Okay at best, embarrassing and cringe-worthy at worst

Rating: 5/10 (11 May 2007)

Even though I don't particularly remember the previous movies, I'd have to say that this movie is the worst of the lot. I'd say that the original was the best.
In this movie, new dynamics are added when goo from outer space lands on Earth, and affects Spider-man, amongst others, giving them variations to their power, which complicates their relations to others.
A new villain with super powers is also created due to an accident.
Of course, the special effects are excellent and one of the newly created super-villains is particularly spectacular.
However, what makes the movie so disappointing is the fact that it seems written by small boys, for small boys. The most cringe-worthy parts are when Spider-man is affected by the space-goo, and his alter-ego too, Peter Parker. The scene where Peter Parker does a variation of Tony Manero (from Saturday Night Fever) is cringe-worthy. Other parts of the movie, where loose ends are tied up are also boy-like in execution.
I know I may be too old for this kind of stuff...I just wish that the script was more sophisticated as well as the way the plot plays out.
Kirsten Dunst, as Parker/Spider-man's girlfriend, has some perhaps ironic new dimensions to her relationship with Parker. I can sympathise with what the makers of the movie were trying to achieve, but I do think they could have done it better.
In the same way that the second Matrix movie SHOULD have warned me off bothering to see the third in the series, this movie MAY signal that the makers are flogging a dead horse now.
The embarrassing parts of the movie are what I take away from it, mostly. But yeah, the special effects are really good.