The web-slinger is off aim, squirts brilliance only in patches...

Rating: 6/10 (14 May 2007)

If you consider it as a standalone, it is a fantastic movie. But then, taking all the hype, expectations and the success of the prequels into account, one has to admit that Spidey 3 had a LOT to live up to...
The main thing about the Spidey trilogy is that apart from the great battles and fantastic visuals, they focus more on the characters than other superhero flicks. Apart from saving lives and fighting powerful villains, Spiderman is still Peter Parker, a struggling man who finds it hard to make ends meet. This is what sets the Spidey franchise apart from others, like Superman and Hulk.
Spiderman 2 was highly successfully, both critically and commercially. It set up a sequel very well, with Harry Osborne (James Franco) finally learning his father's past and his destiny.
The story begins with an insight into Peter Parker's (Tobey Maguire) life, who is now happy and balanced between his duties as Spiderman and commitment to Mary-Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). He has finally hit the high note in life and seems well settled.
A fugitive Marko Flint (Thomas Haden Church), the real killer of Ben Parker, gets involved with a test in a nuclear result facility and this gets structurally altered, and becomes the Sandman. When, Peter and MJ are talking to each other aboard a web, a strange blackish goo emerges from nowhere and attachés itself to Peter's vehicle, thereby going to his home.
Thus, he decides to propose to MJ and goes to his aunt for advice, who gives him her ring. But en route, he is attacked by Harry / The New Goblin and a fight ensues, wholly set in the sky with Spidey prevailing in the end.
Then, a festival honoring Spider-Man for saving Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), Spidey encounters Sandman and they fight. After that, Peter is informed by Captain Stacy that Marko is the actual killer of Uncle Ben, and a vengeful Peter waits for his chance. Now, the black symbiont bonds with Spidey while he is asleep, giving him amplified powers and a new black suit.
Affected by the suit, Peter humiliates Edward Brock Jr. (Topher Grace) and gets him fired. Mary-Jane breaks away from Peter due to his changed character, and finds solace and love in Harry, who forces her to alienate herself from Peter. Thus MJ breaks off from Peter and he goes to Harry's House, where, aided by the suit Peter defeats Harry and damages his face.
But afterward, Peter realizes the folly of his ways and goes to a church bell tower to rid himself of the suit, which falls on Eddie Brock, who was praying for Peter's death. Eddie becomes Venom and joins forces with Sandman to destroy Spiderman forever. What ensues is a climactic battle with the good guys winning and the bad ones losing, as always.....
Well, lets take stock. The visuals are spectacular, so is the action, as is to be expected from a movie made with 258 million $. The acting is good, with Church being the best, and Franco and Maguire putting in good performances. There is a delightful Bruce Campbell cameo as well.
Now, the aspects which let the movie down are the direction - Sam Raimi just does not manage to recreate the magic of the first two films. Then, the script and screenplay. The story is far too complex with three villains, and does not give much room for character development. Then, the screenplay is absurd and makes most of the non-action scenes really boring. Also, the essence of the Spidey movies, the characters and their problems, challenges etc. are not portrayed as well as in the prequels.
All in all, I will conclude by noting that, though it is a good film, it could and should have been a lot more. Leaves you wanting more, practically and more literally......