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Movie Forums :: Reviews :: Spider-Man 3 |
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Posted on 5/07/07
Spider-Man 3
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The construction of a film is surely a delicate thing, but it must pale in comparison to the construction of a trilogy. Filmmakers cannot be too careful when creating a series of films. They cannot allow for too much peril in the first two installments, lest the third feel anti-climactic. They need the introduction and continuation of the story to be exciting, but not too exciting, or they risk undermining the conclusion.
Director Sam Raimi -- whose first two entries into the Spider-Man series are surely among the better superhero films ever made -- walked that cinematic tightrope wonderfully for two films, but in the midst of ramping up the action, ultimately failed to give Spider-Man 3 the emotional resonance of its predecessors.
The film opens, unlike the first two, on a happy note. Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) is loved by the media and the city and Peter is loved by Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst). Things are going so well, in fact, that he's considering proposing to her, and is given the key to the city in the midst of it all.
Naturally, the movie shatters this peaceful scene with the heavily foreshadowed reemergence of Harry Osborne (James Franco). He's still sore about that whole Spider-Man-killing-his-father thing, and has discovered his old man's wonderful little toys (and gotten awfully handy with them, too). This is one of a half-dozen instances in which the film lulls the viewer into a false sense of security, and then tries to jar them with some sudden attack.
The jarring effect isn't limited to action, though: Spider-Man 3 turns a few of the first film's events on their head, as well, in an attempt to bring Spidey's journey of self-discovery full-circle. Flint Marko (the "Sandman", played by Thomas Haden Church and thousands of tiny CGI pebbles) figures heavily into all this, and while it feels a little cheap, it's somewhat fitting that a comic book movie engage in a little retcon.
The revelation involving Marko would probably work if the rest of the movie felt like a conclusion, rather than another middle-film. As is, however, it feels tacked on.
As if all this weren't enough, Peter is pestered by an alien life form that falls from space and attaches itself to him, amplifying his aggression and arrogance. The result are a few odd sequences where the film nearly becomes a parody of itself, as Parker pulls a sheet of hair over his eyes and starts disco dancing in the streets. This lighthearted tone worked better for the first two films, but everything (and everyone) is in peril here, and it's hard to believe that an alien life form which multiplies aggression would cause you to want to swing dance.
There's plenty of interpersonal drama, of course -- mainly between Peter, Harry, and Mary Jane -- to the point at which the whole thing starts to feel like a bad soap opera. Still, this part of the film largely works because it utilizes the characters that we've been following since the beginning. All of these performances are passable, but Franco's performance as Harry is easily the most nuanced and interesting of the three. I'd be remiss if I didn't also find space to mention Bruce Campbell's predictably scene-stealing turn as a French waiter, which is nearly worth the price of admission.
Also effective is the brilliant realization of Venom, the name of the alien life force when bonded to new chracter Eddie Brock Jr. (Topher Grace). Though his climactic fight with Spider-Man is a little underwhelming, he's wonderfully creepy and plenty intimidating. Even this highlight, however, suffers from the Darth Maul Effect: our enjoyment from watching him is offset by his all-too-short screentime. One wonders what could have been done if Venom had an entire film to himself to square off with Spidey.
The only genuinely satisfying conclusion the film offers us involves Harry, who ends up with the most compelling, believable arc in the trilogy. Save for an odd turn around the middle of the film, his storyline is the most elegant.
I have no delusions about this review; if you haven't seen Spider-Man 3 already, you almost surely will. And I would certainly recommend that you do. There is plenty to see here, and you certainly don't want to be one of the 46 people in the world who haven't seen it. Spider-Man 3 is not a bad film, just an underwhelming one. And, given his past success with these characters, one can only hope that this minor letdown inspires Raimi to stay with the franichse, and try again.
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