Grease machine or satisfying meal?
Written: May 05 '07
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Nothing noticeably weak; The addition of Bryce Dallas Howard and Topher Grace
Cons: Bobbles the nine items that it should have just gotten a cart for
The Bottom Line: ...Oh, and the special effects are pretty good stuff too
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| smarterthan3's Full Review: Spider-Man 3 |
It's just under 24 hours after Spiderman 3 was seen by most of the general public, yet I bet you're already sick of reading about it. "There's too much crammed in here...Too many villians for one movie...Seeing Tobey Maguire turn into an emo state of hairdo mind (Trying his best to look like Peter Petrelle from 'Heroes') is so laughable that it almost takes away from the absurd evil that is supposed to be possessing him." Okay, I added that last one by myself (Honestly, I hope that was meant to be taken with such a firm tongue as I took it as), but, for fans of the first two films, I'm happy to say that Spiderman 3, three villains (Or 4, if you consider the ominous goo to be as desperate for Toby Maguire's Spiderman end as everyone else is) and all, is a good film. The gray lining in that statement? It's predecessors were a tad more revered.
You've got the scoop if you've seen the TV spots or trailers, but for the sake of a Very Helpful rating here goes: Spiderman 3 opens up with Peter Parker (Maguire) and his broadway debuting beu, soon to be fiancee (*Crossed fingers*), Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) are doing pretty well...Until Mary Jane's first performance gets critically ragged, Harry Osborne (James Franco) turns into the Black/New Goblin and hunts Spidey/Parker for revenge for killing his father, the Green Goblin, and an otherworldly black substance attaches to Peter and his Spiderman uniform brings out his deepest aggression. Pete's got competition at work for the right to get paid for taking pics of Your Friendly Neighborhood and M.J.'s and Pete's relationship is continually strained, thanks in part to Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), and there's Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church), the newest baddy in town, who Peter and Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) learn was the actual killer of beloved husband and father figure, Uncle Ben.
Spiderman 3 is the third-person view of Parker losing control as his relationship's become shredded, and his tolerance for sunshine (For lack of a better adjective) is being devoured as quickly as his physical body thanks to the dark-plated Spidey suit. Entertaining, for sure, but I can't help but feel that a possible backstory behind the alien host would have made the menace that it amassed root deeper. The more tragic victim behind a lack of bonafide backstory, however, is Church's Sandman. We really don't hate him, but we unfortunately don't sympathize with him either because such emotion would have had to be produced out of blank air. Also on the villain front is the debut of the dark-hearted Venom. I can't help but wish that this movie hadn't been made without Sandman, because it's got a pretty weak plot spine and wouldn't have taken a major blow with his exclusion, so more emphasis could have been placed on Eddie Brock's attached demon.
On the acting front, things are solid here, if not strong enough to bother pointing out in the pros. Maguire is near perfect in his role, thanks mostly to the fact that he really makes you want to 'clean his clock' during his cocky escapade that is walking down NY City sidewalk. Kirsten Dunst is also fine; nothing grand, but not a blemish on the project's face. Jame's Franco, as Harry Osbourne, is good too, and benefits from the present of more screen time. Mr. Hayden Church isn't really deserving of a rating; First, because he is mostly in CGI form throughout the film, and, second, his story is never developed, as just mentioned, so that takes away from what could have been an emotional role. The newbies this time around are Topher Grace, of That 70's Show fame, and Bryce Dallas Howard (M. Night Shyamalan's The Village and Lady in the Water) as fan favorite Venom and Gwen Stacy, respectively, are a welcome breath of differently flavored air. Grace, thankfully, rarely and, when it pops up, subtly, flashes his...nature, I guess I'd call it (That kind of pause, always intentionally meant for a laugh, is probably the biggest aassaulter). I think Bryce Dallas Howard is one of the most beautiful actresses on the hollywood circuit currently, and her acting chops are pretty impressive as well. She has a disappointingly small part here (If anyone gets lost in the overflowing current, backstories aside, it's her), but it will be worth the wait for Spiderman 4 to see her character fleshed out more.
Anytime you have a genuine hit franchise (Which, 9 times out of 10, had to start with a genuine hit), anything less then the best example of the pack is constantly reprimanded. That's the case I've found in S3's average rating's by the critics. Aside from the points mentioned, the over-laden truck doesn't cause a horrible crash because of its extra weight. Some points could have been handled better, and those have already been mentioned, but, truthfully, I didn't feel cheated or any less satisfied as the sun blackened to the credit screen. I would be surprised if those, like me, who cite the first two Spiderman movies as the best example of comic book film making (With the exception of Batman Begins) came away disappointed. Maybe the mind won't be burned with an insignia relevant to what the film had to say or was, but for an upcoming summer of blockbusters, Spiderman 3 sets the bar high enough so that those who follow will have to exert themselves to touch above it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
smarterthan3
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Member: Jim
Reviews written: 194
Trusted by: 53 members
About Me:
If I was worth dying for, this God is worth living for
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