Why are the writers always pulling off his mask? By the time we get to Spider-Man 4, everyone in New York city would probably know who he is underneath the mask… except maybe Aunt May who is living in denial.

Too much sub-plots are crammed into this movie. Even when it’s well over 2 and a half hours long, it still wasn’t enough. There was so much to tell that the writers had to give Harry Osborn a temporary memory loss just so they don’t have to worry about the Goblin for a while.

First, there’s Sandman – who now conveniently happens to be Ben’s real killer. But in every Spider-Man movie, the villain is never purely a bad guy. And Sandman’s excuse for all his misdemeanour was to save his daughter from her illness. Aww, sniff. There must be a very good reason why he killed Ben Parker then.

Second, there’s the Goblin chasing down Spider-Man with a vengeance. When and how Harry found out the truth about his father, it was the worst part of the entire movie. So cheaply done out of convenience’s sake again.

Third, Gwen Stacy. She had a bigger role in the comics but here, she was a waste. The most underdeveloped character of the whole movie.

Fourth, Venom. The parasitic symbiont from outer space that feeds on Peter when he’s mentally weak, creating a booty-shaking, eye liner-wearing, harmlessly-flirting alter-self that dances across the streets of New York in the most disgusting and disappointing scene to all Spidey fans. And how does wearing the black suit give him the skill to play a piano?

Fifth, the trouble with Mary Jane. When did she become this weakling? Again, not the MJ Spidey fans have come to love.

Sixth, the inner turmoil and struggle of Peter Parker, which should have been the main plot-line for the movie, tying in with the Venom storyline. The writers should have had more focus here but too bad, amidst all the other sub-plots, this one wasn’t given the chance to shine enough.

What really saved this movie was the cast. Thomas Haden Church was a believable Sandman. Not once did I think of That 70s Show while watching Topher Grace’s Eddie Brock. And Bryce Dallas Howard was perfect as Gwen Stacy. They did what they could with the underdeveloped characters and performed them well. Venom should have had more screen time than just being the ‘evil suit’.

I would also give credit to Sam Raimi for holding together such a complex storyline and delivering it successfully as it really could have been worse. But all in all, it wasn’t good compared to the first two instalments. It was definitely a disappointment to this trilogy.

And Spidey swinging past the American flag? Oh, the propaganda!

Rating: 6 / 10

(all images from imdb.com)