Spider-Man 3's web of plots only loosely captures our hearts this time...

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2007)

Spider-Man 3 goes for more than it can handle. The movie shuffles through a good number of potentially great stories, but they do fall thin. Don't get me wrong, its story is still a great story. But the storytelling suffers from trying to condense everything efficiently.
I would not be surprised if Sam Raimi eventually releases a warranted "Extended Cut" of Spider-Man 3. This movie ran for 2.5 hours, but I feel it's destined to be told in at least 3 hours and with more polish.
Gone is the focus and some would say "heart" that strongly resonated in Spider-Man 2. We felt the aches, pains, and rewards that Peter Parker felt in that film. Spider-Man 3 is a web of stories that do interlock with Peter realizing that he has much growing up to do and he has yet to learn that beyond sympathy there is empathy.
But it is hard to have empathy for the cast in this film because we are getting condensed glimpses of their experiences (which all do interlock with themes of Peter's growth as an individual). Spider-Man 3 attempts to sum up the inner struggle of its many characters in very small doses of tiny examples. The result is that we barely get to experience these characters. We know how they feel and we also know what we are supposed to feel. We have sympathy for these characters. However, we don't actually feel through these characters. There's just no room for empathy when all we get are small examples that only allow us to sympathize for them.
The movie just doesn't show us the empathy that Peter Parker must learn himself in this movie. If anything, the film makes the same mistake Peter himself makes when he just pays lip service out of sympathy.
This is a good thing for the sorts of audience that yell out "I get it already," but it loses the emotional impact that brought so much respect to Spider-Man 2. Most people felt for Spider-Man 2. Many people will merely see Spider-Man 3.
The cast gives a good overall performance. Some of it is risky such as seeing how far Maguire can portray a darker Peter Parker in this film, but it's set up so well that when we see it, it's not overacting, it's intentional corniness. Tobey does a fine job, but a team effort was needed to make it work. Dunst has some powerful moments in this film, but they are scattered about far enough apart that we're merely getting reminded of it now and then. I would comment on the rest of the cast, but their performances were shuffled all over the movie. Odd as it may sound, but Bruce Campbell probably gives the most memorable performance. And it's very Bruce Campbell. Take that as you will.
Danny Elfman might be consulting on this film, but his direct role is definitely missing. The score of Spider-Man 3 is fine, but it doesn't narrate the story nearly as well as the score for Spider-Man 2. There are great pieces though and it is amazing how well various Spider-Man themes from the past can be rewritten into different genres. I think the Spider-Man 3 score makes a good collection of music, but it doesn't narrate this story very well. It's almost all highlights.
The action sequences are fun and longer than your average action sequences. Furthermore, while there are a lot of CG based fight scenes, there are a lot of actor/stuntman fights as well. The final "spectacular" action sequence is an entire roller coaster ride in itself, but the atmosphere was a bit much for me (you'll have to see the movie but I felt like I was literally watching a roller coaster ride at a theme park, flags and all). Its intention is that it's a "spectacle within a spectacle." I'm trying hard not to give spoilers here.
It should be noted that there are a lot of hilarious and entertaining moments in Spider-Man 3. They are there and they pretty much deliver. That's why I give this film an 8, it meets a lot of requirements.
Spider-Man 3 has a lot of substance too... but we can only get a shallow glimpse of it. If Sam Raimi decides to put out an extended version of the film, I am all for it. But for what it is, it's good entertainment and it's not an entire sell-out by Raimi. However, compromises were definitely made.