Spider-Man 3
by: Average Joe 1 year, 6 months, 4 weeks, 2 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes ago
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Sony Pictures
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is back for a third time around, and this time he squares off against not one, not two, but three villains in what could possibly be the last film in the franchise....at least for now.
I just got back from seeing Spider-Man 3 at my local IMAX theaters and it’s with a heavy heart that I sit here and write this review. During the week I work until 4:30am, and usually don’t get to bed until some time after 5:30am, however today was different as I was willing to sacrifice my precious slumber for the chance to catch a 6:30am showing of Spider-Man 3 on the big, big screen.
As I write this, I wish I would’ve just gone home and gone to bed.
In what was promised to be the best film in the franchise, Spider-Man 3 makes so many mistakes it’s almost unforgivable. While I won’t spoil any major plot points in the film I will say that much like last year’s X-Men 3 (which I thought was a disaster from start to finish), Spider-Man 3 tries achieve too many things, and as a result fails on almost every level.
I’ve been a fan of Spider-Man for as long as I can remember. I’ve always considered Spidey to be one of my “top guys” along with Superman, and Batman. When the first film came out over 5 years ago (can you believe it’s been that long?) I was literally speechless as I watched one of my childhood idols come to life and swing thru the skyline of New York City. Then in 2004 when Spider-Man 2 was released I was blown away even more as I watched one of my favorite Spidey villains, Doc Ock come to life and battle Spider-Man in some of the most intense action sequences I’ve ever seen.
You see the first two films had it all; character development, solid storylines, amazing action, and most of all a loving approach from a director that respected the characters and their universe....basically the first two films had everything the third lacked.
Honestly, I’m almost at a loss for words. I wanted to like this movie, I really did. I mean I wouldn’t have stood in line for any old movie, but I would do it for Spider-Man because I had come to expect excellence with these films. In the weeks and days building up to the film’s release I found myself with those feelings of excitement of once again watching one of my boyhood heroes return to the big screen. Leaving the theater I couldn’t have been more disappointed if I tried.
The main problem with Spider-Man 3 is the seemingly carefree attitude the writers took with the script. The first two films had solid stories that were carefully crafted around story arcs from the comics. Spider-Man 3 features a script that has so many plot holes I couldn’t even begin list them all. It seems like any time the writers found themselves backed into a corner they used the most ridiculous and thoughtless outs.
When it was revealed that Spider-Man would be facing off against three villains my first reaction was "oh no, here comes Batman Forever all over again" and honestly I was right. The problem with trying to include too many characters into a single film is that none of them get the amount of attention they deserve. How can you possibly fit the origins of three villains into one movie? Simple, you can’t.
The Sandman is a cool character, and Thomas Hayden Church plays him to perfection in this film. The problem with the character in the film is that his origin is so rushed, you don’t have time to connect with him or sympathize with the sob story they stuck him with. Most of the scenes involving Sandman feature him as some giant sand monster terrorizing the city....how can you connect with that? Speaking of the giant sand monsters, at certain points during the film I had flashbacks of The Mummy. I halfway expected Brenden Frasier to run in and save the day.
The symbiote (or black costume for you non geek speakers) saga is arguably the best story arc in the Spider-Man series, but what really bothered me about this film was the writers took great material and made it a watered down version of what it should be. Honestly the black suit saga is a film in itself. From the time it arrives on Earth, to the time it bonds itself with Eddie Brock and creates Venom, there’s enough story to carry a 2 hour film and then some. What happened in this movie is that there was so much going on you really didn’t even get to see the suit’s full potential. In a movie that was heavily billed as “fight the darkness within” we really don’t get to see much of Peter’s dark side. Sure we see him bush his hair in front of his face in sort of a quasi-emo style, and shout out a few people, but the majority of Peter’s “evil side” are portrayed thru dance sequences....I’ll repeat that just so you know I’m clear. The majority of Peter’s “evil side” are portrayed thru dance sequences. That’s right, Peter Parker takes a page from John Travolta’s book in a scene that had me shaking my head and asking my friend Nick if we had accidentally walked into Spider-Man: The Musical.
We all know that the symbiote bonds itself with Peter because it’s attracted to his power and inner struggle. Once it’s bonded with him he claims that he likes the feel of the suits power...unfortunately for us, we really never see any of that power. Maybe I missed something, but while wearing the suit Spider-Man wasn’t any faster, or stronger, or anything. He was more aggressive, but that’s it...once again I felt totally cheated.
