Behind 'Spider-Man 3': A Creative Flop

Venom appeared throughout.Spider-Man 3Sam Raimi dislikes Spider-Man's Symbiote-suited enemy. Sony pushed Venom on Raimi.Sony pushed Venom on Raimi.Fans love the character, but this resulted in a film the director did not care about.

Raimi never attacked fans for loving Venom but disliking his movie.He admittedhe might not grasp the character:

I will not comment on Venom. He is a great character, and fans love him. I never say anything bad about a beloved character because I often miss what makes it great.

The element ofSpider-Man 3Raimi's lack of creative control likely caused the film's failure. Without a leader, the film lacked focus. Raimi said the film was taken from him. Sony just wanted a different outcome, even if it meant hurting a successful franchise.

Raimi had full creative control over the first two films. This meant he could use any characters and adopt a darker, more serious tone. The third film changed this; its tone lacks the cohesion of the first two installments.Raimi explained:

They gave me major control on the first two films. Then, opinions differed on the third film, and I lacked creative control.

Spider-Man 3Peter Parker juggles relationships with Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy while fighting Harry Osborne, Sandman, and Venom. These five plotlines meet in the third act, a time wheneverything should become clearRaimi showed the audience Spider-Man 3 to send them home happy.

Most fans agree the third act ofSpider-Man 3isan absolute mess.Poor pacing makes the film seem longer. In the final act, too much happens to know what occurs. Peter and Harry bond, Sandman nearly becomes good, and Eddie Brock dies without Peter acknowledging it.

Removing any of these characters would improve pacing and clarify the finale. Raimi would have time to focus on the characters.

Spider-Man 3was meant to mirror its predecessor by havingtwo villains.This makes sense from a story angle. As Peter deals with Harry after Harry turns into a supervillain, Peter also faces a new enemy responsible for Uncle Ben's death.

This plot seems too packed, but Raimi could make it work. The story was planned from the start, but things changed. Raimi's Sandman, Thomas Haden Church,told Joblo in 2018:

The studio felt like they had me. They wanted James Franco’s story to keep going. They needed another millennial character. That is how Venom and Topher Grace entered.

Any one ofSpider-Man 3The villains could have been an A-plot for Peter and MJ's B-plot. Adding two more villains made things too much. Gwen Stacy complicates a story that could have been compelling. After the film, Raimi admitted he added too much.Spider-Man 3Thomas Haden Church toldtoldJobloas muchin 2018:

Sam [Raimi] stated, "Hey we tried to shove ten pounds of story into a five-pound bag." He felt it was too much. This led Sam and Sony to split.

Spider-Man 2Its quality comes from multiple story threads and complex characters. The audience sympathizes with the villain. Its action sequences are unforgettable. Raimi wanted his work to top his own withSpider-Man 3He tried to make the third film bigger than the second in every way, instead of just focusing on the movie's quality.

Raimi tried to wow the audience with special effects instead of focusing on character relationships from the sequel, which backfired badly. He said this on the Nerdist podcast in a 2015 appearance.Nerdistpodcast:

I think raising the stakes after Spider-Man 2 was the plan. I think that plan ruined us. I should have stuck to the characters and relationships, moved them forward, and not tried to exceed expectations.Spider-Man 2I think that’s what doomed us.

Kirsten Dunst is an excellent actor, but she got little to do in Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.Spider-ManIn each film, she is either a damsel in distress or she isrude to Peterthe moment her career goes wrong.

During the press tour for Spider-Man 3,Spider-Man 3Dunst admitted she rarely got to do anything in Raimi's movies. She told theVirginian-PilotVirginian-Piloteven after three films building characters, MJ is still just a girl who needs saving:

At the start of this film, MJ has success, a Broadway part, and agreed to work with Peter Parker on his powers. Still, she is mostly a damsel in distress. I did not want her in so much danger in the second movie, but no one agreed. In this one, I can throw one cinder block. Watch that. That is my action moment. Otherwise, I scream a lot.

For all its flaws, The Amazing Spider-Mandoes successfully nail Gwen Stacy's characterization.Gwen Stacy's characterization succeeds. She is smart, cool, and conducts research. Sam Raimi's Gwen Stacy does little in Spider-Man 3.Spider-Man 3In the comics, Gwen is one of Peter's loves. When she falls, he is completely broken.

Spider-Man 3doesa huge disserviceRaimi strips Gwen Stacy of her intellect, turning her into a model. Raimi ignores the idea that modeling affects intelligence. Gwen seems only included to make MJ jealous.

Raimi's first two Spider-Man films included Easter eggs for fans, like the Ramones' song "Spider-Man" and cameos from Bruce Campbell.Spider-Man films feature Easter eggs for super-fans, such as the Ramones' song "Spider-Man" and cameos from Bruce Campbell. Sony insisted on different fan service for the third film.Films feature Easter eggs for super-fans, like the Ramones' "Spider-Man" song and Bruce Campbell cameos. Sony insisted on a different kind of fan service for the third film.

Raimi claimed the company only wanted faces the audience would recognize and get excited about. This likely explains Venom's appearance. Raimi claimed he had a story ready, so adding a new character made no sense.Raimi was in 2009.He simply did what he was told.

I worked on the story with my brother Ivan; it focused on the Sandman, Peter, Mary Jane, Harry, and the new character. Avi Arad, my partner and former Marvel president, told me, Sam, you ignore the fans too much. Think about them. You made two movies with your favorite villains; now you make another with them. Fans love Venom; he is the fan favorite.

When an audience watches a superhero movie, they want to like the hero.When an audience watches a superhero movie, they want to like the hero.Fans watching a Spider-Man movie want to like the hero. Peter Parker is one of the most beloved characters in comic book history. He was made an everyman so readers of any age could connect with him. Many people believe Peter's depiction in Spider-Man 3 is not identifiable.Peter Parker's depiction in Spider-Man 3 is not identifiable.Peter Parker's depiction in Spider-Man 3 is not identifiable.

A hero may become better through trials, like Han Solo or Tony Stark, but Peter simply becomes a jerk.Peter simply becomes a jerk.Peter becomes incredibly smug when attached to the Symbiote. Even before this happens, Peter is smug, which people do not want from Spider-Man.

Early on,Spider-Man 3Spider-Man 3 aimed to build interest in the Vulture, a character Raimi planned for Spider-Man 4.Raimi planned to include the Vulture in Spider-Man 4.Ben Kingsley and John Malkovich were rumored for the role, but the plan stopped when Venom was added.The plan stopped when Venom was added.Venom was added to Spider-Man 3's roster.Since Peter Parker tackled three villains in the third installment, there was no room to set up a character for a fourth film. Besides Vulture rumors, Anne Hathaway might have been cast as Black Cat.

Since Peter Parker tackled three villains in the third installment, there was no room to set up a character for a fourth film. Besides Vulture rumors, Anne Hathaway might have been cast as Black Cat.Anne Hathaway might have been cast as Black Cat.Anne Hathaway might have been cast as Black Cat.

AlthoughSpider-Man 3Spider-Man 3 is about a wall-crawling super-genius fighting a sand villain, but fans think its physics should still make sense. The first fight scene between the new Goblin and Spider-Man is the worst example of the film's implausible physics.The first fight scene between the new Goblin and Spider-Man is the worst example of the film's implausible physics..

Peter survives being slammed into brick buildings and through large glass panes without a cut. Harry Osborne's appearances during the fight seem totally disconnected. Fans agree fights do not need perfection, but the lack of realism makes the action hard to follow.