So bad I'm no longer looking forward to part 4

Rating: 3/10 (9 May 2007)

I just saw the concluding chapter of this trilogy less that an hour ago, and I feel confident calling it an insult to modern cinema.
First off I'd like to credit Sam Raimi for the excellent pieces of storytelling that were Parts 1 and 2. Although I personally didn't enjoy the second chapter quite as much as everyone else seemed to, I found that the characters were developed well, the story progressed; a top notch movie in my book- and therefore I eagerly awaited this next episode. But the truth is, I don't know how they got it so wrong.
In order to properly tell you what's wrong with Spidey 3 though, I think I need to summarise.
Venom; perhaps the biggest fault with this movie. Out of all the 140 minutes of it, Grace's role in this film was god-awful. Every scene with Eddie Brock is pathetic, and looking back I'm thinking that if they took all of his scenes out, changed the ending to focus more on the Harry Osbourne angle we might be able to salvage something. He wasn't necessary, his character was completely mis-portrayed, and please...he wants to kill Spidey because he was 'humiliated'.
Then there's Gwen Stacey. Why does she exist again? Oh right...to push Mary-Jane's insecurities to the limit and create another story arc. I appreciate she's going through a hard time, but there's no need for a secondary character creation to accommodate that. In fact, apart from the 15 seconds Raimi uses to show that she was briefly involved with Brock...and therefore another catalyst in his mix, she doesn't serve any purpose.
The problems elsewhere thought I think are side-effects of the venom character. Sandman wasn't really out of place until the final act, until that point he's really just a vehicle for Peter to use in order to overcome his own darkness and need for vengeance. But when Venom enters the mix it suddenly becomes a free-for all with every plot point until this stage suddenly convoluting.
So Pete's after his uncles killer, got a bad ass suit, rival photographer, relationship problems and his best friend wants to kill him....but the films trying to convey too much moral messages now that we don't really hear any of it.
I could go on forever, but just two questions; why does the Sandman suddenly get bent on killing Spidey at the end (only to change his mind yet again) and why oh why is the Osbourne Butler a factor in the story at all? Kids will love it, but for all those who know what constitutes a good movie- AVOID.