{"id":25142,"date":"2007-05-04T22:40:55","date_gmt":"2007-05-04T22:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lookingcloser.wordpress.com\/2007\/05\/04\/looking-closers-film-forum-spider-man-3\/"},"modified":"2013-02-13T22:48:50","modified_gmt":"2013-02-14T05:48:50","slug":"looking-closers-film-forum-spider-man-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/lookingcloser\/2007\/05\/looking-closers-film-forum-spider-man-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking Closer’s Film Forum: “Spider-Man 3”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"
\nSpider-Man 3<\/em> explores the latest chapter of Peter Parker\u2019s education in the balance of power and responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the first film, he was exhilarated by newfound talents, and learned to use them for the greater good. In Spider-Man 2<\/em>, he felt the burden of responsibility, and considered tossing the mask aside and living a normal life. This time, Spider-Man\u2019s brought crime to a standstill and become the most popular celebrity in New York. But pride comes before a fall, and when you\u2019re swinging between skyscrapers, that\u2019s a very long fall indeed.<\/p>\n

To be fair\u2014Spider-Man doesn\u2019t just fall. He\u2019s pushed \u2026 by a variety of malevolent influences. The \u201c3\u201d in the movie\u2019s title may well be referring to the number of supervillains ganging up on our hero.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s not as satisfying as the second installment, Spider-Man 3<\/em> delivers 139 minutes of engaging, occasionally exhilarating entertainment that manages to bind drama, comedy, music, and action without losing its balance. And the special effects? You\u2019ll get your ten bucks\u2019 worth, no question.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not perfect\u2026 not by any stretch of Sony\u2019s expensive imagination. Preposterous coincidences, an overcrowded storyline, and other problems may send viewers home grumbling.<\/p>\n

My full review is at Christianity Today Movies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Steven D. Greydanus<\/a> (Decent Films) writes:<\/p>\n

Are these too many characters, too many storylines? Well, yes. Like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man\u2019s Chest<\/em> or Peter Jackson\u2019s King Kong<\/em>, Spider\u2011Man 3 <\/em>represents creativity run amok, where most popcorn entertainment represents creativity struggling to put one foot in front of the other. The results may be somewhat uneven compared to the outstanding Spider\u2011Man 2<\/em>, but this film\u2019s heights are series high points \u2014 and it\u2019s consistently head and shoulders above the original film, which remains the weak link in the series.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Greg Wright<\/a> (Past the Popcorn) says,<\/p>\n

Spider-Man 3<\/em> not only delivers more of what the series has brought in the past, it appears to have done so in a manner that should please both audiences and bean-counters.
\n\u2026
\nAs a film, it reaches too far\u2014four villains (including Spidey himself) are about two too many, and Topher Grace, among others, is wildly miscast. The diabolus plot-device never rises above that lame and paltry level. And I\u2019m sorry, but Dunst and Maguire\u2014while competent enough\u2014are being wildly overpaid, regardless of the odd chemistry that they obviously produce.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Federica Matthewes-Green<\/a> says,<\/p>\n

\u2026 the dialogue and characters and underlying themes, are all richer than the usual action movie fare \u2013 it\u2019s a banquet of a movie.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Stephen McGarvey <\/a>(Crosswalk) says,<\/p>\n

Those who enter the theater with their $9 bucket of popcorn looking to be wowed by heretofore unseen action sequences won\u2019t go home disappointed. Those who are looking for more of the poignant storytelling of the first two films, which blended character growth and deeper philosophical themes with Peter Parker\u2019s adventures, may be dissatisfied.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And Harry Forbes<\/a> (Catholic News Service) says,<\/p>\n

Some may find it overlong, but that\u2019s a small carp in such a satisfying, surprisingly moving film, with its solid themes of good versus evil, self-esteem, forgiveness and redemption. Though the film is classified for adults because of some comic-book brutality, many parents may deem it acceptable for their older teens.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Peter Suderman<\/a> (National Review) highlights the highs and lows, but has a lot of trouble with the film\u2019s conclusion. (You might want to steer clear if you\u2019re worried about \u201cspoilers,\u201d as this may be too revealing for you.<\/strong>) writes,<\/p>\n

\u2026this film\u2019s final moments weirdly intimate that it\u2019s time to forgive enemies \u2014 even those who\u2019ve hurt us most \u2014 rather than fight them. It\u2019s too brief a sequence to ruin the movie, but it\u2019s vexing all the same. Indeed, along with the film\u2019s many other wobbles, it may be a sign that the superhero genre that Raimi\u2019s first Spider-Man <\/em>perfected has started to weaken by falling prey to fashionable modern sentiments. No longer does Spider-Man struggle with the responsibility granted by his power to fight off a known villain before he acts again. This time, Spidey\u2019s final act is letting the bad guy get away. How unheroic.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Anthony Lane<\/a> (New Yorker) shows no mercy:<\/p>\n

\n

In an early scene, a meteorite crashes to Earth, and from it crawls what seems to be a tiny garbage sack with half a mind of its own: not a bad image of where this film belongs. And, would you believe, the first person this superblob attaches itself to is, yes, Peter Parker. It doesn\u2019t choose him; nobody has targeted him\u2014of all Earth\u2019s inhabitants, he just happens to be close by. Is this truly the best that the filmmakers can be bothered to do for our delight? Just how easily and stupidly pleased do they presume we are? \u2026 [T]his is where the film becomes so embarrassing that you have to crouch down and stuff popcorn in your ears.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spider-Man 3 explores the latest chapter of Peter Parker\u2019s education in the balance of power and responsibility. In the first film, he was exhilarated by newfound talents, and learned to use them for the greater good. In Spider-Man 2, he felt the burden of responsibility, and considered tossing the mask aside and living a normal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1051,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[116,1356],"class_list":["post-25142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-film-forum","tag-spider-man-3"],"yoast_head":"\nLooking Closer's Film Forum: "Spider-Man 3"<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Spider-Man 3 explores the latest chapter of Peter Parker's education in the balance of power and responsibility. 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