Wick's Review

Summary - Barely OK 2.0

A tangled web of storylines, inexplicable contrivances and desultory performances mark Spider-Man 3 as the end of the line for the original Spider-Man team. Thus it’s no surprise that the next Spidey movie will feature a new director and new actors.

As for this installment, it’s barely OK for time-passing family entertainment.

Acting - OK 2.5

• Tobey Maguire did fine in what apparently was his last time as Spidey, notwithstanding the mess all around him.
• Kirsten Dunst seemed lost, and has certainly lost the wistful spark she originally brought to the role of MJ.
• James Franco is too sensitive to be an arch villain, even a conflicted one.
• Thomas Haden Church was plenty effective as the unfortunate villain Sandman.
• J.K. Simmons continues to be a rip roaring treat as J. Jonah Jameson.

Film - Pretty Bad 1.5

Lame dialog and countless contrivances make this hard and unrewarding to follow.

Edge - Risqué 1.7

Lots of ridiculous comik violence.

Reality - Fantasy 4.3

2 Comments

• Wick Jan 20, 2010 11:23PM

  I’m with you MJ. Odd and unpromising choice of director. As for replacing Tobey, my understanding they’re going to set the new installment when Peter Parker was in High School, so they need a youngster. That could work, though I though Tobey was a damn fine Spidey, even if I wouldn’t have cast him myself.

• MJ5K Jan 20, 2010 9:18PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  I’m 100% against the Spidey reboot. I was really dissapointed with this movie, but the reboot sounds like it’ll be worse. The guy who’ll be directing is the director of 500 days of summer, thats a poor choice, IMO. The guy won’t know how to direct an action scene. Plus, we grew up with these actors. Replacing Tobey would be like replacing Chris Reeve.

  Plus, remember the last time someone took over a superhero franchise? Remember Joel Schumacher’s Batman or Brett Ratner’s X-Men? This reboot’ll be a whole mess.

• Feed
• Movies
• ViewLists
• NewOnDemand