Weakest part of trilogy fizzles throughout

“Spiderman 3”
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard, Topher Grace, J.K. Simmons
2.5 stars out of 4


Sam Raimi has crafted two of the best comic book movies in the previous sequels to “Spiderman 3.” With this blockbuster brewing and brewing since the end of part 2, spidey fans and movie-goers have been craving this third part, hoping it would surpass the superb quality and writing of the 2nd installment. This fails on all parts , its weak in writing, also filled with many clichés’ and stuffed with a 20 minutes too long run time, and many characters.

Tobey Maguire has grown as an actor in the past, but looks like he isn’t having the usual fun he portrays with this character, he seems bored, and the audience notices it. Not only that but Kirsten Dunst sung twice in the movie, not a good idea. Along with Parker looking to advance his relationship with MJ, he has more villains, problems, and an underwhelming black suit to deal with.

The character of the Sandman (Church) is a convict on the run before he actually falls into a fusion experiment that turns him into a sand monster. Yes, it’s that unconvincing and goofy, the script throws in the fact that he’s a good guy and he just needs money to save his daughter from sickness. Topher Grace plays the rival photographer of Peter Parker, his character Eddie Brock dates the gorgeous but irrelevant Gwen Stacy (Howard) who was also in the Village. I didn’t mind Brock’s character, but as he soon as he turned into Venom, I didn’t buy his creepiness.

The film has many flaws, one being the copout of Harry Osborne getting amnesia and forgetting his plot to avenge his fathers’ death against Spiderman. James Franco plays him with pure innocence when under amnesia, Osborne is not this nice. We get the routine whiny scenes from MJ after she gets fired from her Broadway acting gig, who seeks support from Peter who is too busy relishing the fact that New York loves Spiderman.

By the end of the movie, I felt tired, un-satisfied, and kind of mad. The story has come so far since the original Spiderman, and we are given this underdeveloped mess that runs over 2 and half hours. The set designs and special effects are all top notch, but they obviously can’t save this movie. Yes the acting is alright, and we get some laughs from J.K Simmons, who plays Peter’s boss, but there isn’t enough substance in this overblown production. Although Raimi throws everything at the audience, that shouldn’t make a movie, I cared less about the characters the third time around, which made the first two installments so enjoyable.

While Maguire has said that he will not return for a 4th, it’s probably a good decision. This movie will make millions and millions, but the fact shouldn’t be hidden that Raimi tried to hard to make this special. O well, I’m already looking forward to Batman next summer.