What the heck happened?

Rating: 5/10 (7 May 2007)

Being a fan of some more recent comic-to-movie adaptations, and a rather big Spidey fan myself...the first two Spidey movies did a great job with giving fans another medium to see their favorite story, as well as making it easy for newcomers to get into the story as well. While the adaptation(s) fall stray from the actual comic books (which is understandable...it's almost impossible to take literary works to the screen without some mix/miss on the content), the basis to many things were left intact.
Too much onto too big of a plate in too little time. It's unfortunate that Spider-Man 3 falls short of what it should've been...which is 3 movies instead of one. Lacking character development and coherent story-telling, you find yourself wondering what you're watching halfway through the film.
It was great seeing two new villains introduced...but entirely disappointing to find them both "gone" at the end of the film. The storyline of Harry & Peter wraps up nicely, but honestly the film should have gone to them...which would have left the "dark" element out of the 3rd film.
The introduction of Venom was a huge "pull" to the film (especially for me...he's my all-time favorite villain). However his part is left too small and insignificant, hardly worthy of one of Spider-Mans "biggest" nemesis. The fact that they stuck so close to lore on the Spidey/Venom relationship is a testament to what writers "should have" done...which is give him the glory he deserves. Movies 1 & 2 gave appropriate time to build the villains into the films, using the story to strengthen their role, and make them "part" of the film. Sandman and Venom are left with very very thin entrances and exits...which makes you wonder "what was the film about?" The pointless dribble between action sequences was further proof of this problem, trying to fit too much story into area's of the movie that fell victim to poor character development. Seeing Peter "dance" like a fool in a Jazz club hardly shows the "agony" and "dispair" the symbiote inflicts on it's host. Hardly the "dark" side we all imagined prior to seeing the movie. Peter hardly struggles with this problem before deciding to remove the black goo...sending it to Brock, where they share a hatred for Peter. But why should the symbiote hate Peter? Who knows! They didn't explain it well enough, they were too busy trying to fit Sandman and Harry Osborne into the film when they should have been building "one" character instead of "three".
Ultimately, it's a Spider-Man movie, and I'm sure I'll own it and watch action sequences over and over again. But, it's entirely unfortunate that such potential was wasted to turn a movie into an almost 2 1/2 hour "eye candy" spectacle.