A solid 3rd Spidey

Rating: Null/10 (8 May 2007)

OK, first of all, lets get some things straight. With Spider-man 2 being such a ridiculous success, everybody was expecting 3 to be just as good. The expectations were amazingly high, and I'm sure everybody working on the movie felt the pressures. More special effects, more villains, more depth, more battle... Its incredibly hard to get through all of that and stop comparing it and remember that its just trying to be a good movie, not primarily a better sequel. In that, it triumphs. But to be a better sequel, it isn't. Spiderman 2 was better than it, but not by much. Another reason why people are probably slamming this is because of the end with Spiderman and Sandman. It defies logic sure, but it portrays something that not many people find the power in themselves to do at all, with elevates Spiderman to an even greater superhero status, though true a lot of the point of these movies so far was to show that Peter Parker was only human... with special powers.
The acting was alright, given the screen time. Another problem is that Sam Raimi tried to pack too much in. The idea of two villains is a great idea, to add more punch and more excitement, as needed to satisfy movie-goers after the first few movies. But the three villains were too complex to fit even into the 139 minutes of movie. Topher Grace, did not get enough time, but again did well with what he gone. Thomas Haden Church, did very well with what he got, and did extremely well as the Sandman, the villain one can understand. The New Goblin is easily understood, but that came from the first two films, and still James Franco just not get enough screen time. The story is basically centred around MJ(Kirsten Dunst) and Peter Parker(Tobey Maguire), and their problems and Peter's battle within. A movie with a lot of potential, but too rushed and too packed.
The effects are stunning. Absolutely paramount. The aerodynamic New Goblin, the freakish Venom, the magnificently giant Sandman, perfectly choreographed, everything is amazing. But the battles just don't seem as good as they did in the second, but that again is because of the screen time. The special effects are the best I've seen since The Two Towers, with that charge down that slope remember? Oh man that charge was awesome...anyways...yahhh...
All in all, a great third venture. I'm waiting to see if Shrek the Third and POTC 3 are as solid as this.