Spider-Man 3 Rocks

Rating: 9/10 (22 April 2007)

Spider-Man 3 will be the most debated of the Spider-Man movies. There is enough here to keep the fans happy and enough to make them want to burn their tickets in protest.
First the good: 1. The movie is about Peter Parker, not some great plot to conquer/destroy New York. Peter's actions and attitudes cause most of the end of the film's events. There are genuinely funny moments and sad moments along the way. But the movie's main drive is will Peter end up with MJ. There are serious curves thrown in the way.
2. The actions scenes are amazing. The final battle is the best and the worst.
3. The movie is really funny...at times. The Bruce Campbell scene is both funny and heart-breaking. All the funny comes from Bruce's French accent. And the first Jameson scene will have the audiences in stitches.
4. Stan Lee's best cameo yet. He even throws in a classic Stan Lee line.
Now the bad: 1. The movie could be maybe 10-15 minutes shorter. But I'd be hard-pressed to say what should be cut.
2. The Sandman scenes are good, but have a Mummy-like feel to them at times. Even the music during the Sandman armored car scene sounds like it's from the Mummy. But I really liked the Mummy.
3. Venom should not sound like Topher Grace. Fortunately, he doesn't talk much in Venom mode.
Now the you'll-have-to-decide-for-yourself: 1. Sandman's involvement with Uncle Ben's death. I didn't mind it, but the resolution was a tad cheddary.
2. Venom's only there for about 30 minutes.
3. Venom's appearance. Again I think they pulled it off, but fans of the giant tongue and brain-eating Venom will be disappointed.
4. The resolution to the Harry-Peter feud. The butler did it.
5. The character of Gwen Stacy. She's not a major character, but for what she's there to do, she does it. Maybe she could have been a different character, but then no one would believe that Peter could end up with her.
Overall, a really good movie, not just a good Spider-Man movie. In fact it maybe the best of the Spider-Man films. The pacing is similar to Casino Royale wherein stuff happens, character moments take over, more stuff happens, movie ends.
I can't wait to see it again