Spiderman 3 Review

With summer 2007, comes long awaited Blockbusters, which may not blow your mind as much as you would expect.

I will interject my humble opinion on some of this summers best, or so-called "best."

I am starting with "Spiderman 3," which was the first official summer Blockbuster for 2007. Let me begin by saying that this film is worth seeing at the theater for its visual thrills and action. I do not regret spending the $9 to go see it. I do regret, on the other hand, the decisions behind the story and plot of this movie.

I would first off like to state that I think this movie made one big critical mistake, the same mistake Joel Schumacher made in "Batman and Robin." The mistake is simple, and in this case, I believe was made because Sam Raimi wanted to please too many people all at the same time. The mistake is incorporating way too many elements in regards to villains, internal conflicts and overall dilemmas into one film. "Batman and Robin" had many, many flaws but also suffered greatly due to this type of mistake as well. Incorporating Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Bain... and throwing in Batgirl, just makes a big mess of things.

In S3, there was so much material at the director's disposal, that could have easily made for a great movie, just like the first two films. The story, internal conflicts and drama of Venom alone, could have made one hell of a movie... unfortunately they throw in an over-emotional Sandman from out of nowhere and a very incomplete conclusion to the whole Harry Osborn (Goblin) storyline. The Osborn storyline has been a staple in these movies from the very start, and easily gets lost in this film.

If I had directed S3, I would have eliminated the need for the Sandman, and would have focused on Harry Osborn's transition to the "New Goblin," and also balanced a intertwined storyline with Venom. Osborn never even becomes the Hobgoblin or any Goblin for that matter. His father's story was so brilliantly demonstrated in S1, with the Green Goblin, yet in this film Harry never even adorns a new costume or anything that shows any transition into a Goblin besides his hoverboard and some left over pumpkin bombs. The Hobgoblin is a staple in the Spiderman comics, and is never born in this movie.

I would have established Harry's transition while also showing Peter's transition with the "mysterious black substance," which is never named, although all true Spiderman fans know it as "symbiote." I would also like to note that I would have shown Peter's transition without the over-done dramatics in the bar with MJ. I would have also not have killed off both Harry and Venom so quickly. If no more movies are planned for the future than do not ruin the story just for closure. Venom by far is one of Spiderman's greatest foe's and deserves much more respect than that pathetic display of weakness. Although, I do suspect that Venom, or at least the symbiote, could return in a future movie... if future movies are planned. Remember, there was a part of the symbiote with Parker's professor, as he was studying it.

Overall, it was some nice eye candy, but very disappointing when it comes to an end.