By Claudia Puig, USA TODAYSpider-Man 3 (* * * out of four) has a large web to fill: It's tough to follow a blockbuster as superb as Spider-Man 2.
The third adventure of the guy with arachnid superpowers tries gamely, is solidly entertaining and possesses dazzling special effects, but it falls short of the near-perfection of the Spidey sequel.
It's an action-packed tale with the emotional heft and humor we've come to expect from the series. The first two-thirds of the film grabs and keeps our attention, moving at just the right pace. But ultimately it's about 15 minutes too long with an overblown climax.
It's an action-packed tale with the emotional heft and humor we've come to expect from the series. The first two-thirds of the film grabs and keeps our attention, moving at just the right pace. But ultimately it's about 15 minutes too long with an overblown climax.
Tobey Maguire is in fine form as the engagingly sweet and nerdy Peter Parker. Fans will get an extra shot of the actor's range as he has a chance to stretch his character when a black, gooey substance sneakily infests his Spidey suit and, soon, his spirit.
His trademark wide-eyed gentle goofiness is replaced by a darker incarnation. With hair hanging in his eyes and in his all-black attire, he resembles an emo teen with an aggressive, swaggering twist. Suddenly he's not just focused on helping those in need. He wants vengeance for the death of his beloved uncle (Cliff Robertson). He learns that the man who killed his uncle is a thief named Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) who turns into the Sandman. The scene in which the brawny ex-con mutates into a superhuman powerhouse is a wondrous sight.
Less effective are Peter's romance with Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst in a rather drab, whiny performance) and his complex dealings with Harry (James Franco). But Topher Grace as ambitious photographer Eddie Brock injects a lively comic quality and a surly menace as his alter ego, Venom.
Director Sam Raimi keeps trying to top what he has created before, but in the final face-off, he seems to trade his agility for spectacular confrontations in favor of a bombastic and exaggerated battle sequence.
Still, that is offset by the rewards of stylish continuity that come from having the same creative team at the helm. Raimi continues to delve deeper into Spidey's psyche. Spider-Man 3 adds new colors to his humanity and heroism. He turns from revenge toward compassion and forgiveness, and there's nothing wrong with that as a subtle message.
(Running time: 2 hour, 19 minutes. Rating: PG-13 for sequence of intense action violence. Opens late Thursday.)
1 comment:
Oh rats. A bombastic and exaggerated battle sequence? Sounds like a total misfire. If there's anything I want from my summer movies, it's character development.
I mean, look at Superman Returns. If they'd shelved some of the character stuff and filled the gaps with more action, do you think audiences would've been happier?
No. Of course they wouldn't. That movie was perfect.
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