Film Review: Spiderman 3
Jun 13
Sam Raimi is a genius director.
Not your deep, philosophical, meaning of life-and-death genius director, but a director who understands fun film-making. This hit me in some subliminal way back when I first saw Evil Dead 2 and realised he was scaring me and making me laugh at the same time. And it struck me again as Spidey and the Green Goblin and a giant Sandman and Venom and Mary-Jane jump and fall and punch and scream all over the screen in the climactic scene of Spiderman 3. Here’s a director who understands comics, and how they were (and are, I hope–even Venom is too contemporary for me) full not only of action, but humour, pathos, fear, love, hope … the whole shootin’ match.
Like the best of comics, Raimi packs it all in for Spiderman 3, and like the genius director and writer he is, he juggles it all with consummate skill. He has only 140 minutes to give us Venom, the Sandman, the new Green Goblin, not to mention relationship problems, competition at work, struggles with the nature of power … yes, it’s busy, but I think those who have criticised the film for too many storylines miss the way it all comes together, and how skilled Raimi is at giving us so much with so little. The Sandman background scenes, for example, are short but wonderfully economic, giving us just enough to really empathise with the character.
And besides, it’s all fun! Everything here is entertaining, even the slightly over-the-top ‘bad’ Peter Parker dance routine. It all works because Raimi has style and a wonderful visual inventiveness, and he isn’t afraid to enjoy himself and take the audience along for the ride. Like being on a rollercoaster, you just have to give yourself up to the experience.
It’s what comics were all about before they became too deep and meaningful. And the icing on the cake is the way the three films are nicely wrapped up as a trilogy. Nice one Raimi. I can hardly wait to see Spiderman 3 again. Now, all we need is a few more sarcastic wisecracks by Spidey when he’s fighting, and we’ll be spot on.
Four alien meteorites out of five.
Jun 13, 2007 @ 12:56:02
Wow I am really surprised that you gave this movie such high praise. I thought it was way too long, no character development, and a retarded plot. Sandman was a pointless villain (I got bored fast with everyone trying to shoot him. HE’S SAND!) and Venom wasn’t developed well at all. I think it was made just to make more money, not to advance the storyline. Spider-Man 2 was great, but I sure hope that this is the end for the series.
Jun 13, 2007 @ 13:10:53
I believe S4 has already been announced…!
I think your common policeman/soldier, faced with a huge humanoid column of sand coming at him, would let fly with his revolver/automatic weapon without thinking too much about the logistics! š
Perhaps Venom wasn’t developed well, but I stopped reading the comics before the character was invented, so it was all new for me. I suppose those more attached to the character might be disappointed.
I had fun watching this film – I thought it was a blast.
if you want a negative review, stay tuned for my take on Pirates of the Caribbean 3 …
Jun 13, 2007 @ 13:21:25
Oh Pirates 3 was a big disappointment for me. The ending was SO SAD!! WTF was THAT all about??? NO WAY I would do that to Keira Knightley!
Jun 13, 2007 @ 13:45:01
No spoilers here please! š
Jun 13, 2007 @ 14:50:08
Ok, no spoilers, but I still don’t understand the whole scene where the pirates go into the future, meet Adolf Hitler, then fly a zeppelin into space and destroy the death star. And the lightsaber duel with Keira Knightley losing her head… well, it’s STILL a sad ending.
Jun 13, 2007 @ 17:30:09
I love that bit.
Jun 28, 2007 @ 16:33:35
Okay, let’s get your Pirates review up now!