Just rewatched the trilogy in 4K for the hundredth time and i still freaking love these movies. Spider man 1 & 2 are perfect IMO and while spider man 3 definitely has its issues, i still find it to be a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I even love the final scene opting to go for a more quiet and somber moment instead of a big epic final spidey swing through the city. It just ends with the two characters we started the trilogy with, embracing after having been through so much together. We are left to wonder about where they even go from here, but we know they will always come back to each other. It’s a really simple but perfect ending in my opinion that doesn’t get talked about enough!
The raimi trilogy has so much charm and heart and i wish so badly we had gotten a spider man 4, but i’m just happy with what we did get.
To me the absolutely best thing about Spider-Man 3, and why I do think highly of it despite obvious flaws, is the arc of Peter Parker. I think it’s one of the most unique character arcs I’ve ever seen in a superhero film.
When the movie starts out since Peter finally has everything he’s wanted and has found a way to balance his life. As a result he gains an ego or pride and it’s a take on the age old story of how pride cometh before the fall. That pride is the key to his unforgiveness and why his life slowly starts to unravel in the middle of the film.
I know people feel like the Symbiote should’ve been cut out because Venom doesn’t get a whole lot of screen time, but that’s discounting how Raimi & co utilize the symbiote in Peter’s story. The decision to make the symbiote a metaphor for the hatred within Peter is brilliant. I like that you see how his lust for revenge messes with every aspect of his life. It effects his co-workers (Eddie), his friends (Gwen), his family (Aunt May), his love life (MJ), and his enemies (Sandman, and Harry). And he allows these feelings to turn him into someone that he doesn’t even recognize anymore, which is why I love his retort when MJ asks “who are you?”
I love that the way he resolves this dilemma is learning to humble himself at the end.
So yeah I agree that it’s messy and maybe has a bit too much going on, but the story at the core of it is strong and most importantly relatable. You wouldn’t think that a movie that features a superhero with Spider powers being enveloped by an alien goo from space could be relatable, but the writers of this movie actually did it. So while it’s certainly not on the level of Spider-Man 2, I still think that the love and admiration for the Spider-Man character is still prevalent in the storytelling.
I also agree about what you said about the ending. At the time I remember being disappointed that there was no final swing, but since it turned out to be Raimi’s last film I think that was an appropriate way to end it. I think the scene by itself is a microcosm of what Raimi brought to the trilogy. It’s all visually told since MJ and Peter don’t say a word to each other, but them embracing and having a slow dance says all that needs to be said.
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