Spider-Man 3, 2007, 120 minutes, Rated PG-13

Starring Toby Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K Simmons, James Cromwell, Theresa Russell, Dylan Baker, Bill Nunn, Bruce Campbell, Elizabeth Banks, Ted Raimi, and Perla Haney-Jardine.

Description

In the third installment of the Spider-Man series, Spider-Man/Peter Parker has many villains to fight. Harry Osborn, the shape-shifting Sandman, Flint Marko, an alien organism, Eddie Brock, and even himself.

Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Mary Jane: The people of New York are now regarding Spider-Man as a hero rather than a villain. As Spider-Man’s popularity rises, Mary Jane Watson’s career, as an actress, is on the decline. Peter Parker is oblivious to Mary Jane’s troubles because his own popularity is clouding his sensitivity. This obvious puts quite a strain on their relationship.

Harry Osborn: Harry Osborn, the son of the Green Goblin, is still determined to avenge his father’s death, thinking that Spider-Man/Peter Parker had something to do with it. Spider-Man and Harry Osborn do battle early in the movie. As a result, Harry Osborn suffers from short-term memory loss, not remembering that Peter Parker is the target of his anger and revenge. They become good friends again, but briefly. After a while, his memory is restored and his revenge rampage against Spider-Man starts again. He finally learns the truth of his father’s death, which he died by his own hand, and teams up with Spider-Man to defeat the other villains.

The Sandman/Flint Marko: The shape-shifting Sandman’s alter ego is a small-time crook who has been in and out of prison. The reason he became a criminal was to get money to help his sick daughter. The last time he is in prison is because of murder, the murder of Uncle Ben, Peter Parker’s uncle, which it is later learned that it is accidental. He escapes prison because he is desperate to try and help his sick daughter. During his escape, he falls into a pit, where physics experiments happen to be taking place. This is his transformation into Sandman. He goes on a bank robbery spree as Spider-Man tries to stop him.

The Alien Organism or Symbiote: The alien organism or symbiote got a ride to earth compliments of a small meteor that hits the earth. The alien organism attaches itself to Peter Parker, creating yet another alter ego. A Spider-Man that is more powerful, angry, filled with hate and revenge, rather than compassion. The symbiote creates changes in Peter Parker as well. It transforms a nerdy, sensitive, compassionate Peter Parker into a cool, bad boy type. The type that women want but will usually end in heartbreak. He is ruthless and insensitive to others. The feeling he gets is like a powerful drug. He wants more and the more he wants it, the more the symbiote binds to him. Once he realizes that his behavior is severely hurting the people around him, he fights to rid himself of the symbiote. However, the alien organism does not quietly into the night. It attaches itself to…

Eddie Brock: Eddie Brock is a freelance photographer who is trying to horn in on Peter Parker’s turf at the Daily Bugle. They are both competing for a staff position at the newspaper. As bad Spider-Man, Peter Parker humiliated Eddie by verbally abusing him, then snatched Eddie’s camera out of his hands, and threw it up against the wall, smashing it to bits. Later, while Eddie is in a church praying for the death of Spider-Man, he realizes that Spider-Man happens to be there. He goes to confront Spider-Man about his behavior, but Spider-Man is busy trying to rid himself of the alien organism. He succeeds but the alien organism attaches to Eddie, turning him into a vicious villain.

The ending is, of course, a ferocious battle between Spider-Man and Harry against the Sandman and the Eddie Brock villain.

Analysis

As in the other Spider-Man installments, the special effects were great. The fight sequences looked realistic. If someone fell and fell against an object, the body would bounce off the object in such a way to make the viewer wince and say ouch, that had to hurt.

There were so many character relations and dynamics going on that if the viewer blinked, he or she would miss something. Some examples include the drama that was going on between Harry Osborn and Mary Jane. The drama going on between Peter Parker, Mary Jane, and bad Peter Parker’s female admirer. One more example would be the drama going on between Harry and Peter Parker. Another example is the telling of Flint Marko’s story. And, yet, two more examples are the introduction of the symbiote and Eddie Brock.

The underlying theme of the story was about the choices that people make in life. People can choose to be angry, upset, and vengeful, or they can choose to forgive people and let go of any misdeeds. Peter Parker chose to forgive Flint Marko for the killing of his Uncle Ben. Harry chose to let go of the rage inside of him to help Spider-Man battle the two villains. Flint Marko chose to go into a life of crime to try and help his sick daughter. Eddie Brock chose to be the villain. At the end of the movie, Peter Parker says this: “Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have raging inside us, we always have a choice. My friend Harry taught me that. He chose to be the best of himself.”