Movie Review

Movie Review - "Spiderman 3"

Cast - Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church

Ladies and gentlemen, meet spidey the soap opera star! See laughter, fears, joy, spats, tears, hate, love torn between girlfriend, friendship and duty! What has happened here? Tears from our superhero? What the F^&@*! Sam Raimi who helm the entire Spiderman franchise so far, has delve deep into the story as the main focus of this third instalment of the web-slinger. He left no stone unturned, looking to end all the loose ends since the first movie including how Ben Parker died and the story behind our reluctant killer, Flint Marko played by Thomas Haden Church. Also, the movie explores Peter and his alter-ego, Spiderman going through the pains of love, job, fame and pardon me, his dark side. Throw in an alien symbiote that attaches itself to Parker/ Spidey, feeding off the rage within as he seeks out the real killer of uncle Ben with revenge on his mind. The adventure begins harmlessly as Peter decides to propose to Mary Jane and seeks advice from Aunt May on how to pop the question. Meanwhile, Parker's best mate Harry transforms into the new goblin out to avenge his father's demise. After a battle in the skyline of New York, Harry lost some of his memories and was in suspended state of joy till a rude awakening jolts him back into action.

New characters like Eddie Brock, a hotshot photographer out to usurp Peter's job as the Daily Bugle's designated Spidey photo-taker. Another cutie in the form of Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy, a fashion model which Spiderman saves from a crane accident. Saving the daughter of the city's Police Captain has turned our friendly neighbourhood Spiderman into an icon, honored and adulated by the city's faithful with the key to the city. Such irony is as Parker is finding fame, MJ lost her job when she was let go from the broadway production after a poor review seal her fate. She seeks solace from Harry when Peter was too engrossed is being Mr. Popular. All this while, Flint Marko has been unwittingly moleculed into the Sandman after falling into a experimental facility while on the run from the law. The undying love for his daughter who has a life-threatening disease which requires expensive medical treatment turn him into crime, out of desperation.

Then came the darker side of Spiderman when the alien symbiote takes over our friendly slinger and he ain't mister nice guy no more. See the suave, bad-ass Peter works his mo-jo on the women and becomes a real new yorker for a change! Watch out for cameos by creator Stan Lee, Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell of the cult Evil Dead series by who else but Sam Raimi. Bruce's five minutes as the Maitre'D of the restaurant where Parker is proposing is very funny and a nice anecdote to an otherwise draggy soap opera-ish moment. I am leaving out the other villian, Venom for you to check out on the big screens or when the DVD is out at the stores!

Two spiders out of five.