Exclusive Review of Spider-Man 3

While comic book heroes gracing the screen have been with us since at least the original Superman in 1978, the current rebirth of superhero mania is largely made possible by the Spider-Man series. Since the initial one's release in 2002 we have been treated to a whole slew of superhero films and television programs. Few have been as successful largely because Peter Parker has an everyman quality despite his powers. Here is a comic icon who is a nerdy kid, with a lifelong crush on the prettiest girl in school. Who can't relate to that?

Sad to say the third installment isn't as successful as the first two. This is largely because it's too busy. The first one was a streamlined origin story, and while the second included a new villain (in Doc Ock), the story stayed fairly intimate. In Spider-Man 3 there are a dozen subplots involving new characters and old. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is still used to being Spider-Man now. But his relationship with Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is rocky as she is jealous of his fame. Also thrown in is Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), the possible "other woman". Harry Osborne (James Franco), having learned of Peter's identity in the last film is hell bent on trying to kill his old friend. Then there's an escaped convict in Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who is revealed to be the true killer of Uncle Ben. He becomes transformed into The Sandman in a science experiment gone wrong. Also added to the proceedings is competing photographer, Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), who tries to steal Parker's job at the Bugle and an alien symbiote that fuses itself to Peter's costume, changing his personality, and later Eddie's (becoming Venom).