Second Best Entry

Rating: 7/10 (5 May 2007)

Last year about this time, I was supremely excited about X-Men 3 or The Last Stand as it is titled, but I was supremely disappointed. It had a bunch of action and thin story. It butchered the series for me. I glad to announce this film didn't have the same affect. I was more wary this time, yes, but also still excited. The writers handled the story very well and there was plenty of eye popping action. Still the film lacked a good strong drive like its predecessor.
I will address the short comings first. I will point out the obvious. Kirsten Dunst can't sing very well, but that is addressed in the film. The thing is that we have to hear her sing twice, a very bad idea. It wasn't the most pleasant thing to hear although she is decent. My next point of minuses is the origin of the symbiote. It just falls from the sky. A rather weak way for it magically appear, but they had few options other than go with the Ultimate origin where it is man-made. Still little more cause for its arrival would have made it stronger. My third and final point is in regards to the final ending. It was needed at all and added nothing to the progression of the characters other than for a happier note to end on.
Now onto the positive stuff of which there is a mass. First the stupendous battles, and let me tell there are some big ones. They were very well staged and brought to being. The final battle especially did a great job of bringing everything together. The special effects are dazzling especially Sandman. The first appearance of his is pure film magic as we see the cells change in Marko's body and the reconstruction after being turned into sand particles. Venom was great to, but nothing spectacular aside from the "Alien" moments.
Before I go on praising this film I will provide a brief description of the plot. Picking up from where the other film left off, MJ and Peter have finally gotten together and things are looking fantastic for Spider-Man and Parker as he has the girl of his dreams and has the city on his sides even the newspaper, a shocker. But things quickly go south when Harry Osborne swoops in and tries to kill Parker as revenge because he believes Spider-Man/Parker's to be the murderer of his father. He looses not only the battle, but his memory after taking a few nasty hits. Flint Marko is then brought on the scene as a misunderstood runaway convict. Through crazy chance he falls into a test area and is turned into the Sandman. Parker is mad at Marko at this point because he believes him to be the true murderer of his Uncle Ben. I won't reveal much more, but Venom/Eddie Brock does have a pretty big part in the last section of the film as does the symbiote about half way and a little before when it falls from the sky. All in all, it is a nice setup for some serious encounters/fights.
The relationship between Mary Jane and Peter Parker is pretty key to the film as it drives much of Peter's personal decisions and problems. It's done quite well, aside from Mary Jane singing. Peter wants to ask her to marry him, but it doesn't work out. Aunt May has some great moments in here where she really shines. Everyone is back and more. Jameson is as steaming mad as ever and provides quite a few laughing fits involving his temper. Even the great theme is used to great affect from beginning to ending, something that was sorely missing in the last X-Men film.
The film is one of the best entries in the series, but not quite up to Spider-Man 2 which was pitch perfect and never stumbled for a moment. It successfully engages three villains with Spider-Man/Peter Parker, but it doesn't quite resolve everything as grandly as Spider-Man 2 did. Still far from a disappointment which is sure to please most everyone action wise and for those romantic fans it will frustrate you.