Spider-Man 3

Usually around the third film (think the original Superman and Batman series), comic book movie heroes tend to sell out and lose their souls. In the case of Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is finally beginning to find his. Just as it seems he has become comfortable being himself and a superhero, new complications arise when his red and blue suit morphs into jet-black duds that take him to his darker side and turn him into an arrogant prick. Not to mention, his on-again/off-again relationship with girlfriend Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) gets caught up in a web of miscommunication; he must face new challenges with best friend/enemy Harry (James Franco); and two new villains, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace) enter his life. The CGI-laden fight sequences are as good as it gets. If most of the characters in this edition seem to be zigzagging in confusing fashion from good to bad and back again, the awesome production is fortunately in safe hands as usual with director Sam Raimi putting the human touch above special effects (which nevertheless are dazzling and dizzying to say the least). With its message that the real battle is within all of us—that we must let our good side prevail over our worst instincts and be able to forgive—this is one so-called popcorn movie that gives you something to think about in between the thrills. For all of that Spider-Man 3 is extraordinary entertainment, as big, exciting, and rewarding as summer movies get. Welcome back, Spidey.