The Critics' Reviews of Spider-Man 3 Thread

[LostSon88]

It just seems bad when you get onto these threads...

 

[Agent 194]

I've heard theaters dont get 50% until AFTER opening weekend.

But dont worry; I think 516 million is a lock at this point, regardless.

I optimistically told my wife I thought this one would hit 500. Where does that number come from other than my wishful thinking? For real, why is that the magic number? Regardless of what I thought of the movie I want it to do well. What's the projection of the money take just on these shores?

Also Captain, what did you think of Cromwell's performance of your namesake?

 

[Jerry!]

on movies.com they compiled the critics grade and it's a B
Fans grade is a B +
and movies.com grade is an A -

not bad at all

Yeah, if you want to pussyfoot around and wear sunglasses you can go by their reviews which include, as far as I can tell, a whopping 4 positive reviews from the critics, one of which isn't even a review per say, just something taken out of context. If you want the bigger picture, Rotten Tomatoes gives you what really is thought of the movie in a broad scope.

 

[Rac]

Doesnt seem to be effecting SM3's box office THUS far though...this movie has apparently made back it's production AND advertising costs in three days.

Critics & the people (aka fans) didn't like X3 either but it still made hell of a lotta money.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Critics & the people (aka fans) didn't like X3 either but it still made hell of a lotta money.

Thats because it had two great movies before it to give it a push.

 

[shinlyle]

Well, it looks like Spidey's reviews were still pretty positive. Hell, it's rated higher than 300 was on Rottentomatoes.com. I'd say it did fine, critically.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Well, it looks like Spidey's reviews were still pretty positive. Hell, it's rated higher than 300 was on Rottentomatoes.com. I'd say it did fine, critically.

So if you got a 61% on an exam or a paper you would say you did fine? SM3 and 300 both did not do well critically. And SM3 did not rate higher than 300. SM3 and 300 are both at 61%. However, 300 has a higher user rating which is 86% while SM3's is 66%.

 

[nightwing07]

definatley the worst of the installments no doubt!
weak acting, non existent plot lol

 

[Jerry!]

Well, it looks like Spidey's reviews were still pretty positive. Hell, it's rated higher than 300 was on Rottentomatoes.com. I'd say it did fine, critically.

Rose colored glasses. Take them off. Even if it was rated higher than 300, which its not, thats not say much. 300 is the definition of style over substance in a movie.

 

[Jerry!]

Well, it looks like Spidey's reviews were still pretty positive. Hell, it's rated higher than 300 was on Rottentomatoes.com. I'd say it did fine, critically.

Rose colored glasses. Take them off. Even if it was rated higher than 300, which its not, thats not saying much. 300 is the definition of style over substance in a movie.

 

[maiko-san]

Corliss calls sm3 a drag show!!! At Rotten Tomatoes the Time critic refers to it as a "smartly subversive drag show" due to all the crying, man on man support, the "tender cradling "of Harry when he is wounded,bright colored costumes, etc,etc,etc ?????

 

[Rac]

Thats because it had two great movies before it to give it a push.

Well, yea duh.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Well, yea duh.

But thats why it made a lot of money. Look at the huge dip it had after the opening week. All because a movie makes tons of money doesn't mean its a good movie (Water World for example).

 

[MohadGlub]

I cant make a thread for this, as Im new, so could someone else do it for me? Its a petition for Sam Raimi to release a Director's Cut of Spider-man 3, and, whilst I've used Superherohype.com for news for about a year, I've never joined the fourms before now. Basically, I want to promote my petition, and know that you guys are the strongest fan base.









http://www.petitiononline.com/GregA/petition.html

 

[SLYspyder]

I cant make a thread for this, as Im new, so could someone else do it for me? Its a petition for Sam Raimi to release a Director's Cut of Spider-man 3, and, whilst I've used Superherohype.com for news for about a year, I've never joined the fourms before now. Basically, I want to promote my petition, and know that you guys are the strongest fan base.









http://www.petitiononline.com/GregA/petition.html

No need for a petition. Best believe Sony will release as many versions of the SM3 DVD as possible. Regular edition, Special edition, and inevitably an Extended, Director's Cut, or 3.1 DVD

 

[MohadGlub]

yes but this is trying to emphasise that we, the fans, want Sam Raimi to be involved in an extended cut and makes it clear that we werent happy with the character/plot development.

