SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007)

Directed By: Sam Raimi 
Written By: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi & Alvin Sargent 
Screen Story By: Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi 
Based On Characters Created By: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko 
Cinematography: Bill Pope 
Editor: Bob Murawski 


Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, James Franco, J.K. Simmons, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, James Cromwell, Theresa Russell, Dylan Baker, Bill Nunn, Elizabeth Banks, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Becky Ann Baker, Willem Dafoe, Cliff Robertson 


Peter Parker has finally managed to piece together the once-broken parts of his life, maintaining a balance between his relationship with Mary-Jane and his responsibility as Spider-Man. But more challenges arise for our young hero. Peter's old friend Harry Obsourne has set out for revenge against Peter; taking up the mantle of his late father's persona as The New Goblin, and Peter must also capture Uncle Ben's real killer, Flint Marko, who has been transformed into his toughest foe yet, the Sandman. All hope seems lost when suddenly Peter's suit turns jet-black and greatly amplifies his powers. But it also begins to greatly amplify the much darker qualities of Peter's personality that he begins to lose himself to. Peter has to reach deep inside himself to free the compassionate hero he used to be if he is to ever conquer the darkness within and face not only his greatest enemies, but also...himself


The only truly breathtaking aspect of this movie might be the scope of the production that feels more self assured and comfortable, but unfortunately feels itSelf too much that it overlooks a lot of flaws that should have been plain to see.

The one scene that seems truly eye catching is the scene showing the origin of The Sandman though the movie soon becomes noteworthy for other reasons like being overstuffed to a degree. As there are so many ideas being thrown around and others being forced.

Where Peter Parker is dealing with his best friend finally becomes by The Green Goblin with him as a villain and The Sandman who more or less just wants to take care of his family more then become a super villain. Then also including for a more modern take and to give fans what they want dealing with venom who more or less comes in towards the end and messing with the characters comic book origins.

Which might be why there is not only emo Peter Parker as a kind of character development under the influence of the symbiotie but also a far flung dance sequence out of nowhere including a romantic rival for Mary Jane. As a kind flight of fancy as it feels like they have run out of dramatic depth not to make it seem like they are repeating themselves.

The film also puts descent in Peter Parker’s heart by him being tempted by a romantic rival at work by Gwen Stacy (who in comic books was his first love before Mary Jane Watson) which only seems there as there must be something that challenges their relationship in each film. Which is what helps this movie come off more as a gimmick. As there was obviously going to be a sequel and most usually end at part 3 and while this marks an end of an era. You can tell they wanted to continue past this film in some capacity. Even as the main cast was obviously getting long in the tooth for their roles as they look tired and it feels like they aren’t connecting with the material or the audience. It is already sorely missed that Tobey Maguire never brought out the wisecracking part of the role.

In a way you are glad that this is the last chapter as if they were going to continue you look st this film and realize it doesn’t Seem like It's Going to get better as everyone seems tired and out of it but also it makes you sad as after the greatness of the second one. You realize it might or reach those levels but you hope that the finale in the trilogy would be a lot stronger.

This film suffers from too Many cooks in the kitchen from what the filmmakers want which was the (Vulture & Sandman) and what the studio wanted (Venom) not to mention since these films weren’t exactly going by the comic books they seem To jam a bunch of their own kind of turn on the characters.

So that even the actors look Strained returning to this film. As it feels like the studios has stretched the creativity so far at that point that they made the film stay in certain guidelines that was the basics for superhero movies at the time but didn’t feel like anything fresh or new. Not to mention the cast was getting a little long in tooth for their roles. As the beautiful thing about cartoons and comics is that the characters never really Age. They can stay fresh for a new generation.

Though at least as it is a Sam Raimi film after all there are some great scenes. The creation of sandman. Venom attaching itself to Eddie Brock. Peter Parker getting rid of his venom Suit and though much derided and making little to no sense the dance sequence with emo peter. Of course with the magnitude of a film this size there is a great number of hubris on screen. This is obviously the most ridiculous of all the films as it feels all over the place.

Though in watching this film other than the disappointed box office returns and diminishing quality of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN movies you can understand the reboots of the movies if you are a comic book fan. As it seems Spider-Man is the Superman of the Marvel Universe. So Spider-Man has many different volumes and series with little crossover to put out more stories. So with the series and different titles yet different castings. It shows different versions and visions in style and casting. 

Grade: D+