Spiderman 3

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Cast:

Toby MaGuire - Peter Parker/Spiderman
Kirsten Dunst - Mary Jane Watson
James Franco - Harry/New Goblin
Thomas Hayden Church - Flint Marko/Sandman
Topher Grace - Eddie Brock/Venom
Rosemary Harris - May Parker

Spidey may have gotten himself tangled in a web he can’t escape in his latest sequal. The movie starts out slowly and just when it picks up enough momentum it seems to peter out only to pick up again. This roller-coaster effect goes on unending for the next three hours.

The Spiderman we have known for the past two movies has been living the high life lately. He becomes nothing less than the mascot of New York City; beloved by young and old alike. At college is in the top of his class. If that weren’t enough he is planning on marrying his high-school sweetheart Mary Jane. As was expected his old best friend Harry (James Franco) comes back to avenge his father’s death. Another character is haphazardly brought into the mix. His name is Sandman (Tomas Hayden Church) is a warning to us all not to go poking our noses around particle accelerator (or eliminator?) facilities.

Be prepared for all the usual special effects of which the series applies well. Spiderman 3 is certainly the best in that respect. Now, if only the characters were developed as well as the CGI. We never stay long enough on a particular character of plot before being propelled to the next. Just when you think it wasn’t tough enough to battle two supervillans a third is introduced right near the end played by an aspiring photographer (Eddie Brock).

Overall Spiderman three has enough in it for another sequel. Toward the end of the movie no matter how much action is thrown at you, you tend to get restless. The acting was good but not spectacular. Toby McGuire plays his part especially well, giving us a glimpse into a dark side we have never seen before in his character. And of course from the crisis he endures we learn valuable moral lessons. The character of the Sandman I thought wasn’t elaborated on enough - neither was the illness his child had. Ultimately Spiderman continues to show us that even superheroes are human and weak in certain respects and most of are it is we who create our own destinies - something we all should be reminded of occasionally.

2 ½ stars