Do film reviews really matter when Spider-Man 3 raking in billions of dollars at the box office is more certain than death, taxes and Paris Hilton being forced to pick up the soap bar in the prison shower? Alas, many fanboys are lashing out at S-M 3. They're lashing out at the bloated look of the picture. The overly-produced fight sequences. The reported $200-plus million budget. The musical numbers (not the least of which being Peter Parker going emo Saturday Night Fever in Manhattan). Too many villains.
I will say this. I liked the movie. It was on par with the original, but nothing thus far will top Spider-Man 2. The action scenes were a bit too surrealistic, taking CGI to new extremes but simultaneously zapping the humanity left in these extraordinary heroes and villains. Acting -- well, it is an action/fantasy film. Nobody will win awards here. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst have pretty much put their stamps on Peter and Mary Jane Watson. Finally, James Franco's Harry/Goblin character is fully realized, but perhaps too late.
J.K. Simmons, as always, hilarious as J. Jonah Jameson. Topher Grace, not completely distancing himself from That '70s Show, did well with an Eddie Brock/Venom character that didn't get much room to breathe. Many Venom fans will hate the movie because of it. Thomas Haden Church probably pulled off the best performance, as the slightly sympathetic figure of Flint Marko/Sandman. And everyone deserves an Aunt Bea and Uncle Ben, as nailed down perfectly by Rosemary Harris and Cliff Robertson.
One memo would go out to Ron Howard's daughter, Bryce Dallas: Honey, you're done making the Shymalan flicks. You gotta emote better. Range in acting is good, not bad.
Ultimately, S-M 3 is a terrific popcorn movie, but not one that will have fans gripping their chairs or lamenting the characters' future, i.e. S-M 2, X-Men 2, Empire Strikes Back. One thing is sure, it will be very difficult to mount acceptable Spider-Man fare in the future without Maguire, Dunst and Sam Raimi.
Also, Battlestar Galactica announcing the next season will be its last. It's disappointing but not terribly surprising news. The survivors need to find Earth soon, eventually. Otherwise, they'll tire of being chased across the galaxy by Cylons, all the while being crippled by regret, suffering, egomania, the occasional insubordination, fear, paranoia and weakness.
Oh wait, those traits best describe the folks on 24 and Lost. Never mind!
