Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Genre: Action
Format Viewed: Theatrical Release
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.
If only we could guarantee that all of the sequels to grace the silver screen this summer will follow Spidey’s suit!
Well, talk about hitting the nail on the head – if there’s one story that’s actually been able to pull off multiple sequels at the box office since Lord of the Rings concluded a few years ago, my man Spider-Man has certainly risen to the challenge and then some! Many a superhero has been thrust upon us in sequel after sequel lately, and lord only knows this summer we’re going to be pelted with even more of the same half-story, half-marketing-campaign-driven films that we’ve seen in the past, but you know what … at least we’ll always have Spider-Man…
Initially I wouldn’t have thought that Tobey Maguire would truly be able to fill that spandex suit and sell me on the idea that he is Spider-Man, but clearly I just didn’t see something that Director Sam Raimi saw because he truly fits the role in a way that superheroes haven’t really been cast since Christopher Reeve first donned the cape and boots to become Superman back in 1978. Now in watching this third installment, it just seems like second nature to him and I really couldn’t picture anyone else in the role – from mild-mannered photographer to web-slinging vigilante, the Spider-Man movies wouldn’t be the success that they are today without Tobey Maguire.
Of course, the other major reason for sticking around long enough to not only put out a third movie, but put out a really good third movie is that there’s actually a worthwhile story to be told on camera and make the whole thing worthwhile! Whereas so many movies to come out of the studios these days bear maybe half of what they actually need to fill the allotted time on screen, Spider-Man 3 was nearly two and a half hours long and actually gave us nearly two and a half hours worth of storyline to follow – amazing, eh?! We introduced new characters who actually have some great depth to them, not just feeling like they were next in line to be dropped into the series, and although James Franco picking up where Willem Dafoe left off as the Green Goblin still seems a bit awkward to me, it’s ok because his role in this movie – not to give away any spoilers – just really surprised me, in a good way. I also really loved Thomas Haden Church’s appearance as The Sandman, even though I kept referring to him as Lowell every time I saw him because he’ll always be the mechanic from Wings in my eyes.
Nonetheless, weird casting role #2 for me was definitely Topher Grace as Venom, even though I have to admit that he did make it work quite well! It’s just that sometimes you get so used to seeing an actor in one very specific role year after year, whether it’s Eric Foreman from That 70’s Show or Lowell Mathers from Wings, but in each case they still managed to pull it off quite well and I didn’t feel like we were just getting cameos from whoever was hot in the box office at the time…
The cinematics themselves weren’t really much of a change from last time, with the same usual swinging to which we’ve already become accustomed, although admittedly some of the special effects that came with introducing The Sandman into the story were certainly pretty cool! Of course, as with just about any movie released these days with the option, we opted to check out Spidey on the five-story IMAX screen, which was a nice touch to a movie that was already looking pretty nice to begin with. Nothing truly extravagant that made you jump out of your chair, mind you, but it was definitely up to par with the first two flicks.
So overall, Spider-Man 3 was a great way to spend two and a half hours and I wholeheartedly hope that the rest of this summer’s blockbusters follow suit and are able to continue their own stories in a similar manner … although I really highly doubt it. On the other hand, in comparing #3 with the first two installments, with the exception of the big battle at the end of this one, my money still falls back to #2 for the best thus far in the series simply because Doc Ock was all-around a great character and really drove that one home for me. And should there be a Spider-Man 4???
Well … maybe not, but I’m sure they’ll give it a go-around anyways just because this one’s still clearly proving itself to be quite the cash cow. And as long as they can continue to derive worthy scripts from the comics themselves, I’m in for the long haul, too. While there are a lot of great stories already filling the comic shops of America, whether they can actually make the transition over to the big screen is entirely in Hollywood’s hands. Sam Raimi’s done quite well for himself this far, so keep your fingers crossed – if anyone’s going to continue the superhero tradition without beating it to death, he’s still our best shot.
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