"Spider-Man 3" cast a worldwide web with a blockbuster first day, hauling in $29.15 million in 16 overseas markets and beating the debuts of the previous two "Spider-Man" flicks in each locale. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070502/ap_en_mo/film_spider_man_money;_ylt=AqwavWayJaOpcC8V6z8AVP1xFb8C)

LOS ANGELES - Spider-Man caught just about everyone in his web. The superhero's latest adventure, "Spider-Man 3," smashed box-office records with $148 million in its first three days, according to studio estimates Sunday. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070506/ap_en_mo/box_office;_ylt=AjZZtZNKtKJC9UvaYQ8hQ1ZxFb8C)

Pity that the movie wasn't that good.

I've seen the trailer on HDNET a few times too many ... but Toby McGuire is such a sweetie ... how can it not but be good (as candy)? ;)

Movie was mediocre, and I was looking so forward to seeing it. Watched in IMAX. Tries to deal with too much / many story lines, then at the end just cuts everything short, like they realized how long the movie was and couldnt write meaningful endings to each storyline in the time allowed.

As Spider-Man's immense popularity inflates his ego, Peter Parker's relationship with M.J. - whose fortunes are flagging - begins to suffer. He is further driven to distraction by his desire for revenge against his uncle's killer, an escaped convict who's been particle-accelerated into the shape-shifting Sandman; by Eddie, the devious new rival photographer at the Daily Bugle; and by an increasingly bitter and vicious battle with Harry Osborn. After black symbiotic goo from outer space binds itself to him and drives his ego and vengefulness to new heights, Parker takes advantage of his altered state to settle some scores. When his actions result more in sorrow than in satisfaction, Peter struggles with and finally frees himself from the symbiote...which then binds itself to and transforms Eddie into the treacherous Venom. Seeking his own revenge upon Parker, Venom enlists the aid of the Sandman to destroy Spider-Man and, using M.J. as bait, they draw Spider-Man into a battle that he cannot possibly win alone. However, friendship, love - and a little deus ex machina - may just give him the helping hand he needs.

Whereas the second instalment was "bigger, but not better" than the first, this one is freakin' huge (but not better): Three villains, two "inner demons", relationship issues, alien goo and trouble at the office! Although I did like a number of the story's elements, and most of the CGI fight/flight scenes were pretty impressive (there were a few spots, though, where they looked video game-ish), I felt that the charm of the original movie - which carried over into the second movie - was almost entirely lost. And that makes me kinda sad.

LOVED the charm of Spidey 1 but story and green lantern costume almost ruined it for me..

Spidey 2 - Loved it all (cept the over the top train crowd scene..you know the one..)

Spidey 3 - Train wreck redeemed by a few a good scenes, J.Jonah Jameson and anytime the skinny landlord daughter or Betty Brant was on the screen ;). That 1 minute between Peter Parker and Betty Brant had more sizzle and spark then 3 movies of whiney Mary Jane...uggg

Spider-Man 3 left me feeling depressed. As a fan of the first two, this one gave me the impression that Raimi wants out. He didn't even try to make a good movie. I could nitpick this flick to death, but suffice to say it was basically a paint-by-numbers flick with no surprises and no rewards.

** POSSIBLE SPOILERS **

Symbiote crashes near Peter and MJ. He doesn't hear a thing, no spidey-senses tingle, even when it attaches to the back of his bike and takes up residence in his room. In fact, spidey-senses take a vacation for this entire movie.

Sandman/Marko goes from sympathetic lowlife just trying to do right by his daughter, to a homicidal maniac trying to crush and smash everything in his path, including Spider-Man. Then he's all teary-eyed again moaning about his kid.

Venom. Bah. They shouldn't have bothered.

Goblin 2. Double bah. You'd have to be pretty thick not to catch the major foreshadowing hitting you over the head when Harry was in the hospital.

I did not buy into the Peter Parker character arc at all, with Peter getting all cocky and "emo". The "street strut" and jazz club scenes were just painful to watch. And Spidey stopping for a quick snap before getting back to saving the lives of those trapped by the crane mishap seemed odd. We just cut away after he scoops up Gwen, la-di-da.

About 10 seconds before it happened, I said to my wife "Guess it's time for MJ or Aunt May to get kidnapped by a bad guy." Predictable confrontation scene ensues. Lazy directing again, as everything gets calm and quiet before UH-OH, MJ slips again and almost falls to her death.

The new reporter, freshly disgraced, just happens to be in the same church as Peter when Spidey peels off the symbiote. Yeah, New York is a small city.

By the way, MJ is the worst superhero girlfriend EVER. All of the relationship subplot needs to be overhauled or completely done away with. There is no charm, no chemistry, and most of us are way past bored with it already.

Highlights were the usual suspects: Jonah, Betty, the landlord, special effects.

Time for Raimi to move on; he obviously has nothing left to add to the franchise.

Time for Raimi to move on; he obviously has nothing left to add to the franchise.I think Raimi and Spider-Man are just the latest victims of a push toward bigger, flashier and more-heavily-CGI-saturated movies/sequels simply because they can be made bigger, flashier and overstuffed with CGI. Damned shame.

I also thought the movie was suprisingly weak. The more time goes by the worse I feel about it. I thought the MJ storyline was good in the first movie, ok in the second movie and terrible in the third.

The villians were not very convincing at all. I thing the only reason it started off so well (Box Office wise.) was because of the rep. for the previous two movies.

Three villains, two "inner demons", relationship issues, alien goo and trouble at the office!

Oh. Sounds like a typical day at MY office. LOL! Do I really need to go to see a documentary? ;)