Finally. After two years of blockbusters that I couldn't give a crap about, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 has hit the screen. On a cloudy Friday morning, immediately after I finished my final for my history class, I ran right over to the biggest movie theater in town to catch up on my favorite superhero/comic adaptation series.

As we begin our story, things are just swell as usual for Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). She's about to star in a show on Broadway and her bf is there opening night to support her. But from there it's a downward spiral for MJ as she puts on her emo face for the rest of the motion picture. Communication issues aside, Peter and MJ make a great couple- now if only she'd just talk to him more about her real feelings, then we wouldn't have to see Kirsten Dunst try and emote without looking ridiculous.

Spider-Man/Peter Parker has problems too though, as his former best friend Harry Osborn has discovered the lair that his father used for all his Goblin technology- Harry wants revenge against Peter because he believes that, in the suit, Parker killed Harry's dad (we all know from the previous films that this is not the case). Harry uses his newfound weaponry against Spider-Man in an all-out duel that's both subtle and totally awesome. Harry does not succeed in killing Peter, and thankfully, from a little bump on his head, we're spared from seeing James Franco try and act "really angry" from some very convenient yet temporary memory loss.

MEANWHILE, Spider-Man saves Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard), who's dating Eddie Brock (Topher Grace). Eddie Brock wants to take pictures of Spider-Man for the Daily Bugle, which is Peter Parker's job, right? Also, at the same time, Flint Marko has become the Sandman (in a transformation which is the best CGI sequence of the entire trilogy thus far), yet another villain for Spider-man to deal with. Marko needs money to save his bed-ridden daughter and prove his worth as an ex-con on the run. But it turns out Mr. Marko killed Ben Parker. Is that going to go over well with Peter Parker? Hell to the no- he wants revenge to help Aunt May sleep at night. Oh, and did I forget to mention that a black symbiote landed near Peter Parker, eventually latching on to him, and giving him this broody power to be a total badass as Spidey and a jazz dancing ladies man? PLUS, Eddie Brock is pissed at losing his girlfriend and prospective career at the Daily Bugle, and that symbiote just so happens to like him as well... Still with me?

Setting aside the extremely complex plotline, all problems in this 140 minute epic are due to the atrocious script. The errors in the script are so significant that the entire first hour of the motion picture is enough to make you want to leave the theater. I'll go ahead and say that all three major actors Maguire, Dunst, and Franco, do the best of a job they can, despite the script which caused them to have such terrible dialogue and unbelievable emotions. The entire conflicting trifecta story of their characters practically destroys what we thought of them in the two previous films.

However, the side characters that support this flagging juggernaut are given much, much, MUCH better lines and chances with their execution. Topher Grace does a great job as the slick Eddie Brock- Thomas Haden Church's Flint Marko isn't nearly as significant as he should be, but we're able believe him when he tries to convince us that he's not as bad as he seems. And of course, J.K. Simmons' J. Jonah Jameson is hilarious- thankfully, he's give the biggest chance to shine in this film- his ferocious humor is better than ever and gives us something to laugh at to forget the other glaring problems.

If you're able to survive the first awful hour of Spider-Man 3, you'll realize that the picture becomes better as it gets along, resulting in a passable conclusion with big action and little amazing moments along the way. But just how is it that such a successful and excellent film series has become as mediocre as this? So much of Spider-Man being seen on screen is because of the investment in the series from Sony. The more money that can be put into the picture, the bigger and better it gets- but even with a record-breaking first day box-office of nearly $59 million, this series is in big trouble if a film like this is going to be apart of it. Director Sam Raimi had done such great things with the first two pictures- it's just a damn shame that he is partially responsible for the script that he co-wrote with his brother Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent. Not enough money in the world can save a bad script. And even though I did like this film with all its flaws, it just goes to show that not even a hero such as Spider-Man can save such a colossal blunder.

RATING: B-

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