An over-tangled web in 'Spider-Man'

The third entry in the film franchise is a let-down – too much going on with too little to show for it.

from the May 4, 2007 edition

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Given what a dweeb Peter Parker – Spidey's Clark Kent-like self – is, I initially welcomed the Nutty Professor-style transformation. But it turns out that a little of this goes a long way, too. Maguire isn't really a different actor playing the "dark" Spider-Man – he just has a different haircut.

Much more of a drag this time around is Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane, whose Broadway career takes a nose-dive along with her love life. With Peter gallivanting about much of the time, she has little to do except fume and act bereft.

So who does that leave to look at? For me, it was pretty much all Sandman – the best of the villains by far. It was a brilliant move to cast Thomas Hayden Church, the somnolent jock from "Sideways," as escaped con Flint Marko. Church's morose doggedness works perfectly here. Even before Marko morphs into the shape-shifting Man of Earth, his movements have a slurry slowness – he's a human sandbag.

The other bad guys are visually less interesting. Topher Grace plays a rival for Peter's job as photographer at the Daily Bugle who is transformed into Venom – a megaversion of Spider-Man. Their aerial fight scenes are well done – all the aerial special effects in the film are – but overlong.

Harry Osborn (James Franco), out to avenge his father, the Green Goblin, also signs on as a villain. Sporting the latest in trendy Goblin-wear, he zooms into the stratosphere to battle his nemesis. Lots of midair clanging ensues.

"Spider-Man 3" is far from a flop, and I'm sure the Spider-maniacs will eat it up. For me, it's a buffet without much aftertaste. Grade: B–

• Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence.

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