Spider-Man 3 is an enigma. Some aspects echo its outstanding predecessors while other aspects are downright terrible. Because few movies vary between such extremes of genuine craft and complete disasters from scene to scene, Spider-Man 3 is difficult to evaluate. For starters, the writing is an obvious culprit because the film is structurally overstuffed and tonally inconsistent. However, amidst the corny dialogue and flimsy motivations, the script has its virtues because all the characters have reasonable arcs and there is a through line conflict between Peter and MJ (even if that all feels forced).
Meanwhile, the direction and editing deserve criticism because the tone and plot are muddled (complete with some truly cringey sequences), but Raimi's energetic cuts and camerawork still make appearances. The music is noticeably less impactful (and occasionally detrimental), but generally solid. Topher Grace was a casting misfire but everyone else is still great. The special effects overemphasize CGI but Sandman's introduction is visually beautiful. All told, Spider-Man 3 is clearly a letdown compared to its precursors but is better than the backlash indicates. In fact, compared to the landscape of superhero movies today, it's fairly average.
Writing: 4/10
Direction: 6/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 7/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Production Design: 6/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 6.7/10
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