MUCH better the second time round!

Rating: 7/10 (4 October 2008)

When I first saw this film in the cinema I was disappointed as were many fans, the latest instalment of the Spider-Man films just didn't live up to the two previous ones, and that was saying something as I didn't even like the 2nd film! But I watched this again last night, over a year from when I saw it originally and have to say - it's a pretty darn good film! All the faults I found with it initially seemed to vanish - the 'emo bad boy Peter' scene was cringe worthy, but made me laugh out loud rather than hang my head with embarrassment. There were too many bad guys in this film, but the Sandman was no longer a boring side plot leading up to the fight with Venom that was all that most fans seemed interested in - it was an interesting story in it's own right (though still with it's plot-holes - how did the locket survive when everything else was obliterated?!). Happy Peter Parker at the beginning too wasn't just a weird turn in the story either - it made sense, fit in with the rest of the plot, with MJ and Peter's arguments, it all linked in together and was for the greater good of the story. Overall, it was such an improvement it felt like an entirely different film, though of course it wasn't - my expectations were just a lot lower.
I've always thought the chemistry between the main three friends, MJ, Harry and Peter, was fantastic when they were all together. James Franco (Harry Osborn) and Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson) especially seem to have a genuine chemistry which shines through the screen. However, scenes alone between Dunst and Maguire felt awkward and forced - I'm not sure whether it was purely in this film that this has happened or whether it was the same in previous films but I just hadn't noticed, but considering they are the main couple of the films it is surprising and definitely something to work on for future Spider-Man productions.
Finally, the last 40 minutes or so of the films - the final battle - is probably one of my favourite movie endings ever - I won't say anything that may spoil it but it's definite eye candy and will have you on the edge of your seat, even if like me you've already seen it once before.