Review: Spider-Man 3 · 4 May 2007
(click for larger image.)
Okay, so I just got back from the premier of Spider-Man 3 in Gold Class… my freaking god. It was good. Oh, yes; it was good.
So further to my predictions made the other day:
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
1.) Aunt May hasn’t died yet (as she does in the comic.) and Rosemary Harris continues to do an outstanding job as the grieving widow – Harris could have been cast to a more perfect role; she’s the exact epitome of Aunt May.
2.) That Harry Osborne, as obviously hinted at at the end of Spider-Man 2, does indeed pick up where his father left off and uses the technology of the ‘Green Goblin’ costume with a few modest modifications. One of which is the glider – which I actually kind of prefer in this one.
In the first Spider-Man when Spidey faced Green Goblin Mk I, the glider was too big and clunky, and didn’t seem to have the same rangle of motion or flexibility as the one we’ve all grown familiar with in the comics. Goblin usually flies on the glider (which looks more like a snowboard with green case-mod propellors in this one) – with the ease that Silver Surfer glides on his surf board (see the new Fantastic Four movie for reference.)
The fight in the sequence above looks absolutely brilliant. There are a couple of slips with blue-screen stuff but all-in-all it is an excellent action sequence. Harry’s mask looks a bit naff, but I don’t think we’re missing out on much. (By that I mean that even when the mask comes off, James Franco changes his expression about as often as the steel mask..)
3.) Peter has really gotten the hang of using his ‘web-balls’. You’ll remember these were used on the crooks in the stolen car who were shooting at Spidey when he was on his way to MJ’s show in Spider-Man 2. They looked a bit too cartoony and a little tacky on that occasion, but this time they look like quite a powerful weapon that he’s really honed. Seeing Peter fight without his suit looks awesome too. It reminds me of in the original comic where the first Green Goblin (the original Osborne) nullifies Parker’s Spider-senses using a gas, and ties Parker up with cable and drags him around New York in the air slamming him against stuff while he’s in his civilian clothes which only partly cover his costume underneath – showing everyone his face.
Anyway in this sequence we clearly see that Pete gets the absolute bejesus knocked out of him, but not before dealing Harry a pretty violent clotheslining with his webbing.
Harry, very symbolically, dies by being impaled by the blades on his own glider – flung at him with great force by Venom. Harry only gets hit because he jumped in front of Peter/Spidey to save him. Good show!
4.) Sandman is Spidey’s number 2 foe for this movie; being the real killer of Uncle Ben. (Hmm… can’t wait to see em sort that plot hole out..) is revealed; Sandman (Flint Marco.)
I think Thomas-Hayden Church was a really interesting choice for this role; especially considering his comedic background in his well-known “Ned and Stacy” and “Sideways” roles. Although, so is Topher Grace (“That Seventies Show”) who is playing Venom.
As a side-note; I always wondered if Sandman and Hydro-man got together and combined Voltron-style, would they become “Mud-Man” or “Cementor!”.... indeed.
And yes, “Cementor” does almost become a reality in the sewers. Is there anything this movie didn’t deliver on!?
The day digital animation technology mastered ‘water’ was monumental; but the day has come when they have REALLY intensely mastered ‘sand’. Every grain of sand moves perfectly – would hate to think how long this sequence took to build (or how much it cost!!)
5.) That Peter is proposing to marry Mary Jane, but the suits augmentation of his emotions is hindering his ability to see that his attitude is changing for the worse.
The other classic scene to look out for is Peter on the phone to Dr. Connors while he gets his smitten land-lord’s daughter to feed him cookies and milk while he’s just taking the piss out of Connors and ordering the girl around.
6.) ..That somehow Venom/Brock finds Mary Jane and tangles her up in his own black web, similar to the regular opaque one at the start of the trailer.
Thanks for that, Bernard. Again, something that could have been brought to his attention YESTERDAY!! – BEFORE he became a homicidal psychopath hell-bent on revenge, resulting in concussion and horrible facial-disfigurement.
7.) That Gwen Stacy played by Bryce Dallas Howard , makes an appearance, and that Peter starts getting involved with her.
In the comics, Gwen is Peter’s first love and dies at the hands of the original Green Goblin; perhaps this time she’ll die at the hands of another foe, since Gobby Mk I is already dead.
8.) Sam Raimi’s brother, Ted, returns again to play Jameson’s assistant, “Hoffman” but for possibly the first time ever, Raimi doesn’t have a cameo appearance for his all-time regular Bruce Campbell. (The Ring-side Announcer in Spidey1, and the Usher/Stage-Doorman at the theatre in Spidey2.)
Campbell has a classic role as a French restaurant manager in one of the funniest scenes in the film. It seems he just wasn’t credited for it on IMDB
Ted Raimi does have a pretty funny scene involving some marketing and ‘buzz words’ for the Bugle’s new ‘marketing strategy’. Very funny; I’ve seen this scene in real life, and it played out exactly like this.
9.) For the third movie in a row, Parker manages to have his Spidey-suit completely torn to shreds… again.
9.5) The game is going to be insanely good – with Venom, Green Goblin Mk II, Scorpion, Kingpin, Sandman, Dr Octopus, Electro and Rhino – aaw yeah.
10.) Spider-man is awesome.
If you want to see a contrary review (and admittedly – the prevalent response to the film, play the clip below:
