Great Actors, but maybe just a tad too much to take on?

Rating: 9/10 (22 June 2007)

Don't get me wrong I understood the whole thing and how the stories came together, but it felt a little too rushed. Maybe it should have been a two part movie like the Matrix series. Anyways that said, my review will consist mainly as a review on different actors and the characters they play.
We start with M.J who is played by Kristen Durst. She does her part well. She is believable in her emotions like when she is fired from her Broadway "gig" and when she is strung up on a huge Venom Web while our other heroes are fighting below her. What I didn't believe too much was the fact that she was presented as a rather Jealous individual. I know Spidy's Kiss with Gwen was unforgivable(the same way he kissed M.J. in part 1), but she really didn't give Pete a chance. and the way she just ran into Harry's arms afterwords is just wrong. She also seemed to be very envious of Spiderman's current popularity among the citizens, but I guess this was a way to show her human side.
Next is James Franco who plays Hobgoblin? Well, actually New Goblin, because he never even wears the real costume. He plays an excellent role as Spiderman's best friend- turned bitter enemy, because of his own father's death. He does really well with the see-sawing job of emotions his script calls for. First he is pure evil on verge of destroying Spidy, then loses his memory to amnesia, then we see him all friends with him, but at the same time he kisses his girl. Then he is back to his avengful ways, then teams up with Spiderman, before finally getting killed in one of the movies most satisfying scenes. Wow that takes great acting.
Sandman is up next played wonderfully by Thomas Hayden Church. He looks like a carbon copy of the original comic. His story is great and played with delicately well. I myself never considered Sandman a real ruthless villain. All his actions are driven by his sick daughter's health. Even the money he steals is just so she can be cured. The fact that he is the actual person that killed Peter's uncle only adds to the sympathy one fells for him, after his story is told. He is actually a victim in the movie. His powers are punishment enough and it's only right that Spiderman lets him go.
Topher Grace is Eddie Brock, but not Venom. He is perfect for the obnoxious Eddie Brock(even though he is considerably skinnier than Marvel's version), but his lines at the Bugle and the way he outshines Peter on screen is Marvelous(no pun intended) The only gripe with his role was his Venom transformation. I think showing his face on Venom was inadequate to the characters menacing nature. I mean he is Eric Foreman. Yeah he can play Eddie Brock, but Venom. I think once Venom absorbed Eddie it should have been that. End of Eddie. Does everyone else think he looked like a buffed up Vampire.
Toby as Spiderman. He is the embodiment of The Spiderman character. Only this time we get to see his evil side, because of the symbionite, Venom. His darker side is actually what I expected ? Still kinda nerdy guy who thinks he is cooler than he is. Only his Landlord's daughter actually dug him. The whole going out with Gwen to make M.J. jealous only shows how inexperienced Peter was at being bad. Still, the scene at the club was very entertaining and the transformation from cool EMo dancing guy to furious violent EMO guy was great acting from Toby, but please no more crying.
All in all the movie was a great Roller-coaster ride. Spectacular Effects with the Sandman character. His scene of the transformation at the experimental site was simply astonishing. The way he struggles with himself to control his newfound abilities was really Human.
Everyone did wonders with their parts, but were given too little time to develop them to a full extent. Venom got the short end of the stick with less than 15 mins on screen. I really hope they bring him back for a later installment.
I think at this time the series is going very strong. It got the biggest Box Office opening in history(that may well be surpassed by Fantascic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer), but nonetheless the Spiderman series is definitely the best. Drama ,Action ,Comedy and even some Moral lessons were all rolled up into one incredible FUN TIME ride. Enjoy!