It doesnt take much to sign your name. It may do nothing, it may do something.

Either way could SOMEONE please make a thread for the issue to be discussed?
Thanks

 

[The Caped Knight]

another Good review of Spidey 3

UGO's Spider-Man 3Review by Brian Tallerico

Every good movie fan has been burned by a three-quel. Bring up the third chapters of the Godfather, Back to the Future, or, perhaps the most derided of all, Alien franchises, and watch true hardcore fans start to tear up. Having been burned multiple times by Hollywood's third trip to the well is bad enough, but when you start considering the history of comic book movies, it gets that much more painful. Just mentioning Batman Forever or Superman III might get you kicked out of some comic book stores. Those movies shattered as many dreams as when we were told Santa Claus didn't exist or that He-Man wasn't real.

The main thing that most faulty third chapters have in common, however, is a new eye behind the camera. Joel Schumacher takes most of the blame for what happened to the Dark Knight, and the hate mail that Brett Ratner has received for X-Men: The Last Stand could fill a dead letter office. So, with the same faces in front of and behind the camera, can Spider-Man 3 break the curse of the three-quel? (It's a question we'll ask again and again this summer with the Shrek, Pirates, Ocean's and Bourne franchises facing the same deadly installment.) Spider-Man 3 may not live up to the incredible highs of the second film, but it easily matches the thrills of the first and proves that all rules, even comic movie rules, are meant to be broken.

The opening of Spider-Man 3 immediately reminds fans of how much the series has really become a "trilogy," closer in scope to Star Wars than the Batman or Superman movies, in which each chapter feels like a new stand-alone adventure. Sam Raimi has been setting up threads of loyalty and revenge since the first film, and the opening credits of the third installment almost serve as a "previously-on" segment for the entire series. Trust me - you'll be pumped and ready to go from the very beginning. In the first act, Raimi plunges us back into the lovey-dovey relationship between MJ (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Tobey Maguire). They hang out on webs together and look at the stars while Peter plans his marriage proposal, something that scares him as much as any super-villain. Meanwhile, as is always the way in the Marvel Universe, evil is brewing in the background. Harry Osborn (James Franco) is still planning his revenge for what he sees as Peter's murder of his father, and we watch as the Venom symbiote (a cool black goo) hitches a ride to NYC on a meteor and Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) becomes the Sandman.

Happiness never lasts too long for a hero like Spider-Man, and the action kicks in pretty quickly with an amazingly choreographed aerial fight between Harry (in full Goblin gear like his proud papa) and Spider-Man. From there on out, Spider-Man 3 is largely a series of different Spidey fights - "vs. Sandman," "vs. Harry," "vs. Venom," "vs. Himself" - culminating in a soon-to-be legendary battle royale with five different characters involved. As you can imagine, the action in Spider-Man 3 can't really be faulted and the effects - it is arguably the most expensive movie ever made - look unbelievable. When Flint turns into Sandman near the beginning, that scene alone should win the Visual Effects Oscar and that doesn't even take into account all of the awesomeness left to come. Raimi has crafted an astounding visual canvas that looks great at every turn.

However, the webbing between the action sequences is where Spider-Man 3 slightly falters. It's a little too long and too much of the film's heaviest plot - the love triangle between Peter, Harry, and MJ - rests on the shoulders of James Franco, and the young actor is simply not up to the challenge. Franco doesn't have the screen charisma to carry a movie as big as Spider-Man 3, and when he starts to sulk (or, in the worst scene in all three movies, do the twist with MJ), you'll just be wondering what more interesting characters (like anybody) is doing. The action is just as good as the previous movies, but the connective tissue feels more strained, as if the actors have grown a little tired of playing the same game. Even Aunt May seems a little tired of talking about Uncle Ben.

These are just a few minor complaints, only to illustrate why Spider-Man 3 isn't as great as the series' flawless second chapter, but don't fret. The first major summer movie of 2007 is going to leave fans very happy and probably justify repeat viewings long into the warmer months. Cameos by Stan Lee, Bruce Campbell and James Cromwell help with the fun atmosphere created by a very strong supporting ensemble that includes the perfectly cast Topher Grace as Eddie Brock/Venom and Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy. Thomas Haden Church is a nice choice for Sandman, but he's not given quite enough to do beyond two main expressions - angry and "whoa, I'm turning into sand."