The movie however isn’t without it’s good points. Once again Raimi casts each character brilliantly, and really makes you believe that these actors really are the characters they’re portraying...it’s just a shame they didn’t have more to work with. Bryce Dallas Howard looks absolutely stunning as Gwen Stacy, and in her few scenes she completely over shadows Mary Jane. It’s funny because I would’ve much rather seen Howard as MJ and Dunst as Stacy, shame it didn’t work out like that. Howard is so sweet and charming in her role that I almost wanted her story line from the comics to be handed off to MJ (her being killed off). And as I mentioned before, Thomas Hayden Church does a great job as Flint Marko/Sandman. Not only does he look like Marko from the comics, but he proved that he can hold his own when it comes to an action sequence. Topher Grace also does a great job as Eddie Brock, who serves as almost a counter to Peter Parker’s shy, nerdy guy. Brock is loud, arrogant, and he’s got bleached hair...need I say more? As Venom, Grace really doesn’t have much to work with as the majority of the characters scenes are done in CGI. I will spoil one thing and tell you than while as Venom, Brock’s voice doesn’t change a bit which was very surprising to me. There is no reference by Venom as “we”, he doesn’t have any cool effects on his voice, basically he has a normal voice coming from those big snarling teeth.
While the new cast was great, I personally felt like the returning cast (save for J.K Simmons) almost gave up. Tobey didn’t seem to have that same sparkle in his eye while playing Peter as he did in the first two. Honestly, I think Tobey has run his course as Spider-Man and he’s ready to hang up the webs. I’m not saying he did a bad job, but I just wasn’t that convinced by his performance. Same thing with Dunst as MJ, who in the movie couldn’t be more annoying if she tried. Both actors have played these characters for over five years, and I think it’s obvious that they’ve done all they can and they’re ready to move on. I will say that James Franco delivered a solid performance as Harry Osborne, and really stood out above the rest. The same can be said for Simmons as J.Jonah Jameson, and the always amazing Bruce Campbell.
The visual FX in the movie are a sight to see, and will really make you sit back in amazement. Once Peter dons the black suit and sets out to pursue Sandman in the sewers, he does a pretty amazing web swing thru tunnels and pipes that I thought was particularly impressive. The one shot in the film that stood out for me was the shot from the original trailers that showed Spidey (in black) perched on top of the church....it was very powerful, but it only served to further my disappointment that the same thought couldn’t have been put into more aspects of the movie. There are a few scenes in the movie that will make you smile, but it’s still not enough to say this was a great film, or even a good one for that mattered.
Most people are going in wanting to see Spider-Man and Venom square off against each other. While the two do battle, it’s not what you’d expect at all. The fight scenes between these two are so quick and so dark, it’s hard to tell what’s going on. Venom does give Spidey a beating, but it doesn’t have that epic feel that you’d expect these two to have on the big screen....actually it reminded me of the disappointment I had when Wolverine and Sabertooth first met in the original X-Men movie. It was cool, but not what I expected.
As much as it pains me to say, Spider-Man 3 was a MAJOR let down in my eyes. I walked in with high expectations, and once I realized those expectations weren’t going to be met, I felt like walking out. While I didn’t want the first two movies to end, I found myself glancing at my watch wondering how much time was over before I could leave the theater....that’s not something I like to say when it comes to a Spider-Man film.
Overall I’d say Spider-Man 3 was a big disappointment from start to end (in case I hadn’t made that clear enough already) and it saddened me to see the film makers take such a rushed approach to what could’ve been an amazing film. The general public will eat this up because it’s got humor, action, and suspense, but the hardcore geek audience (including you reading this) will probably walk out (maybe early) feeling much like I did.
I like Sam Raimi a lot. I like his style, I like his humor, and I think overall he’s a brilliant director, but it almost seemed like he gave up during this one. I know he’s not a fan of the Venom character, and I truly believe he was forced into including him in the film, but still...you can do better than that Sam. Up until now I was one of those people that said if you can’t reunite the original cast/director then don’t continue the franchise. After seeing Spider-Man 3 I’m not saying....let some one else who has some fresh ideas have a shot at it...just don’t give it to Bret Ratner.