Spider-Man 3 (2007)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers (WGA):

Sam Raimi (screenplay) &
Ivan Raimi (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 May 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Next summer, the greatest battle lies... within.

Plot:

A strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Spider-Man | Revenge | Venom | Photographer | Amnesia

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 26 nominations

Cast

Tobey Maguire	...	Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Kirsten Dunst	...	Mary Jane Watson
James Franco	...	New Goblin / Harry Osborn
Thomas Haden Church	...	Sandman / Flint Marko
Topher Grace	...	Venom / Eddie Brock
Bryce Dallas Howard	...	Gwen Stacy
Rosemary Harris	...	May Parker
J.K. Simmons	...	J. Jonah Jameson
James Cromwell	...	Captain Stacy
Theresa Russell	...	Emma Marko
Dylan Baker	...	Dr. Curt Connors
Bill Nunn	...	Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson
Bruce Campbell	...	Maître d’
Elizabeth Banks	...	Miss Brant
Ted Raimi	...	Hoffman

Also Known As:

3 (USA) (trailer title)
Spider-Man 3: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence.

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX | Sonics-DDP (IMAX version) | SDDS (8 channels) | DTS-ES

Certification:

Finland:K-13 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Norway:11 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG | Germany:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIA | Denmark:11 | South Korea:12 | France:U | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Italy:T | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41004) | Malaysia:U | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:11 | Spain:7 | India:UA | Portugal:M/12 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Philippines:G | New Zealand:M | Iceland:10

Filming Locations:

5th Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Release prints were delivered to theaters in three parts, each with a fake title. Reels 1, 3, 5, "Two Timing Friend". Reels 2 and 4, "Back for More". Reels 6 and 7, "Listening Heart".

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Harry and Peter meet in the coffee shop, just past Peter's left shoulder, the same three extras (two females together with winter scarves and a male holding a cup) can be scene looping to and from the counter, several times.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Peter Parker: [Narrating] It's me! Peter Parker! Your friendly neighborhood... You know. I've come a long way from becoming the boy who was bitten by a spider. Back then, nothing seemed to go right for me, and now...
Kid in Times Square: [pointing at a giant screen in Times Square] Hey look, it's Spider-Man!
Peter Parker: [Narrating] People really like me.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Meet the Spartans (2008)

Soundtrack:

Theme from Spider Man

Big-Budget Special-Effects Extravaganza, Out Of Focus

"Spider-Man 3" comes really close to being as difficult to follow as an "X-Men" movie. Well, maybe not that close since an "X-Men" movie requires the viewer to try to follow the lives of at least a dozen different characters. But I think it was a mistake for the makers to have Spidey contend with three different villains in one film. Unlike the two superior predecessors, it felt like they were trying to cram three movies into one with "Spider-Man 3".

I was most disappointed with the use, or misuse, of the Harry Osborne/Green Goblin character. We know that Harry must become the Green Goblin if he is going to have the ability to take on his super hero nemesis Peter Parker/Spider-Man. The makers of "Spider-Man 3" waste no time in picking up where "Spider-Man 2" left off. Not only does the movie not allow the viewer to observe Harry's transformation into the Green Goblin, but Harry doesn't even dress appropriately for his role. He wears a black uniform and never becomes the public menace his father did. I was looking forward to the Daily Bugle covers about the return of the menace of the Green Goblin. Instead Harry's campaign of revenge against Peter is quickly side tracked by a bout with amnesia after suffering a blow to the head in a fall during his first fight with Peter. After all, the film needs to introduce two more villains, Sandman and Venom, before it ends.

Whereas, in the first two films the viewer really gets to know the Norman Osborn and Otto Octavius characters, in "Spider-Man 3" the length of time devoted to the villains amounts to a movie short. Along the way Peter Parker must also contend with his dark side and his troubles in his relationship with his love Mary Jane Watson. Meanwhile, the landlord's daughter, Ursula, is back to amuse viewers once again with her adolescent crush on Pete. Add to all this the time needed to develop the Sandman and Venom villains, plus Gwen Stacy, and I was left wondering exactly what the movie is about.

"Spider-Man 3" is big budget extravaganza that is out of focus in the areas of character and plot development. While it has its laugh inducing comic moments and the best special effects sequences money can buy, it has little else to offer. While I really wanted to see the first two movies again, because I enjoyed the transformation of the main characters into super heroes and villains, it feels like the only reason to see "Spider-Man 3" is to check out the special effects again. If there are more Spider-Man films made, and there is no reason to believe there won't be given the money involved in releasing another film, then I would hope that the makers would simplify the story once again and do what made the first two films so enjoyable to watch.