Famous wall-crawler returns again
'Spiderman 3' satisfies critic
By Michael Maniaci
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Brock's character is a perfect mirrored image of Peter Parker. Surprisingly enough Topher Grace pulls this character off perfectly, without giving off his "That 70's Show" character vibe.
At long final last "Spider-Man 3" has hit theaters. With its largest budget to date, how does Spidey hold up at his third go on the screen?
The answer is surprisingly well, albeit a few bumps here and there.
The movie begins by showing us that Peter has started to gain the respect of New York, Mary Jane is on Broadway, and life seems to be going seemingly well for the wall-crawler.
However, there is still the tension between Peter and Harry Osborne and this comes full circle rather quickly into the movie. With an awesome fight between the two in the New York sky line, the web-slinging, hover-boarding battle is a brutal one.
Now we come to our first bump in the road Flint Marko, aka the Sandman. There isn'Â?Â?t any particular thing wrong with his character, the CGI is amazing and the acting is well delivered from Thomas Haden Church.
The biggest problem is a full lack of necessity. We soon discover that Marko has escaped from prison and is trying to raise money for his sick daughter -- sweet, and that's probably the problem. The Sandman angle of the movie is weak because it shows that he's really not that bad of a guy and because of this, the viewer doesn't feel all too excited for it.
Next the symbiote is introduced, which changes nerdy red and blue Peter Parker to jazzy emo black ninja Spidey. It garners laughs when Peter begins to become more aggressive toward other females and those around him. Enraged that his uncle's killer is still free, he sets out for revenge, finding and seemingly killing sandman.
Now throw in Gwen Stacey; smart, blonde and a model. It doesn't take her long to warm up to Spiderman, there is now the workings of a love triangle which throughout the movie extends more into a web.
Ah ha, but the fun has just begun, enter Eddie Brock, aspiring photographer, smooth talking wannabe womanizer, and supposed boyfriend of Gwen Stacy. Brock's character is a perfect mirrored image of Peter Parker. Surprisingly enough Topher Grace pulls this character off perfectly, without giving off his "That 70's Show" character vibe.
Peter and Harry have another row, this time over MJ, which is a no-holds-barred punch-for-punch match. It's satisfying to see emo Parker beat up Harry and taunt him.
So at this point Peter begins to understand that the symbiote is trying to take control of him and he goes to a nearby church where it trades skins from Parker to Brock. And alas Venom is born.
Into the final act, Venom and Sandman, who isn't quite as dead as the last time he was seen, team up to destroy Spider-Man. They quickly kidnap Mary Jane and hold her hostage up on a partially constructed building.
Knowing he can't take them on his own, he applies for the help of Harry who still hates Peter and refuses to help. Spider-Man goes to help Mary Jane and what may be one of the most intense final battles ever ensues.
"Spider-Man 3" is a great movie that delivers on laughs and action, yet isn't as tightly spun together as, say, "Spider-Man 2."
In the end Spiderman learns more lessons of life and death and responsibility. The ending is just as open as it was in the first so don�t rule out the possibility of a fourth go. Who knows maybe next they'll give us Carnage, Mysterio or the Sinister Six.


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