Film Review of
Spider-Man 3
Director:
Sam Raimi (2007)
Distributor:
Sony Pictures Releasing
Certificate: 12A
Reviewed by Andrew Wooding
Spoiler notice: If you read on will become aware
of some of the content of the film.
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Main Characters:
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With this being the third instalment in the Spider-Man series, it's probably appropriate that I only have three good things to say about it.
Firstly, I was disappointed with the lack of Spider-Man in the previous films. It was understandable in the first instalment. That was the origin story, so of course Spider-Man wouldn't appear until near the end. In the second film, Peter Parker decided to give up his powers in order to be with Mary Jane - which led to another distinct lack of Spidey action. The film might as well have been called Peter Parker 2!
This has been remedied in Spider-Man 3. Lots of shots of Spidey swinging from buildings, fighting supervillains and climbing up and down walls, which is exactly what I want to see in a Spider-Man film. There's still not nearly enough of it, but there's considerably more than in the first two films.
That's one good thing. The other two are: the cameo appearance of Stan Lee (co-creator of the Spider-Man comic) was magical to me as a long-time Marvel Comics fan, especially when he voiced his catch phrase "Nuff said!"; and my Spidey sense tingled when the brass band played the theme tune to the Spider-Man cartoon series from 1967. Great stuff.
I wish I could list more than these three, but unfortunately that's it. The rest of the film was a mess of dizzying music, brash sound effects, and minimal or corny dialogue. It was as if the makers were trying to cram far too much into one story and I felt manipulated and insulted - it was writing by the numbers. I didn't feel for any of these characters, which is a shame, because all the script needed was a little more breathing space and more thought to characterisation. (For a great example of a superhero film with heart, see Superman Returns.)
I wish the franchise well, though, and hope that the general disappointment with this film (which I have heard from a number of people) doesn't scupper the possibility of future Spider-Man movies. Here's hoping for Spider-Man 4!
And I can't wait to buy the DVD so that I can fast forward to the bits of this film that actually have Spider-Man in…
Through the lens of Christian Faith
Some key themes: : Is it ever right for a Christian to seek revenge? The power of forgiveness.
"My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: ‘I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,' says the Lord" (Romans 12 v 19).
If there is a theme running through Spider-Man 3, it seems to be revenge. In fact, we see it in three of the main characters:
Peter Parker finds out that the person who shot his uncle was Sandman. When Peter becomes Venom, his hatred and desire for revenge makes him bitter and twisted. "Venom" is a powerful poison - arguably, bitterness is a much more destructive poison in our lives.
Harry Osborn believes that Peter Parker (as Spider-Man) killed his father. He becomes the New Goblin in order to effect his revenge.
Finally, wannabe photographer Edward Brock cheats Peter Parker out of a staff photographer job at the Daily Bugle. Peter Parker exposes Edward Brock as a fraud, leading to his immediate dismissal. From then on, Edward Brock vows to get his own back on Peter Parker.
When Peter Parker confronts Edward Brock in the offices of the Bugle, he tells him: "If you want forgiveness, you need religion." Later in the film, we see Edward Brock kneeling down and praying in church. Initially we think that he is seeking forgiveness, but instead he is praying for Peter Parker to die. Not a nice prayer, I think you'll agree!
So, how do these three different stories play out by the end of the film?
When we first meet Sandman, we realise that he is motivated by his love for his daughter. He steals money so that he can provide the medical care she so desperately needs. As Sandman says to his ex-wife: "I'm not a bad man. I've just had a bad life." In the course of a robbery, he shot Peter Parker's uncle and has regretted it ever since.
At the end of the film, Peter Parker hears this from Sandman himself, and touchingly says: "I forgive you." The forgiveness doesn't just affect Sandman - Peter Parker feels a weight lifting from his soul.
Harry Osborn's desire for revenge on Peter Parker disappears when he discovers from his butler that Spider-Man had nothing to do with his father's death. Harry and Peter, former best friends, are reconciled.
But Edward Brock, to the end, refuses to let go of his hatred for Peter Parker, which leads to tragic consequences. His drive for revenge becomes his downfall.
The above three stories have the feel of a modern-day parable. Three people - three outcomes. We see that forgiveness doesn't just affect the person being forgiven - it is also a release for the forgiver; a letting-go of the burden of bitterness and hate that eats away from the inside.
In the end, God is the best judge of people, not ourselves. Isn't it best to hand over certain situations to him so that we can let go? Is there anyone you need to forgive today?
Discussion questions . . .
- Which is your favourite Spider-Man film, and why?
- What characters from the Spider-Man comic do you want to make an appearance in Spider-Man 4?
- What comes to mind when you hear the phrase: "God is a God of justice"? Do "bad" people ever get away with doing bad things?
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