4 Pulses

Rated PG-13

The first of this summer’s blockbusters is upon us with the third installment of Spiderman. Following two films of such great stature as the previous installments is a daunting task that brings high expectations.

Director Sam Raimi, whom I imagine on opening weekend patting himself on the back at the record-breaking box office numbers, does not disappoint. The man’s come far from the campy Evil Dead trilogy to one of the biggest special effects extravaganzas of our time.

There’s more to this Spiderman than its predecessors in plenty of ways. Not only does Spidey (Maguire) face the darker side of his own nature but he takes on two new villains as well as an old enemy while fighting to keep New York City safe.

To top it all off, he’s got lady troubles with his longtime love, Mary Jane (Dunst).

If this sounds like too much to process, don’t fret. The director’s script, co-written with his brother Ivan and Alvin Sargent, is involved enough to stay entertaining and calculated enough to remain coherent.

Spidey’s descent into the Dark Side doesn’t evoke images of lost limbs, light sabers and mechanically-built fathers, but rather a darker side that would be much more seductive to a science-studying “nerd” like Peter Parker. Affected by an alien entity, the black-suited Spiderman becomes not only more powerful, Parker himself becomes self-assured and strong-willed. He’s seductive and stands up for himself, managing to get a promotion and a new suit to go with his fresh Emo haircut.

Based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s Marvel Comics hero, the Spiderman movies are the quintessential contemporary comic book pictures and Maguire’s gotten quite comfortable in his superhero suit, loyally continuing the character’s evolution throughout the films.

Though there are a few more one-liners than I’ve come accustomed to in the previous movies, the villains are definitely the coolest. After a wicked transformation turns a grief-stricken father from an escaped convict to a tornado of sand, Sandman (Church) tortures Spidey throughout the first half of the film, but it’s competing Daily Bugle photographer Eddie Brock’s (Grace) metamorphosis into Venom that makes for the more interesting battle.

Grace is good as Venom, so long as he doesn’t speak. Opening his mouth is fine?actually the most frightening aspect of Venom, but he sounds goofy once you see the blond hair and the silly Eric Forman voice.

This is what a true series should be, each film building upon the others, laying the foundation of this character?a man, a superhero. Spiderman is a thrill to watch as he learns that with great power does indeed come great responsibility.