Spider-man 3 Review (originally posted May 10, 2007)

In the summers of 2002 and 2004 Spider-man was the standard for the summer blockbuster. Now it's 2007 and Spidey appears to have lost a step.

The primary storyline of Spider-man 3 lies within concluding the story of the Green Goblin from the first film. Harry Osborn, the son of Norman (the original Green Goblin,) taking on his father's trade and "modifies" his father's old Goblin helmet and glider into an electronic ski mask with a flying snowboard fully loaded with the trademark pumpkin bombs. With Harry thirsty for Spider-man's blood for his apparent murder of Norman, Harry gives himself a full dosage of the "Goblin Gas" and confronts his one time friend.

While Peter and Harry duke it out a new villain is being born in Flint Marko aka The Sandman. During a particle acceleration test Marko, through some amazing CGI has sand grafted to his DNA and now his body is completely sand and can act and mold the sand into any form or size (which the size part is a bit overplayed in this movie.) The "birth" of The Sandman is probably one of the best bad guy origins in comic-movie cinema. Everything flowed with that scene, the music was right, and the special effects were astounding.

It is revealed after the first confrontation between Spider-man and Sandman that Marko is the real killer of Peter's Uncle Ben. Driven by grief and a need for vengeance a sticky goo, called a symbiote, attaches itself to Spider-man's costume creating a new black costume that enhances Spidey's agility, strength, rage and his dance skills apparently.

After realizing the suits effect on his rage and the way he treats people Peter detaches the goo from him and the goo finds itself a new host in Eddie Brock, a man who not only hates Spider-man, but Peter Parker as well. With the goo enhancing Brock's aggression and giving him Spider-man-like powers creating the much hyped super villain: Venom. Who ironically was the most hyped part of this film, but was never officially named IN the movie.

Spider-man 3 for all it's hype does not live up to the standard of the first two movies. The story between Peter and Harry runs smoothly through the film and gives a good sense of closure. But the other villains in the movie come and go, they do some fun visual effects and then disappear for a while and everything culminates in the end.

The CGI in this film was incredible. If this film doesn't win for best visual effects the Oscar's truly are rigged. The only real complaint lying within the visual effects was, regrettably with Venom: Venom is known for his sharp teeth, large jaw, and tongue. Where this incarnation of Venom has the awesome teeth, he is not so much with a large jaw... That is until his head expands like a Stretch Armstrong and he gives out a raptor-esque squeal. The make up for Topher Grace while having his "mask" peeled back looks really good, but when it's just the "mask" Venom just ends up looking way too cartoony. And this is a live action comic book movie we're talking about.

And what Spider-man review would not be complete without an analysis of Kirsten Dunst? Dunst just plays an emotionless self-absorbed screen version of herself, she doesn't seem to truly care for this role other than it gets her a paycheck. And her lip-syncing is even more atrocious than Ashlee Simpson's.

The main tag line of the movie is "The battle within" with an emphasis on Spider-man and the black suit. This tag line also fits with Harry and his fateful decision at the end of the movie. But the standard set by the first two installments has been knocked down a notch.

Spider-man was the film to beat, but this summer it will face some stiff competition and probably be dethroned in the next few weeks with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End.

Overall Grade: B-