Spiderman 3

Spiderman 3 **

Overall a confused and unsure-of-itself film, which lacks a self-belief that could have taken it to another level. The movie shakily begins by confirming Peter and M.J. as an established couple; yet makes a joke of Peter himself, causing him to become somewhat unlikeable as a character, but comedic nonetheless. As the film progresses, several threads are unwound, exposing four new imposing villains; one being a modified version of Spiderman himself.
The graphics and editing are generally weaker than could have been expected, a prime example being the sequences from the point-of-view of the deadly 'black venom' material. The narrative also moves jerkily, leaving us confused rather than delighted, and there is not enough depth within any of the branches, so we are left with tasters of what we were really hoping to experience. Despite this, there are a few redeeming factors, one being the performances given, most notably by James Franco as Harry and the New Goblin.
The climactic scene withint the film encapsulates the essence of superhero, and this is the only truly awesome scene throughout. Sandman and Venom prove to be a fearsome duo for a few minutes, and for once we are gripping the edge of our seats. The scene ends with the moral message of friendship, and we momentarily feel satisfied (however, we are soon brought back into the average world of Spiderman 3 with the compulsory 'funeral' scene).
This film is worth watching if only for the aforementioned scene, and will undoubtedly be enjoyed by a younger audience seeking thrills. Those imagining deeper, darker and more brilliant things, though, should seek out 2008's The Dark Knight, which delivers an incomparable version of the superhero movie.