Spider-Man 3 Review

Spider-Man 3

Release Date: 3rd May 2007 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Marvel Enterprises

Laura Ziskin Productions

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 133 minutes


Budget: $258,000,000

Box Office Gross: $890,871,626
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enchanting his powers, it transforms Peter as well. 

Under the influence of the suit, Peter becomes prideful and overconfident and he begins to neglect the ones he cares about most. As two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom, gather unparalleled power of thirst for retribution, Peter's greatest battle will become the one within himself. 

 
Cast

Tobey Maguire - Peter
Parker/Spider-Man

Kirsten Dunst - Mary Jane
Watson

James Franco - Harry
Osborn/New Goblin

Thomas Haden Church - Flint
Marko/Sandman

Topher Grace - Eddie Brock/
Venom

Bryce Dallas Howard - Gwen
Stacy

J.K. Simmons - J. Jonah
Jameson

James Cromwell - Captain
Stacy

Rosemary Harris - Aunt May
Parker

Theresa Russell - Emma Marko

Dylan Baker - Dr. Curt Connors

Bill Nunn - Joseph 'Robbie'
Robertson

Willem Dafoe - Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin (Cameo)

Cliff Robertson - Ben Parker
(Cameo)
Elya Baskin - Mr. Ditkovich
Mageina Tovah - Ursula
Ted Raimi - Hoffman
Elizabeth Banks - Betty Brant
Perla Haney-Jardine - Penny Marko
Becky Ann Baker - Mrs. Stacy
Lucy Gordon - Jennifer Dugan
Bruce Campbell - Maitre d'
(Cameo)
Michael Papajohn - Dennis
Carradine/Carjacker
Joe Manganiello - Flash
Thompson (Cameo) 
Stan Lee - Man in Times
Square (Cameo)

Crew

Screen Story/Screenplay/
Director - Sam Raimi

Based on Marvel Comic Book "The Amazing Spider-Man"/Executive Producer - Stan Lee

Based on Marvel Comic Book "The Amazing Spider-Man" - Steve Ditko

Screen Story/Screenplay - Ivan Raimi

Screenplay - Alvin Sargent 

Executive Producers - Joseph M. Caracciolo and Kevin Fiege

Producers - Laura Ziskin,
Avi Arad and Grant Curtis

Casting Director - Francine Maisler

Production Designers - Neil Spisak and
J. Michael Riva
Art Directors - Christopher Burian-Mohr,
David F. Klassen, Dawn Swiderski and
Suzan Wexler

Costume Designers - James Acheson and
Katina Le Kerr

Director of Photography - Bill Pope

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Dan Bradley
Second Unit Directors - David Lowery
and Jeffrey Lynch
Stunt Coordinator - Scott Rogers

Special Effects Supervisors - John Frazier
and Jim Schwalm 

Special Effects Foreman/Supervisor - John Shea

Visual Effects Supervisors - Richard Kidd,
Scott Stokdyk and Mark Larranaga

Visual Effects Supervisor: New Deal Studios - 

Ian Hunter

Digital Effects Supervisor - Kee-Suk 'Ken' Hahn
Digital Effects Supervisor: SPI - Peter Nofz
Animation Supervisor - Spencer Cook
Computer Graphics Supervisor - Robert Winter
Computer Graphics Supervisor: SPI - Francisco De Jesus

Film Editor - Bob Murawski

Original Music Themes - Danny Elfman

Score - Christopher Young

Review

What should have been a major step-forward in Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' trilogy has put a nail in the coffin and left Sony to reboot the film franchise as 'The Amazing Spider-Man' with a mixed response. If it weren't for the unnecessary additions to the story-line like the Emo Peter subplot and the character of Venom, the latter having less screen-time and affecting a few character arcs like Peter, The Sandman and Harry Osborn's. For future reference, these two elements should have been used for potential sequels and spin-offs and not been forced into the third instalment.

This is why 'SPIDER-MAN 3' would have been a good film if had been faithfully integrated with the director's vision and not the studio's which might explain a lot. The characters and story would have been fleshed out more including Gwen Stacy who was underused and would have had a larger role if included in more scenes of Peter Parker's conflict of his affections between her or MJ.

Topher Grace is an appalling cast decision for the role of Venom - one of the lead villains as well as his bitter alter-ego Eddie Brock in an over-hyped superhero movie like 'SPIDER-MAN 3'. Grace wasn't the only actor whose performance has let down the whole fan-base, Tobey Maguire while in my opinion was still near-perfect in his interpretation of both Peter Parker and Spider-Man has seemed to collide with a darker version that he looked ridiculous. Thomas Haden Church was the best actor of the movie and he gets a performance right in portraying the arch-foe of Sandman. That character leaves a lot to be desired by anyone who can relate to his pain after seeing his backstory.

This was in-arguably the second least favourite of all 'Spider-Man' movies, you may want to forget that it has its flaws. It's bad enough that this was the last of Sam Raimi's film adaptations of the character and it's close to being a huge disappointment.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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