Spider-Man 3

Trust me when I say, you'll know that Spider-Man 3 isn't as good as the first two films when Peter Parker (a disappointing Tobey Maguire) goes completely emo on the audience, then goes into his cheezy dance moves, moves I thought (or at least, hoped) the Gods of Cinema banned after Saturday Night Fever. Well, it's not entirely Maguire's fault for the lack of depth that was presented in Spider-Man 2 - that can be pinned right on screenwriters Sam Rami(also doing directing duties for the third movie), his brother Ivan Rami, and Alvin Sargent, who wrote Spider-Man 2.

The last Spider-Man movie had more depth and understanding about Peter trying to maintain his duties to New York City, and and to his college studies, and to his friends. Here, Peter just comes off a jerk who's letting his own ego swell, at the expense of his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson's (a tired and weary Kirsten Dunst) feelings of being a no-talent singer.

Still, there is still some pulse in this 139 minute movie. Thomas Haden Church does good work as Flint Marko, a small-time bank robber, wrongly pinned as Uncle Ben's killer who transforms as Sandman. He's one the few characters in the movie you can actually have empathy for because he can raise havoc in the streets of NYC, but can't save his dying daughter. The same can be said for Harry Osborn(James Franco)who vows vengeance on Spidey for killing his father by becoming Green Goblin Jr. But even his father's demonic spirit can't mask Harry's good and warm side.

The most disappointing character though, yet the most interesting, is Eddie Brock(Topher Grace in another fine performance), the smooth-talking sleaze bag trying to steal Pete's photography job at the Daily Bugle by phtoshoping Spidey robbing a bank.

It's the moment when Eddie becomes Venom when the movie really starts taking flight(Peter tries to extricate himself from the Black Suit and the parasitic host that took over his suit, in turn it gets on Eddie), but even with the last third of the movie becoming exciting and the final climatic action sequence, it's too little and too late. Much like when the black parasite affected Peter's judgment and his mod, Spider-Man 3 was affected from being an awesome franchise, rich with heart and story, now swimming in a sea of meritocracy.

**1/2 out of ****