Spider-Man 3

Rating: 6/10 (15 May 2007)

I was looking forward to this sequel that made a record breaking gross on its opening day, beating Pirates of the Caribbean 2's record, and it was quite satisfactory. Basically, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) are together, since she now knows he is web swinging super hero Spider-Man, and he is happy both to be with her and have public cheering and supporting him. But one day, his job as Spidey's photographer is being threatened by rival Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), hoping to be his replacement. Meanwhile, escaped criminal Flint Marko (George of the Jungle's Thomas Haden Church) gets caught in a experiment that places his molecules in sand, and he is now Sandman and can transform into anything he wants. But what Peter also finds out about him, is that he was responsible for the death of Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) (accidently, he later finds out). Also, one night a tiny meteor hits the ground, and from it comes out a mysterious black alien substance that will eventually transform Spidey's suit, and Peter's personality (if he has it on underneath his clothes), this becomes a concern for Mary Jane. Also, Harry Osborn (James Franco) recently attempted to become the new Green Goblin, after his father Norman (a brief Willem Dafoe), and he has light amnesia, but he'll get it back and rethink his Dad's past. Finally, when Peter sees the evil of the black suit, he rips it and the substance off his body, and passes it to rival Eddie, who turns into (popular Spidey villain) Venom (but no-one actually calls him that in the film). Also starring Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy, Rosemary Harris as May Parker, J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, James Cromwell as Captain Stacy, Happiness's Dylan Baker as Dr. Curt Connors, Bill Nunn as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson, Bruce Campbell as Maître d', Ted Raimi (Sam's brother) as Hoffman and a more noticeable cameo by Marvel Comics man Stan Lee. Eventually, Venom is defeated, Sandman blows away (he should have stayed washed away), and Harry/New Goblin dies, but will Peter and Mary Jane get engaged? The film may be longer than the other two, and the story may be overloaded and plodding, but the humour and even better special effects (particularly for Sandman) can't be faulted. Good!