In the end, Spider-Man 3 thrives on a classic comic book lesson, one that has really been the foundation of all three parts of this trilogy, that love, not hate, makes a hero. Hate makes Sandman or Venom. Love makes Spider-Man. Director Sam Raimi's love for his craft has made him a true hero for movie fans worldwide and, with Spider-Man 3, the movie hero continues to fly high.

Directing: A-
Writing: B+
Performances: B
Visual Appeal: A-
Overall: B+

http://spiderman.ugo.com/?cur=spider-man-3-review&gallery=true

 

[Tony Stark]

So if you got a 61% on an exam or a paper you would say you did fine? SM3 and 300 both did not do well critically. And SM3 did not rate higher than 300. SM3 and 300 are both at 61%. However, 300 has a higher user rating which is 86% while SM3's is 66%.

I don't trust RT's user reviews. Yahoo Movies gives you a much better picture of what the public thought. RT only has about 600-700 user reviews, Yahoo Movies has nearly 21,000 user reviews, and they gave it a B. That's probably what I'd give SM3.

 

[Dark Knight]

But thats why it made a lot of money. Look at the huge dip it had after the opening week. All because a movie makes tons of money doesn't mean its a good movie (Water World for example).

The key demographic is the under 13 year olds that make Spidey alot of money.

 

[Tony Stark]

But thats why it made a lot of money. Look at the huge dip it had after the opening week. All because a movie makes tons of money doesn't mean its a good movie (Water World for example).

Another jaded Superman fan trying to make up for the total failure of SR?

First off Water World didn't make tons of money. It only made 88 million in it's total run domestically which was far short of it's production budget.

I'll take emo pete dancing on the street any day over watching a movie where the climax is a guy lifting a giant rock.

 

[Mr Jide]

Lmao

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Another jaded Superman fan trying to make up for the total failure of SR?

First off Water World didn't make tons of money. It only made 88 million in it's total run domestically which was far short of it's production budget.

I'll take emo pete dancing on the street any day over watching a movie where the climax is a guy lifting a giant rock.

LOL, I found both SR and SM3 to be disappointing. But I'll take Superman lifting the rock over "emo pete".

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Another jaded Superman fan trying to make up for the total failure of SR?

First off Water World didn't make tons of money. It only made 88 million in it's total run domestically which was far short of it's production budget.

I'll take emo pete dancing on the street any day over watching a movie where the climax is a guy lifting a giant rock.

First off I am not a jaded SR fan I was pleased with SR also I am a Spider-Man fan as well and as a Spider-Man I was disappointed about the movie. I mean they made all this hype about Spider-Man wearing the black suit when if I really needed to see him in that suit is watch the trailer because everything we say in the trailer almost. My thing Superman Returns aside is this movie felt rushed and could have been done much better if they had broken it up into two parts. First part Spidey in the black suit vs Sandman and getting with Gwen. Second part Spidey getting rid of the black suit getting back with MJ and Venom. My feelings for SR has nothing to do with how I feel for Spidey 3. It does however effect how I feel about POTC

 

[bosef982]

Another jaded Superman fan trying to make up for the total failure of SR?

First off Water World didn't make tons of money. It only made 88 million in it's total run domestically which was far short of it's production budget.

I'll take emo pete dancing on the street any day over watching a movie where the climax is a guy lifting a giant rock.

well, that's why you didn't like SR. Because you could'nt even pinpoint where the climax was considering you thought it was when he was lifting the rock....

**shakes head**

A climax is not a purely physical moment of tension. It is the point where all of the character's issues are now resolved and come to heed. Lifting the rock wasn't that...

...I'll give you a chance to figure it out by yourself.

 

[bosef982]

Actually, I'll just go ahead and give it to you b/c I don't feel like cheking later.

Superman's arc is about finding a place in the world, getting past his loneliness, and finding a place in Lois's life.

Lifting the rock is not the climax to this. The climax starts when Richard accepts Lois's love of Superman, takes her to the hospital, and Lois resolves her bitterness there...the climax then ends with Superman's visit to his child and acknowledging that he's his son.

In SR's case, there is no falling action. The climax is literally the last few scenes we see in that movie, culminating in the wonderful, silent exchange outside Lois's apartment which settles Superman's place, resolves Lois's bitternes and need for forgiveness, and opens Superman to a new emotional realm.

It wasn't that hard to see.