Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Three major supervillains thirsting for Spidey's blood, Spidey's inner demons (brought out by a squiggling black blob of a space symbiote that crash-lands 50 feet from Peter and MJ "up in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g"), Peter's crumbling relationship with MJ (and his best friend, who is also a rival for her affections in addition to one of the three supervillains), and Peter's wish for an end to the thanklessness and small injustices of a masked superhero's life -- not to mention his hunger for the adulation of the citizenry -- make this film one bloated cinematic smorgasbord. I felt lost and began losing interest halfway through, and my youngest son (a huge Spidey fan) began asking to leave early, doubtless due to the characters' soulful emoting (and kissing). Villains are dispatched only to reappear half a hour later, numerous times. The CGI is fine but no better than The Mummy (and Brendan Frasier is a much more versatile and interesting actor than Tobey Maguire). Venom gets short shrift and is not as deeply drawn as the other two villains, whose back stories make them interesting. Tobey gets to lampoon his character a bit by thinking he has finally reached the height of cool -- but if you look, everyone passing him is trying to give him wide berth because a nerd's idea of cool is just offbase. Peter's been self-centered and totally clueless about MJ's struggles -- but the movie does well to have him own up to what a husband needs to be for his wife (thanks to good old Aunt May) and friendships are affirmed all around before the end. This is a jam-packed movie with a great deal to offer Spidey fans and newbies -- and for the most part it succeeds. Kirsten Dunst is a charmer in her role as MJ esp. as a jazz songbird. 4.5 stars.