Raimi's almost done a Schumacher on Spidey

Rating: 5/10 (10 May 2007)

Spider-Man 3 is a disappointment. I was really looking forward to this movie as the first two installments were quite good and I thought Raimi was pretty much in control of the characters, but he let it slip this time around, unfortunately. It seemed to me like the whole staff, cast & crew were just overwhelmed by the magnitude of the film and the whole thing just got real sloppy (OK, the special effects not included -- but that shouldn't be surprising in 2007). First of all, NYC loves Spider-Man??? I thought JJJ was running the show and he certainly is not the kind of man to give Spidey good PR. I cannot recall any period in Spidey's life in the comics when his reputation was not ambiguous at best. And Peter Parker becoming cocky?? The guy is supposed to be a living statue of self-sacrifice, responsibility and caring for others. And if you have a superhero for a boyfriend, please quit the whining and the "what about me?" attitude, MJ! Enter Sandman: I liked the acting and the special effects were really good, but what's with all the melodrama? And how could he possibly just fly away in the end with Spidey waving good-bye to the man who killed his beloved uncle and threatened to kill his girlfriend?? Oh, he said sorry, right. The New Goblin is really no goblin at all but a sky-surfer with gadgets. How did Harry get his new gear? I really liked the way the original Green Goblin was put together in the first movie (Oscorp developing the gear for the army), but this time around Harry (who would have flunked junior high school physics if it hadn't been for Peter) does all this improvement alone? Or did that know-it-all butler do it for him (afterall he took one look at Norman Osborne's wounds and concluded they were caused by his own hover-board -- not bad!). And now Venom: OK, so the symbiote is supposed to bring your bad side out. Ooooh and did he do that with Peter! What a monster he's become! Emo hair, eyeliner, a new black jacket and acting like a damn fool around women. Oh, let's not forget the dance routine and accidentally hitting MJ on the face. The horror! The pain! Somebody stop this menace! And the black suit is not something you take off and put in a suitcase -- because it's not really a suit, you know! Eddie Brock was actually a pleasant surprise from Topher Grace and Venom wasn't all too bad. He should have deserved much more screen time and much more involvement in the storyline -- maybe instead of having to witness MJ's career crisis. And a comment to Stan Lee: I know it's exciting to get a cameo role in all your characters' movies, but how could you stand by and watch Spider-Man get surprised from behind by an enemy??? Spider-sense, Mr. Lee, do you remember? You gave that special power, one of the key powers, to Spider-Man. What you did not give him is shooting web balls from his wrist like an idiot. Oh no, a web ball, quick, run, I might get a bump on my forehead if it hits me!
Not quite the disgrace that Schumacher made with Batman, but almost. I really think Spider-Man 4 should be Spider-Man Begins.