By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Spider-Man is still the most popular Marvel character in the world. Thanks to a deal Sony made in the '90s, this webmaster is also one of the few fully-fledged non-Disney characters. As a result, you can find previous Spider-Man movies outside the walled garden that is Disney+. This includes one classic movie that fans have hated for nearly 20 years: 2007 Spider-Man 3which is currently streaming on Netflix. After the blockbuster success of Spider-Man 2many fans felt that Sam Raimi's final film in the trilogy was a bitter disappointment.
Here's the thing, though: Spider-Man 3 is something worse than Spider-Man 2but so are many superhero movies. Spider-Man 2 it's basically the gold standard of tight-and-flights movies, and that sequence is honestly better than anything the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever created. However, for both fans and critics, it is important to judge films on their merits rather than endlessly comparing them to one another. That brings us back to Raimi's most hated film. For himself, Spider-Man 3 it's much better than you remember and much better than its name suggests (63 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes). If you've re-watched this terrible Marvel movie on Netflix, you'll find that, in many ways, this hated movie is a modern masterpiece.
A True Symbiotic Relationship
The foundation of Spider-Man 3 that our titular hero is getting ready to propose to Mary Jane Watson, but he has several problems happening at once. His old friend, Harry Osborn, is trying to kill him, and he just found out that his uncle's killer is still at large. Oh, and a terrifying alien symbiote is fused with his body, slowly giving him a new, awesome personality. Soon enough, he's dealing with relationship problems, and a rival photographer turns into his archnemesis. Unless poor Peter Parker can get his groove back and make things right with those closest to him, this will be the amazing Spider-Man's last fight.
Now, what did the fans hate about it Spider-Man 3 when it comes out? The main criticism, and a fair one, is that the film is overcrowded. Due to studio interference, Spider-Man has to fight at least three supervillains, more than those found in the first two movies combined. Additionally, fans have largely agreed that Topher Grace (the younger boy from That '70s Show) sadly lost as Venom. Some fans didn't like the endless Peter Parker/Mary Jane drama. But perhaps the most enduring criticism of the film is Peter Parker's “emo” phase (where the suit gave him new confidence) shame you will watch.
I tickled Emo
Now, I will grant you that Topher Grace was, in all his talents, i badly choosing to play Venom, Spider-Man's most prominent foe. But some criticisms are overblown or, almost two decades later, less of a problem. Sure, it's frustrating to watch Peter Parker and Mary Jane fail to get their sh*t together, but that's part and parcel of comic book drama. Let's be honest, this is less annoying than watching Star-Lord constantly grope Gamora and risk everything. the whole place because he died. Talking about it Avengers: Infinity Warafter that movie, it's hard to say that Spider-Man 3 is bad just for having three villains in it.
Again, you may have to sit down for this. If you've ever cringed at Emo Peter Parker scenes, you've missed the point. The character is which is appropriate annoying here, to show how the alien symbiote turned him into a complete jerk. The other characters know it, too. When he's playing on the street or fooling around in a jazz club, he realizes how strange it is to others. Of these Spider-Man 3 Scenes, Emo Peter is always funny. Director Sam Raimi wanted to show Peter's transformation into an unlikable persona, and he just chose to do so in a weird and wonderful way.
Colorful Characters, Killer Chemistry
So, I mentioned parts of Spider-Man 3 that people hate and why that criticism is overblown. However, what does this film do? First of all, the performance is amazing. Tobey Maguire is (sorry, Tom Holland!) the best Spider-Man ever, and his charisma oozes from every frame like a leaking kit of web fluid. Kirsten Dunst is at her charming best, and it's nice to see her character's fun side come out for a love rival played in a heart-stealing way by Bryce Dallas Howard. James Franco is perfect as the crazy Peter, while franchise newcomer Thomas Haden Church does one of the best jobs of his career as the Sandman.
The characters get the spotlight because Spider-Man 3 it's about separating the characters. Sam Raimi is one of the few directors who understands that, with tight-and-flights films, “super” is less important than “human.” The scenes in Spider-Man 3 are intuitively compelling because we are invested in these characters and their emotional ups and downs. Big battles are few and far between, leaving plenty of time for each character to complete their arc (Sandman's is pretty good). Sometimes, new superhero movies feel like we're seamlessly transitioning from one episode to the next. In Spider-Man 3However, every scene has weight because every character has a purpose.
His Hats Off
When we get fight scenes in this movie, they are equally good. After watching enough modern Marvel movies that turned every fight into a generic CGI slopfest, the fight scenes Spider-Man 3 feel like a breath of fresh air. Everything has a delicious heft and body to it, and every character has the quirky, lo-fi charm that has become a signature of Sam Raimi's cinema. Is this the director's best work? Of course not. But at the risk of sounding like a fanboy, even an older, middle-of-the-road Raimi film is better than most of what we're currently getting in the MCU.
Obviously, Spider-Man 3 it's not the best superhero movie ever made. But it's much better than its name suggests, and it's perfect for anyone who suffers from what's called chronic fatigue. You see, you really don't get sick of these movies. Just sick of bored directors following the same Marvel formula of diminishing returns. Why not take a trip (or a thwip) to the past and revisit a Marvel movie from way back before Disney owned everything? You might be surprised to find out how much you like it Spider-Man 3 after watching it on Netflix. Surprised enough to do your own little emo dance? Don't worry, friend. I won't tell anyone!
