Spider-Man 3: Review

It was with mixed feelings that I entered into Spider-Man 3. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the first and loved the comics growing up, the second, given all its critical acclaim, was nothing less than a massive disappointment, all hokum and cheesiness; in other words, all the childish parts of comics. Then, when the critics got a hold of S3, the results were not pretty, with many declaring it the worst in the series. Therefore, the great joy that I experienced from the first frame to the last was a complete shock, albeit a welcome one. While I'm not quite ready to declare it the best of the series, S3 is a wild thrill ride, jam packed with villains and eye popping set pieces, as well as a good heart and sense of humor.

In the third installment, our favorite neighborhood webslinger returns, once again played by Tobey Maguire, and as the film opens, the city is abuzz with Spider infatuation. Gone are the days of doubt about the pajama clad hero's intentions, instead replaced by an overwhelming approval rating that George W. Bush would die for. However, the good times quickly vanish as, count 'em, three villains storm onto the scene, each ready to squash the pesky spider from the streets. Those villains, played by James Franco, Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace, are remarkably well drawn and fairly interesting, given the extreme restrictions of their roles. Franco, who appeared in the first two films, is the most fully fleshed out due to his previous involvement in the series but Church's Sandman is a wonderfully three dimensional creation, built on contradictions and the ever continuing quest for redemption. Like the best of Marvel's Super-Villains, the Sandman is hardly a demented, twisted criminal but rather a conflicted soul determined to help his family in whatever way he can regardless of legality. Unlike a villain such as Lex Luthor, Superman's long time nemesis, these characters are driven by human emotions.


On the flip side, Maguire's Peter Parker is a walking conflict, filled with teenage angst and, when his suit gets infected by an alien symbiote (bear with me), swagger, the latter being portrayed with a comedic glee that is more readily apparent in this chapter than any previous one. In fact, it is the comic touch that ends up saving the film from the problems of the second installment, which dished out the angst without any sort of humor. One scene, in particular, when Parker does his best Tony Manero and struts down the street, checking out the ladies in an unabashed manner. The results are surprisingly amusing as even though the audience can recognize the silly, even juvenile manner of the scene, it is a welcome relief to the other aspects of the film. It is a light hearted moment in a summer blockbuster, something that is entirely too rare in a season that takes itself too seriously with each passing year.

Throughout the film, Sam Raimi solidifies himself as an efficient and expert filmmaker, equally able to craft nail biting action sequences as well as quiet scenes of dialogue. While the Spider-Man trilogy (for now) doesn't quite reach the mayhem and insanity of his Evil Dead series, it makes up for it with a hefty dose of heart. One can easily see that Raimi has a great deal of respect for the material, holding Lee and Ditko's character in high regard. Each frame is carefully crafted and while it lacks the refinement of an art house film, there are enough whiz bang moments for the hardened cinephiles to gawk at. The film really takes off in its set pieces, all of which are among the trilogy's best. These sequences are perfectly paced, building and climaxing at the right moments with no particular one outstaying its welcome. In terms of pure popcorn fun, S3 might not be topped all summer.


All things considered, I'm quite frankly surprised that this film was so widely dismissed by critics. Sure it runs almost 2 hours and 22 minutes and features a complex and busy storyline but in comparison to a film like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, the film moves quickly and smoothly. Where as Pirates seems to be struggling to fill its completely unnecessary run time, S3's story warrants the film's length. Remarkably, when I left the theatre, I felt invigorated, not exhausted and would have gladly sat through another film to make it a summertime double feature. While there is talk of making more installments of the franchise, if Raimi, Maguire and Dunst decided to walk away right now, I would be perfectly content as the film's conclusion brings closure to a number of storylines that have continued over the larger trilogy's story arc. After watching S3, I was reminded how enjoyable the first film was and how much the second disappointed me. Luckily, Raimi was able to steady the ship and produce an entertaining, exciting blockbuster, two attributes that many films forget are vital to their success.

****