Making a re-make or a sequel of a hit movie is a great challenge for producers, director/s, the staff, crew, and the casts. The sequel either falls into an abyss of comparison and get drown with the original’s created fad or surpasses the original and make another sequel, three, four, and so on. In local cinema, we had that Mano Po 1, 2, where the rest is history. We have X-Men, The Matrix, Batman, Shrek among many others, and off course Spiderman. Spiderman 2 was a hit, a superb, last 2004 more than that of its first installation last 2002. And so it paved the way why millions of people were waiting its Philippine Premier yesterday, May 1. The question is will Spiderman 3 can make a bravura performance that shall me keep me waiting for two years to watch its fourth installation.
Well,
The movie is not what i am expecting. It's major flaw is the plot which is a mess. The central theme which is revenge of the four superhuman character is not establish on the first 30 minutes of the movie, yah, its four, Peter Parker, Harry, Toxin/Venom and Sand Man. The revenge plot is too shallow and does not converge with each other. The first 30 minutes drags on the three main characters, Harry, Peter and MJ which makes me think that this movie must be a romantic comedy. MJ taking center stage in a broadway does not in any way connects with the whole theme. Peter change of character is very cool but became a movie extender. New Goblin’s role is the fabric that connects the major parts(like that of Wolverine in X-Men 2) portrayed by James Franco who makes a powerful presence. The trio relationship is an “over-kill” and there is so much mushy, unnecessary crying.
There are idiotic scenes, such as the the kids were like watching a movie within the periphery of the fight scenes makings ahh, and owws while the bombs are exploding and heavy debris are falling. Aren’t they scared, on the contrary they were very entertained.
The movie was saved by its very cool effects, the spidey moves of black Spiderman , detailed moves of the Sand man, the flying and explosion of Goblins bomb, and the growling of Venom, though in general its not as action- packed as the first and the second. The fighting square between Venom, Spider, New Goblin and Sand Man explodes my yes, shit, hands and popcorns. The morality stand point of the film is boring but amazingly creates a unanimous agreement which saves the film.
Its not a bad film after all, not a good film either. Says Clint Morris,
“I think we’ve begun to expect so much from the Spider-Man movies that when one isn’t quite as good as the other it stands out like a wart on an ear lobe.”
I hope they will do better on the 4th installation. After all, its not the movie production, the flawless plot, that keeps me waiting this movie, its simply because I grew up on this kind of nurturing and lifestyle. Talking about cultural imperialism hah..
