really, is that all?
But wait...there's more! Next is Mary Jane - now while she is usually the damsel in distress, this time around she is annoyed by Peter and his emotional brick wall, so she gets to while a lot.
Last but not least - the demon within. The goo takes over Spidey and turns him into an anti-hero in a black Spidey suit. Like Tobey Maguire didn't already have enough to do.
Spider-Man 3 isn't bad, but there is too much going on to really be able to get into any one of the storylines going on here.
The focus on the hapless criminal who accidentally is turned into a giant sand creature is misplaced and fleeting. His only mission is to make enough money to help out his sickly daughter - who knows if you are supposed to root for him or against him. And Spidey's battle with Sandman doesn't give you any idea if black-suited Spidey is a bad guy or not.
The new photographer (Topher Grace) is not around long enough for you to enjoy his smarmy ways before he morphs into Venom; this story akin to a Public Service Announcement regarding the dangers of member of the paparazzi.
Harry Osborn is a tough nut to crack. He has little evidence that Spider-Man killed his father - he has one faint memory and from that we are to believe that he is willing to turn his back on his best friend, and kill him just to spite him. Oh, and by the end of the movie, he has experienced a completely 180? I am SO confused.
So a message to Sam Raimi - pick a storyline, pick a villain; pick a real conflict for Mary Jane and Peter. Once you have done this, write your script for Spider-Man 4 and stick with it. Please, don't go way over budget creating special effects, don't create too much story which keeps you from telling a full story that makes sense, and please, bring back the fire, the danger, the romance of the first two flicks. I beg of you - redeem the franchise before it is nothing more than a caricature of its former self!
Currently listening :
The Last Kiss
By Original Soundtrack
Release date: By 08 August, 2006
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