Spider-Man 3

I watched Spider-Man 3 today. I didn't like Spider-Man cartoons or comics when I was young. I thought Spider-Man was the most silly superhero because he couldn't fly but swing between buildings like a monkey. Only when I have experienced enough in time now I can understand the sophistications that Spider-Man bears. Not all superhero stories are for the kids. I still remember how heavy I felt after I watched Spider-Man 1 a few years ago.

The Spider-Man franchise is the most well-written superhero movies, and Spider-Man himself is the most sophisticated and realistic superhero out there. Peter Parker himself is a shy nerd and only learns to behave like a man after he has acquired the spider power and stay behind the mask. He has financial problems and needs a few part-time jobs to get himself through college. His relation with Mary-Jean has never been easy to come by.

This Spider-Man 3 is a very busy movie - there are plenty of villains to deal with: the Goblin Jr., the Sandman and the creepy black alien Venom from outer space. Peter has also needed to go through a few emotional fluxes on his love and Spider-Man business. Aunt May's lines are always impressing: "To get married is to put your wife in front of you"; "Uncle Ben will not let you have the idea of revenge for even one second"; "Start with the most difficult part - forgive yourself."

There are always sentimental themes within each movie: Spider-Man 1 is about taking the responsibility to protect your loved ones even you need to make sacrifices; Spider-Man 2 is about taking a stand on doing the right thing (though less well-said); and this Spider-Man 3 is about forgiving - as the poster says: the greatest battle lies within.

Peter has hated the Sandman for killing Uncle Ben, partly under the influence of the black alien thing, but he forgives him at the end of the movie. Harry (Goblin Jr.) has hated Peter (Spider-Man) for having killed his father, and tried to kill him. He forgives Peter and gets killed for him in the fight against the Sandman and the black alien. Most importantly, Mary-Jean forgives all Peter has done wrong on her.

No surprise. It is an American movie after all, and it is here to spread the American values. If you have not noticed, look again at the color of Spider-Man's suit again. It is colored in red, blue and white, the very colors of the US flag down to Pantone numbers.