Signis

Spiderman 3

(JPEG) (US, 2007, d. Sam Raimi)

When Spiderman was released in 2002, it created an enormous impact. Not only was it one of the best of the adaptations of a Marvel comic for the screen but it also came to the notice of moral and religious groups who were pleased to write and publicise articles on Spiderman as a role model (well, not his acrobatics but his moral decisions and motives). At a crucial moment, Peter Parker had a significant conversation with his wise Aunt May about power meaning responsibility and service. So far, so good.

Two years later, Spiderman 2 made an even bigger impact. I went back to my review of three years ago and found that I was echoing the kind of comments on the first film: ‘His work in keeping law and order and rescuing those in danger means that Peter has difficulty with his true identity. His inner potential, a more extraverted hero, emerges when he is Spiderman. He has a highly developed sense of responsibility and duty which he sees as requiring self-sacrifice in renouncing his love for Mary Jane, especially since Spiderman’s enemies would put her life at risk (which they do). Aunt May gives him a strong pep talk about the need for heroes...’.

Three years later, it is now Spiderman 3 time. There is plenty to satisfy the fans of comic book heroes as well as those still looking for the values. The running time is almost two and a half hours, so it is quite long and younger audiences may fidget at the dramatic interludes - but some action will come along sooner rather than later. In fact, there is probably too much plot for one film, Spiderman having to fight three villains, though there is a pleasing twist before the final battle in downtown New York and the ultimate confrontation between good and evil.

Sam Raimi has achieved quite a feat in directing three successful episodes of Spiderman (but it makes you wonder if there really is any potential for a fourth). In terms of special effects and stunts, there is more than enough to satisfy.

The cast, mainly from the previous films, are fortunately given plenty to do. This is true of supporting characters like J.J. Simmons who gets some quite hilarious moments as the Bugle editor. Even Willem Dafoe and Cliff Robertson have cameos, their characters contributing to new plot developments. (Spiderman 3 relates more to the original film than to Spiderman 2). Rosemary Harris as Aunt May is still as wise and long-suffering as ever. And, again, she is the character who is able to put the moral sense and perspective into words.

Tobey Maguire has always been convincing as Peter Parker. Last time, he had to face the conflict between heroism and love for Mary Jane. It goes much deeper this time. And we see a lot more of Peter’s complex personality. We see his succumbing to vanity and an inability to empathise with Mary Jane and her acting crisis. But, with an alien substance crashing to earth and insinuating itself into Peter’s body and psyche with frightening effect, it unleashes some of his shadow side in both arrogance (trying to outdo Travolta’s Saturday Night Fever strutting) and in violence, in consuming vengeance for the death of his Uncle Ben. He sees a sinful side of his nature and has to deal with it and make serious decisions.

Kirsten Dunst is back as Mary Jane with her character developing and having to cope with professional disappointment as well as Peter’s self-centred behaviour. She also has plenty of opportunity to do some heroine-in-peril screaming at the end. James Franco is also back as Harry. His role is considerably built up this time, giving him big stunts and evil action as well as some sweetness-and-light niceness.

There are two more spectacular villains. Thomas Haden Church gets atomised while on the run from the police and transforms into The Sandman - plenty of eye-popping effects there. Topher Grace is an ambitious young photographer who covets Peter’s photography job at The Bugle - and opts for the dark side.

Bryce Dallas Howard offers some (unwilling) rivalry to Mary Jane as Peter’s lab partner in studies, daughter of the police chief (James Cromwell) and Topher Grace’s girlfriend. Longtime Raimi collaborator, especially in the Evil Dead films, Bruce Campbell, has some funny scene-stealing moments as a restaurant maitre d’.

Quite a cast line-up bringing the wide range of characters alive.

And, of course, the issue of Peter Parker/Spiderman as a role model. At the opening, he is still the same service-oriented, responsible superhero ready to combat evil. But, to our surprise (and our wishing he wasn’t), he becomes a rather vain twit. He has feet of clay and is obtuse to Mary Jane, basking in his popularity and crowd adulation and being given the keys to the city. But, it gets worse, when we see his literal dark side. But, this is interesting in terms of exploring the good and the propensity for evil in human nature, even in a superhero. We wait for the resolution of the moral dilemmas and for Peter to come to his senses. Aunt May is key again with her advice.

In fact, there is quite an impressive sequence towards the end when Peter has to face the corrosive nature of revenge and acknowledge the grace of being able to forgive. It is preceded by a sequence with explicit Christian imagery. The dark Spiderman sees a cross on the steeple of a church. He then sits brooding, like a gargoyle, on the high roof. However, he goes into the belfry and makes the choice for light and goodness. Meanwhile the ambitious photographer who has lost his job and reputation kneels in the body of the church below, praying before a large crucifix. But, his prayer is that Peter Parker will be killed. At this moment, the alien ooze which Peter is shedding falls on the photographer and he chooses evil.

Spiderman 3 is pro-good, not only in combating the personifications of evil in the villains but also in the hero.

Peter Malone