Spider-Man 3

No review of an IMAX film would be genuine without offering one key piece of advice: arrive early! It was a lesson I learnt when I went to see 300 in IMAX, and arrived minutes before the session was due to start. Being part of a group of 5, seats we hard to come by, so we ended up in the second row. This meant we were at either the character’s groin or foot height for the entire duration of the film, making it a neck-craning, eye straining, motion sickness-inducing experience. Seeing Spiderman 3 in IMAX enormously enhances the experience, and, though pricey, at $26 per adult ticket at Sydney’s Darling Harbour, well worth the effort. Packed cinema sessions attest to this. It’s a Spidey-eye view on IMAX, there is an exceptional sense of motion as you ride his back through the skyscrapers of the city. The sound is intense, the visual beauty of Raimi’s film can be fully appreciated, and although it takes time to adjust to the screen size, once your eyes have adapted it’s impossible not to enjoy. As for the film itself, I heartily agree with Paul’s assessment, hence my decision to review the IMAX version in terms of experience as opposed to plot. For what it’s worth, I found the film to be significantly more enjoyable than Spiderman 2, and the acting from Topher Grace in particular was a highlight, even if it was somewhat frustrating his character was underdeveloped. I see no real need for there to be another film, as the series was rounded out nicely, but already Sony are crowing about another 3 films, which is commercial greed and a shame, as most likely these films will take place without Raimi, Maguire or Dunst. Nonetheless a guaranteed good night out.