Spider Man 3 (2007) Directed by Sam Raimi From the Character by Steve Ditka

"You know, I guess one person really can make a difference... 'Nuff said!"  Spiderman's co-creator, Stan "The Man" Lee.

One of the brilliant things about the Spider Man franchise is it has always kept the story manageable, and focused as much on the human relationships of the movie, trying to make them an interesting story in their own right.  How sad that they strayed from formula....

Harry Osborne Jr. (James Franco) is out for revenge as the Hobgoblin!  He blames Spider Man (Tobey Maguire) for the death of his father, industrialist Harry Osborne Sr./Green Goblin (William Defoe) the villain of the first movie.  He discovered Peter's identity last movie.

However, a convenient bout bump on the head amnesia later, and Harry has forgotten, and Peter has his friend back.  He saves his lab partner Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard) from falling to her death, he gets the key to the city, New York loves him, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is starring on Broadway, and what could possibly go wrong.

Well, Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), small time hoodlum, escapes from prison and falls into a science experiment that turns him into a living sand box.  (I bet he hates cats now...) This impacts Spider Man like a ton of bricks...crushed to a fine powder...as he strives to foil an armour car robbery by the Sand Man.  It also hits Peter Parker when it is later revealed that Marko is actually the man who shot his Uncle Ben.... (That's funny; I don't remember THC in the credits for #1.)

At the same time, Peter Parker has a rival, a little sleaze ball named Eddie Brock (Topher Grace).  Eddie intends to be the new Spider Man photographer.  And he plays exactly the right kind of brown nosing games to pass the more ethical Parker.

A meteor lands near Peter and MJ while they are making out, and a strange licorice monster hitches a ride from the space rock home with them.  Eventually, it bonds with Spidey, turning his suit black, and enhancing his powers.  Stronger, more agile, more aggressive and assertive, Peter likes the feeling, but it does not exactly enhance his personality.  He becomes enraged with the news about his uncle Ben and fights Marko in a battle to the death amongst the subways, dissolving the Sand Man in a flood of water.

The suit does not help with MJ either.  She loses her job on Broadway, and Peter is not as attentive as she wants him to be...saving the city, and Kissing Gwen Stacey when she gives him the key to the city...an upside down kiss no less!  "That was OUR kiss!"

Anyway, Spider Man thinks he killed someone, MJ walks out on him before he can propose, Peter busts Eddie for plagiarism and faking a Spidey Pic, ruining his career, takes Gwen out to where MJ is a waitress, acts a jerk, and basically ruins his life.  Harry gets his memory back.  He forces MJ to break his heart, breaking up with him because she is with another man.  And he tells Peter he is the other man.  When Pete shows up he attacks Spider Man, but the new black hearted spider is a lot more venomous, and he beats Harry down, humiliates him, and leaves him with a parting goblin bomb.  Realizing how far he has fallen Spidey decides to get rid of the symbiote, which chooses the nearby Eddie Brock for his new host.  Then Brock finds Marko, and together, they plan the perfect trap for Spider Man, with bait he can't refuse...Mary Jane.

Now, if you are feeling breathless and tired just reading all this crammed together plot elements, then I have done my job of letting you feel how this movie went.  Raimi did not want to include Venom in this story, but was convinced to by Ari Arad, who cited his huge popularity.  Here is a clue to all directors everywhere; if Ari Arad suggests something, do the exact opposite.  The more he is involved in a movie the greater the chances it will suck.

The Super Hero side of the movie is far too cluttered with three major villains; Sand Man, Venom, and Hobgoblin.  The human side of the movie is far too much of a soap opera of unrelenting angst with MJ's career troubles, jealousy over Gwen Stacey, the sleaziness that is Eddie Brock, Harry's convenient amnesia, and just as convenient memory return.  And the romance between Peter and MJ, it's strains, stresses, his complete cluelessness, self absorption, and her docile self pity....yerk!  Guiding Light never got this sappy, and they still are cancelling it.

It is a classic case of biting off more than you can chew.  There is a lot good about this movie; the special effects are brilliant, the action is a roller coaster guaranteed to keep your heart racing.  And of course, there is Tobey in spandex...and Topher in spandex, and about 25 pounds more muscle.  There were 26 nominations from various awards (no Oscars) but only one win.  Most of the nominations were for special effects.

Unfortunately, that is not enough to make a movie.  This one lost it's vision, trying to incorporate too much (Shut up Ari!) and as a result is the weak sister of the franchise.  As much as I wanted to love this movie as much as the others, I'm afraid third time was not as charming.

This is entered in my I Need a Hero! Write Off.

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older