movie review monday: spiderman 3

Spiderman 3

Your friendly neighborhood web-slinger is back, only this time his sunny outlook has become partially overcast in the third chapter of director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man saga. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco return to reprise their roles from the previous two installments, with Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, and Bryce Dallas Howard making their first appearances in the series as Flint Marko (aka Sandman), Eddie Brock (aka Venom), and Gwen Stacy, respectively. Peter Parker (Maguire) has finally leaned to walk the middle ground between being the superhero that his city needs, and the man that Mary Jane (Dunst) loves. All is well in New York City until one night, as Peter and M.J. set gazing at the stars, a falling comet streams across the sky and crashes into the ground close by. But this isn't any ordinary shooting star, and upon impact the mysterious space rock is split open to reveal a shape-shifting symbiote with the power to overtake anything that it comes into contact with. Later, as Harry Osborn acquires his late father's flying board, engineers a powerful new Goblin outfit, and takes to the sky to avenge dad's death, the mysterious space sludge infects both Peter's Spider Man suit and ambitious street photographer Eddie Brock (Grace). His strange new suit giving him a newfound sense of power as it gradually overpowers his personality, Peter discovers that escaped convict Flint Marko was in fact the man responsible for the death of Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson). Unfortunately for Peter, Marko has recently acquired the power to morph at will and quickly completes his transformation into the dreaded Sandman. As the Sandman gives in to his darkest criminal instincts and the slithering space symbiote transforms Eddie Brock into the nightmarish fanged villain known as Venom, the citizens of New York City must once again call on Spider Man to fend off destructive forces that are far too powerful for the likes of mortal man. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide



Me and K went to the movies this weekend! Unfortuantely we went to eat at Cheesy Jane's first so no popcorn, but the other food was excellent. Next time I'm just going to skip the grilled chicken sandwich and only eat shypokes and spicy splinters.

Anyway, Spiderman 3 was pretty enjoyable. I haven't ever read the comic books or seen the animated series or anything like that. I just really enjoyed the first two movies and so of course wanted to see the third one. Also, I think Bryce Dallas Howard is fantastic so it was an extra bonus that she was in this one. I don't automatically like movies because a certain person is in them, but I will automatically put a movie on my list because a certain person is in it (Jodi Foster, Tom Hanks, Clive Owen, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Gwenyth Paltrow is pretty much my influential actor list). I thought this movie was a good mix of action and story line and the only thing that drove me crazy was the audience being so ridiculously loud.

The special effects were fantastic. The Sandman was especially cool. There were kind of a lot of new characters so I don't think Venom got the explanation or story time that he seemed to deserve, but I still liked how things flowed.

There are some really cool themes about forgiveness and redemption and there are some relationship dynamics that are fantastic.

I say go and see it. It's worth the money and I didn't know any background or anything and enjoyed all three movies. My boyfriend is fairly into comic books and had some nitpicky things about order of events and characters, but he still liked this movie too. The soundtrack is the best on the second movie though. :)

Rating 3 of 4 stars