Sam Raimi
Spiderman 3

First of all, I have to say that I'm not a fan of exaggerated special effects! In fact, I can't stand them anymore! Especially the over-the-top computer graphics! But I must admit that the Spider-Man series particularly impressed me because at the helm of the spectacular component was a master of the genre, the legendary Sam Raimi (my role model forever!), thanks to this phenomenon of visual entertainment, the action sequences in the Spider-Man series managed to engage me, despite the shameless use of the computer.

In this third installment of the saga, Raimi has managed to demonstrate (finally!) that his visionary streak that made his old films "Evil Dead 1-2-3" cult classics worldwide has not been exhausted at all! Even though current filming techniques have become more convenient (in "Evil Dead," Raimi attached the camera to a motorcycle to create tracking shots in subjective filming!!) and easily achievable with computers, Raimi inserts his old directorial stamp in every single frame; in some sequences, it feels like watching his old films (in a modern version); visually, practically everything happens! Spectacular long tracking shots, dizzying camera movements, crazy shots, a constantly moving camera, tight editing, and a manic attention to details! In this third act, we find 100% Raimi Style!

The only flaw of this film is an embarrassing plot and a mediocre screenplay. Raimi proves to be good in the visual department but very poor as a writer (together with his brother Ivan), and this is a flaw he has always had; there are too many stories being told! The complicated love story between Peter and his girlfriend, the story of Sandman, the arrival of Venom, Peter's transformation into the villain, the story of the Goblin's son, the true story of Peter's uncle's death, Peter's new romantic temptations, in short... a confusing mishmash that quickly ends in total ridiculousness! Two and a half hours of film is a lot, but not enough to properly tell all these stories mixed together.

Even comic book lovers might be disappointed by many unfortunate choices of the director. For three-quarters of the movie, Spider-Man doesn't wear the mask; for a quarter of the film, Peter goes around acting like a hormonally challenged Tony Manero; three villains are too many! And in my opinion, they were poorly characterized. The Goblin's son loses his memory and behaves like a kid at his first communion for half the film, Venom seems like a kind of cameo that occasionally appears to give a quick hello to Spider-Man fans, the only enemy that received more attention is Sandman; he alone would have sufficed to make this third episode great.

I have to admit that, despite my hatred for excessive computer graphics, I was blown away by the way Sandman was realized! I had never seen anything like it in my entire life! Every single grain of sand that makes up the character's mass was individually created with the computer! The color and movements of the sand are perfectly realistic! It leaves you speechless during the first scene where Sandman takes shape! Phenomenal! After all, we are talking about the most expensive film of all time! And it's normal to expect such things. Worth mentioning is the hilarious cameo by Bruce Campbell (B-movie icon, friend of Raimi, and unforgettable protagonist of Evil Dead's) in the role of an extravagant maître d'hotel; the biggest laughs from the audience in the theater were for Campbell!

Beyond the colossal special effects and spectacular filming techniques by the director, Spider-Man 3 is a film that would bore the viewer to death (except in the Campbell moment!).

This third installment of the series should be viewed only as a pure entertainment product, and in this respect Sam Raimi remains an undisputed genius!