Spider-Man 3 proves that it IS possible to get better and better. In my opinion, this is the best of the three Spider-Man movies thus far. Storylines came together. There were more villains, more showdowns, and more twists and turns than ever before. There was also a lot of humor, emotion, and wisdom.
I suppose it is out of necessity that the love story between Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and MJ (Kirsten Dunst) must continue. In Spider-Man 2, MJ really dissed Peter Parker and it drove me insane sitting through that crap in order to see the rest of the film. In this third installment, things are really turned around. Instead of Peter Parker being down on his luck and losing in life and love, Peter is at the top of his game. Everyone loves Spider-Man. In contrast, MJ's career as a singer/actress are on the rocks and she is driven to serving drinks on the rocks. As Peter becomes self-absorbed, she finds their love waning. Inevitably, she confronts him and gets pretty bitchy. I was rooting for Peter to dump her and go out with chocolate cake girl, but he had his own problems.
After a mysterious black ooze came to Earth in a meteor crash (not via John Jameson's space shuttle like in the comics and cartoons) and found Peter's Spidey-suit, he finds that the black suit has made him more powerful. He enjoys the newfound power and the ability that he has to get what he wants. However, he soon finds that it is going to his head and altering his personality. His actions have consequences, long after he is able to rid himself of this black cancer.
One of these consequences is a new villain born from jealousy and thoughts of revenge by Peter's journalistic rival, Eddie Brock (Topher Grace). After Peter humiliates him and puts him out of a job, after Spider-Man makes out with his girlfriend, and after Brock encounters the black ooze that Spider-Man is finally able to jettison, Eddie Brock becomes Venom, who I think is one of Spider-Man's most formidable enemies. However, Spider-Man has more to deal with than just Venom.
One of his new enemies is Sandman. Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), whom we later discover is actually responsible for Ben Parker's death, is driven by his desire to get enough money to heal his sick daughter. Sadly, his noble inspiration causes him to make ignoble choices to the detriment of everyone, including himself. He eventually winds up in a particle physics experimental facility where his body is particalized, making him one with the sand underneath him. Flint's transformation into the Sandman is one of the neatest experiences of this, or any, film. It is visually spectacular and at the same time full of emotion.
As if Spider-Man doesn't have enough to deal with, his feud with his one-time best friend, Harry Osborne (James Franco) is enough to rip him apart, if not physically then emotionally. This is one of the main storylines that has been building and building since the original Spider-Man, and it all comes to a climax in this movie. Following in his father's footsteps, Harry attacks Spider-Man as a new Goblin towards the beginning of the movie. This really jump-starts the movie with some intense action and excitement. In an ironic twist, Harry is knocked unconscious and when he recovers, he has amnesia. The dark, brooding sentiment that has clouded this boy for a long time is replaced with happiness and charm. But will it last?
Despite having to manage three enemies in this movie, Spider-Man's greatest enemy turns out to be himself. And therein lies the great value and message in this film. Everyone, including the villains, the hero, and by inference, ourselves, are faced with choices everyday. And the point is that we have a choice; a choice between good and evil, despite our history or circumstances. We see the ramifications of Spider-Man's actions when he chooses the side of anger, self-fulfillment, and revenge. Luckily, however, we also see the excellence of wise and good choices by Spider-Man and others when we see choices for life, friendship, and the greatest, but most difficult, of all...forgiveness.
As you can see, I got a lot out of this movie and consider it the best Spider-Man yet. I also thoroughly enjoyed the humor. The first thing that comes to mind is the hilarity of a sprucely-dressed Peter Parker winking and pointing at chicks thinking that he is God's gift to women. But perhaps the most memorable humorous moment involves once again, Bruce Campbell, who appears in most of director Sam Raimi's movies. This time around he is a French Maitre D'. He starts off by mispronouncing Parker's name as "Pecker" and then is tasked with bringing out musicians, wine, and an engagement ring as part of Peter's plan to propose. However, as Peter's dinner conversation with MJ is heading south, Campbell's timing couldn't be worse and Peter has to keep signaling to him to stop and come back later. It is a fairly pivotal and intense scene in the relationship of Peter and MJ that has everyone laughing from Campbell's brilliant performance.
I could keep going on and on about what I loved about this movie, but I'll summarize by saying that Spider-Man 3 has more to offer than any of the previous films. See it now!
I loved it and will see it again.
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