If your ten bucks didn't contribute to the $150 millionish that Spider-Man 3 made last weekend, here's a quick hit on whether it's worth a couple of fivers. Absolutely... with reservations.Overall, I liked it didn't love it. The web-slinging action is ineffincredible, and the villains are wonderfully realized. However, there are just too damn many of them. Sandman, Venom, New Goblin, flashbacks of the original Goblin, Mary Jane's dour presence... on and on and on. While the film manages to string all these threads together, it turns into a bit of an ugly sportscaster sweater by the time it's done.
There's so much going on that it's hard to care a great deal about any of it. Spidey as a movie doesn't really get going until he swings into action to save potential new girlfriend Gwen Stacy from falling out of a building, but then she's wasted as basically just an object lesson about loving Mary Jane. Onscreen origin stories are always tough, and this flick's shoehorns in three villain's worth. Plus there are the obligatory scenes of Aunt May providing Peter with soothing spider strength and J. Jonah Jameson getting irrationally angry.
Hm. That sounds like you should run screaming from the theater – sorry. There are things that work terrifically well. Sandman, while the film would benefit from him not being in it, looks great. Topher Grace is terrific as Eddie Brock/Venom. Bryce Dallas Howard's Gwen Stacy is miles ahead of Mary Jane. And again, the superhero action stuff is near perfect.
So go. Have a good time. Bring something to read for the first 40 minutes or so. Don't concern yourself too much with some coincidental plot elements and examples of deus ex machina and just watch Tobey swing around.
6 comments:
Saw it last night and I generally agree with your review. I didn't mind the amount of villians, certainly not like some of the Batman movie, but it is overly long and terribly slow at times.
Despite that, Sam Raimi must be a blast to work with. He packs every moment of this film with bits. Leading actors doing bits and supporting people doing bits. They don't always work, which causes the film to drag, but I bet he never says no to an idea.
I thought the acting, outside of M.J. was solid. And for the first time in a long time, I left my comic book snob at the door and didn't let the minor story differences, between comic lore and film, get to me.
Agree with your Sam Raimi stuff, but that's one of the reasons I hope a new crew starts doing these flicks. A bunch of stuff must have seemed fun on set, but just adds a bunch of bloat.
I'm looking at you, scene where Jameson haggles with a little girl over a camera during the climactic fight scene. And you, where the director's kid Ted pitches a nonsensical ad campaign for the Bugle. And you, where Bruce Campbell shows up for the longest cameo ever with a Pink Panther French accent. And...
Geo - Welcome back...it's been awhile since we've heard from you.
I'll probably wait until this comes out on DVD...
That way I can fastforward through the Kirsten Dunst parts.
Piece. Of. Shit.
Batman & Robin bad...
Frank: Nah, not that bad. Not anywhere near that. B&R was incompetent on every level. This was just a director trying to shove in every last idea he had for the franchise.
I think Kirsten Dunst is an incredibly talented actress.
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