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 SPIDER-MAN
3
by Jane Louise Boursaw
MPAA Rating: PG-13
for sequences of intense action violence.
Suggested Ages: 10+
Released in Theaters: May 4, 2007
Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Reels
Should you bring the
kids? Yes, but the intense action make it best for kids 10 and older.
For more info, see "Bringing the Kids" below.
THE STORY:
Remember that Star Trek episode where Good Kirk battles Evil Kirk?
Yeah, that's sort of what we've got going on here. Spider-Man meets his evil
alter ego.
As the movie begins, things
are good in New York City, where Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) is earning kudos
for clearing the city of thugs and criminals. His human side, Peter Parker
is beautifully nerdy as ever and still studying science in college. He has a
great relationship with Mary Jane, a.k.a. M.J. (Kirsten Dunst), who's
enjoying her own success as a musical theater star.
As you might imagine, all
this pleasantness doesn't last long. A bad review gets M.J. fired from her
dream job. And as she and Peter relax in their spider-web overlooking the
city, a meteor crashes nearby, emitting a gooey black ooze with a mind of
its own.
Meanwhile, Flint Marko
(Thomas Haden Church) – the guy responsible for killing Peter's Uncle Ben
(Cliff Robertson) – escapes from prison. He's got his own special powers as
a shape-shifter named Sandman – the result of a molecular science experiment
gone horribly wrong. Awesome special effects here. You can't take your eyes
off Sandman as he morphs into a menacing monster or blows through Manhattan
as a blinding sandstorm.
Complicating things is
Harry Osborn (James Franco), who still blames Spider-Man for the death of
his father. Harry creates a new Goblin suit and sets out for revenge.
As if Spider-Man doesn't
have enough problems, he also has to deal with Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), a
photographer who's out to get the one shot of Spider-Man that'll earn him a
full-time job from Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons). But
Eddie isn't just any old photographer – he's got powers of his own as he
morphs into supervillain Venom, a fanged beast with powers similar to Spidey.
All of this is pulling
Spider-Man away from his beloved M.J. (you didn't think that would go
smoothly, did you?) just as Peter's classmate, Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas
Howard) throws a platinum-blonde wrench into their romantic bliss.
A tangled web indeed.
Three years have passed since the last Spider-Man movie, but it's been worth
the wait. Directed by Sam Raimi (who also directed the first two movies),
this flick has everything – interesting storyline, lots of action, familiar
characters tormented by their own issues, and state-of-the-art special
effects that'll have you wondering how the heck they did that.
My only complaint: the
movie is a bit long at 140 minutes. I think they could have trimmed at least
20 minutes here and there. Also, if you're prone to vertigo, you'll have to
close your eyes through most of the action scenes.
 BRINGING
THE KIDS:
PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5):
This movie is way too grownup for preschoolers. A better bet is "Miss
Spider's Sunny Patch Friends," an animated program based on the children's
books by David Kirk. Each episode follows the everyday adventures of the
gentle, kind-hearted Miss Spider and her diverse family and friends, giving
young viewers a bug's-eye-view of a whimsical, woodsy wonderland. The
underlying lesson: getting along with others. Currently showing on Noggin,
the series is also available on DVD.
GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6
- 10): When they rated this movie PG-13 for sequences of intense action
violence, they weren't kidding. It has a ton of action, peril and violence,
including one vertigo-inducing scene where an out-of-control construction
crane demolishes part of a skyscraper, sending a character spiraling towards
the pavement. Characters are stabbed, shot, thrown through glass, and pushed
into moving subway trains. It may be too much for sensitive grade-schoolers.
That said, kids 10 and older who aren't blown away by superheroes and
villains battling it out on every possible scale should be ok with it. I say
that because the movie has a comic-book feel to it – it's clearly make
believe. Language is limited to a few minor expletives. Romance is mild,
with only a few kisses between characters.
TWEEN / TEEN (ages 11+):
This move has something for everyone – romance, family (Peter's Aunt May
is always the voice of reason), and an overall theme of good versus evil.
The underlying message: revenge is destructive, forgiveness is healing.
Also, this movie clearly shows that actions have consequences, and that we
always have an opportunity to make the right choice.
SCORE: 3.5 out of 4 Reels.
JANE'S REEL RATING
SYSTEM:
One Reel – Pathetic. Even
the Force can't save it.
Two Reels – Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels – Thought-provoking. Something to talk about.
Four Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Read my other reviews
HERE.
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