Spider-Man 3: A Spoiler-Free Review
Written by: Moongewl
There's something wonderful about seeing to a movie minutes after its release, with a bunch of hardcore fans and knowing you have a test in ten hours. It's quite thrilling; though why so many felt the need to wear Superman shirts is beyond me. However, I digress. Onto the review!
Spider-Man 3 is quite literally action-packed. There's pretty much no good moment to get up and go to the bathroom, which can be problematic if you buy a large soda and drink most of it before the movie starts. It was a bit much to pack into a single movie, but it runs pretty well. There are a lot of concepts explored in this movie that really make it work: the psychological effects of superpowers, the consequences of free will, and how horrendous arrogance makes you look when you're dancing down the street like an idiot.
In this episode of the saga, Peter Parker is the beloved (but big-headed) hero of the city. This is a nice change from the reviled vigilante-type he was at first, and also a great idea to work with--although it does make Peter Parker less likable. The symbiote is a handy excuse to accelerate his change from the homespun hero to the big-time celebrity jerk. He also faces a greater challenge this time; there are three enemies in this movie, instead of just one.
One unfortunate side effect of bringing in three antagonists for a single movie is that the villains don't get used enough. Harry Osborn (the ingeniously-named "New Goblin") didn't quite have enough time to sparkle--he's really a fascinating character, and almost could've been the only villain in the movie. The Sandman felt a bit superfluous alongside Harry, as both are really more emotional antagonists than true enemies. Without Venom--who feels a bit tacked-on at times--Peter Parker wouldn't have had a proper villain in this movie. So the end result is two enemies who don't quite wish Spider-Man dead with every fiber (or grain, in the Sandman's case) of their beings, and one who isn't fully developed but wants Spider-Man humiliated and killed. The dilemma is this: do the fans want a movie with emotionally developed characters, or do they want a good old comic book movie? Spider-Man 3 tries to be both, and succeeds. Sort of.
As always, the female roles were flat and uninteresting. Mary Jane remained pretty much a helpless damsel, while Gwen Stacy was little more than a tool to drive a wedge between Peter and Mary Jane. I'm not saying this has to be a girl-filled movie, but it would be nice to have an enjoyable female character in the Spider-Man universe. Maybe a chick who wasn't Spider-Man's weakness or some other minor plot device?
The visual aspect of comic book movies is important, and Spider-Man 3 doesn't disappoint. It is, to use one of my favorite adjectives, pretty. Venom and the symbiote are particularly well-done, and the other villains satisfy the aesthetic expectations as well. Spider-Man himself can look a bit ridiculous at times, when he seems too overly-muscled to be human--especially if one tries to imagine Peter Parker under that suit--but that's to be expected.
One minor disappointment was the music. Danny Elfman (who composed music for the first two movies, as well as movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Chicago) wasn't the composer on this episode of the saga, and his strong mood-inducing music was missed. Well, I missed it, anyway.
The ending very neatly tied up everything that's happened since nerdy little Peter Parker got that nasty spider bite. It was almost too neat for my taste, but at least it wasn't just a setup for the next movie. There were a few unpleasant moments (did Spider-Man really have to land in front of a giant fake-looking American flag?) but otherwise, the movie really seemed to have been made with some desire to entertain rather than just make money. If they stop here, instead of trying to suck every last penny out of the franchise, that would be great.
So...go see it! Try not to pay more than $6.50 or so, and it'll just about be worth it.
Moongewl wishes she were awesome enough to be a nerd. Alas, she is only a nerd groupie.
is very tired and thinks perhaps coffee would aid her newly found editing skills.
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