Seems to have lost its way.

Rating: 1/10 (5 May 2007)

To like this film requires being a staunch Spidey/Comic book film fan. As a film-goer I found it to be a very dull experience that went on far too long. I can also say that I was not alone in feeling this as of the audience got increasingly restless as the film went on, putting coats on ready to make a quick get away.
The audience laughed at the supposed emotional scenes, considering his uncle has died and his girlfriend is being blackmailed to leave him, these moments held no dramatic tension and were badly acted. The condition of Toby Maguire and James Franco was laughable. When Franco steps out of the chamber he wasn't exactly muscular, and Maguire when bending forward displayed rolls of not so toned stomach. It is ridiculous to be expected to then believe that either of them to be able survive the fights. This seeming lack of commitment from the actors seemed to reflect the general laziness displayed throughout the film. Even Sly looked like he had worked to get into shape for Rocky 6 and wouldn't have caught him looking less than the part in Rambo or the other Rocky films.
The film appeared to have become a parody of itself, whereas the previous likability of Parker was that he was an average geek who has done well, Parker is now egotistical and full of himself. The character has lost all charm and if these were the sequences that supposedly made out he'd 'gone bad' then that just makes it look more pathetic. He hasn't gone bad on any deep level and he seems to have become full of himself from the start of the film so there really was no difference or development.
Parker says to Venom, he needs to be careful or he'll lose himself if he keeps wearing the dark suit. The film itself is lost in amongst many story lines that are in themselves rushed. Generally speaking the film moves slowly trying to tie everything up in the last 30 minutes. The sandman is seen briefly throughout and then suddenly needs to be addressed at the end. Venom only becomes Venom at the very end and for pathetic reasons. As for the effects, great but what's new, I'd much rather have a solid plot and a good script as well rather than some great CGI. I hope this is the last one, it couldn't get much worse.