Spider-Man 3: The Review

Spider-Man 3 starts off blissfully. All is well in Peter Parkerland as Spidey is the toast of NYC and is about to propose to his Broadway-bound Mary Jane. Of course, in true comic book tradition, it's time to muck up the works with evil meteorite goo and 3, count 'um, 3 supervillains! Ah, what a tangled web they weave!

Back to make sure Peter Parker's life doesn't go smoothly, is former pal Harry Osborn (James Franco) who we know blames Peter/Spidey for the death of his dastardly dad. As the New Goblin, he attacks Peter, who is still dressed in street clothes, over Manhattan almost making him drop the engagement ring he's carrying for M.J.! Also, blowing into town is Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), a smalltime crook whose real name is Flint Marko. Peter thinks he's the guy who murdered his beloved Uncle Ben and this guy falls into an experiment turning him into a shape-shifting sand creature who can morph into a variety of shapes including a multi-story giant hulk!
Riding up next in the villain van is Eddie Brock (Topher Grace). Eddie is cocky and thinks he's smooth with the ladies including Peter's hot lab partner Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard). He wants Peter's job as photographer at the Daily Bugle. Stay tuned for more on this. Peter has picked a peck of trouble as a black goo from a meteorite jumps ship and attaches to his Spidey suit turning our modest hero into a prancing, overconfident and more powerful, dark version of the hero. The change causes him to semi-dump Mary Jane and go after Gwen. This gives Harry, who has always had a thing for M.J., an excuse to move in and cozy up to her! Feeling neglected, she's up for it.
Eventually, the goo jumps ship again, attaches itself to Eddie Brock who, without Peter's basic moral code, is transformed into the deadly Venom.. a Spider-Man-like villain who equals if not surpasses Spidey's powers. Toward film's end, all of these paths converge and collide as the villains and Spidey fight it out and lives are forever changed.Spider-Man 3Credit: Sony Pictures

Okay, some critics have complained that this wrap-up of the Spidey trilogy has everything and the kitchen sink in it and it's too long but, somehow, it all works! Yeah, it's occasionally hard to focus as different storylines are explored but both Sandman and Venom are interesting enough to merit their own movies. Spidey 3 is a true date night film as it mixes great athletic action and amazing special effects with humor, emotion and romance. This is a story of love, friendship, redemption and, eventually, reconciliation and it wraps up hanging storylines and ties them with a pretty neat bow.

You've gotta see this one! Even if more Spidey films are made, #3 is a third act that you can't miss!