Spoilers Ahoy!

Today, I braved the rain and traffic to see Spider-Man 3. If you are even the slightest bit interested in comics, there is nothing that anyone could say to dissuade you from seeing this film, nor should there be. Still, I'd like to share some thoughts on the blockbuster which you might find interesting.

What I Liked:


(Most of) The Villains:

When I first heard there was going to be three villains in this movie, I was skeptical. Joel Shumacher only had two, and look how badly he screwed it up. Yet, I was pretty surprised at how well the villains' stories weaved in and out of each other. It was a little busy, but still highly entertaining. Essentially, Sandman and Harry Osbourn's stories were there to further Venom's. However, each story was not equal.

Sandman was easily my favorite villain in this film. He should have received far more screen time. I found the scene in which he first used his powers surprisingly romantic. The way that he kept trying to rebuild himself, falling apart until he got it right, was striking and artistic. Equally memorable was his final scene, where he simply blew away in the wind. How talented were the filmmakers that they could actually make Ben Parker's murderer a sympathetic character.


I enjoyed Harry Osbourn's portrayal as well. The new glider and suit were excellent, and I felt the character developed nicely. The whole series has been building up to his transformation into a villain and it was worth it. He was devious, but not so much that he couldn't be redeemed.


Mary Jane:

In the previous films, Mary Jane was, basically, a foil for Spider-Man. In the third installment, her story is far more interesting and she becomes a much more sympathetic and strong character in her own right. It was about time.


The Action Scenes (duh):

I takes a lot to get me interested in an action scene, but Spider-Man 3 accomplishes it thoroughly. The best in the film is Spider-Man and Harry's big brawl towards the beginning. It showed of Harry's new gear and featured some excellent choreography. Their rematch in Osbourn's mansion was also very well staged. A cut above most comic films in every regard.


The Resolution:

Ultimately, this film is about redemption. This is true of Spider-Man, Sandman, and Harry Osbourne. It is also an allegory for the destructive nature of revenge and the importance of forgiveness. All loose ends from the previous films were addressed and the ending was very fitting. It made me wish their would not be a sequel.


What I Didn't Like:




Venom:

As for Venom: his whole appearance was built upon the assumption that the audience could suspend their disbelief through most of the film. He arrived about ten feet from Spider-Man and Mary Jane. Nobody seemed to notice. Peter Parker showed it to his college professor, who identified it as potentially dangerous. He did not show it to the authorities. When Spider-Man ripped it off his body, he just so happened to be underneath the man whose career he ruined. It all just seemed too unlikely. He was also underutilized as we didn't get to see the beast in action until the very end. Such wasted potential.

At least Topher Grace played a decent smartass. He seems to have a real talent for that sort of thing.

Special Guest Star, Stan Lee!:

For about thirty seconds, Stan Lee had a cameo, wherein he gave the following observation:


"I guess it only takes one man to make a difference. 'Nuff said!"

Please. Giving Stan Lee a three second cameo as a hot dog vendor is fine, but giving him lines which are only morbidly amusing to comic fans who recognise their corniness is just wrong.


The Spider-Strut:

At the height of his Venom-based possession, Peter Parker struts along the streets of New York City, breaking into the hustle at random moments. He is accompanied by a jazz cover of his own theme song. For those of you who have not seen the film yet: it is as horrifying as it sounds.

A Theater Full of Annoying Children:
This has nothing to do with the film, but I am appreciating my DVD Player/Xbox 360 more and more. Every time something even remotely interesting happened on screen, it was accompanied by narration from every five-year old amateur film critic in the building. At one point, a little girl told everyone else to shut up. I nearly applauded her for her tenacity and cuteness.

Final Analysis:

Despite it's flaws, Spider-Man 3 is well worth your time. It successfully completes the story that was stated with the first film, and was definitely worth the price of admission. I also happened to notice how much darker this series gets with each film. If their really is another sequel, perhaps we'll get to see The Lizard bite Black Cat's head off in front of a Cub Scout troop. I'd pay to see that.