by WannaB » Wed May 09, 2007 10:29 am
I actually thought it was the best of the series, though that isn't saying much.
I could overlook the super-experimental OUTDOOR particle testing facility thats only secured by a simple length of chain-link fence. I could overlook the worst butler in the world, as well as his horrible acting. I could even overlook the convenient albeit completely unnecessary amnesia. What I couldn't overlook was the horrid 10-20 minute sequence of Tobey Maguire trying to act all badass. For the first few minutes where he's walking down the street catching glances from women, and when he's making demands to Jameson at the Bugle... yeah, sure it was funny. But when he started strutting in a G*d-awful Saturday Night Fever homage, dancing, and even the completely pointless sequence in the Jazz club which oddly enough reminded me of the Jazz club sequence from Anchorman because it was so absurd.
Aside from all that, the best acting in the film came from the villains, specifically Thomas Hayden Church. The action sequences were really well done, and they were in abundance when compared to the 2 previous films. Although there was far less Venom than would've been liked. It seems kind of odd that arguably the most infamous and popular villain of the franchise had about 15 culmulative minutes of screentime.
Everything else was tolerable. The camp was much more enjoyable sans aforementioned "badass" sequence. Bruce Campbell's part was a lot more entertaining, and a hell of a lot funnier this time around.
I think a lot of things in this film worked. It was still pretty campy, limited in it's dramatic depth, and there were things that can easily be forgiven while others not so much. Regardless, Spider-man 3 is easily the most action packed of the trilogy.
I'm hoping that the team of Raimi, Maguire, and Dunst call it quits with this film as there doesn't really seem to be anywhere else to take "there" story. It would probably be best to go out with the closure that is offered by this film, and to not let the series became stale and stagnant while on their watch. I would love to see them try passing off the franchise to a new team. Let a new director and group of actors come in for their own trilogies and nothing more. It would keep things fresh. It would certainly be easier to sign people on for 3 films rather than playing the contracts by ear like the Batman franchise of former years. And unlike the bond franchise, the replacement actors could be regularly scheduled and expected events.
Also, the rumor mill is already churning. Speculation that Mandy Moore is the studio's prime choice to replace Dunst if she doesn't reprise her role as Mary Jane Watson, and speculation that The Lizard & Carnage are the tentatively slated villains.