Spider-Man 3

Everyone knows Spider-Man. Sam Raimi's third installment has already broken every opening weekend box-office record and will go on to make zillions of dollars (although the records mean absolutely nothing because ticket prices keep going up, they need to base records on the number of people who go see a film). Anyway, Spidey 3 is all about Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) fighting his inner demons. Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) is about to be proposed to by Peter, so there is a magnifying glass on their relationship. Each of them ends up doing something to hurt the other, and they have to make big decisions. Throw in some Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church - who totally sucks by the way), who is the one who actually murdered Peter's Uncle back in Spidey 1. We also have Green Goblin Jr. (James Franco), who is still dealing with the death of his father. Then you've got the black goo (a symbiote) that comes from outerspace and latches on to Peter (then another guy later, who turns into Venom). The bad guys all want Spider-man dead. Peter is trying to figure out who he is, and what it takes to be a husband. MJ is thinking about whether she really wants Peter. Then there are a whole lot of really big CG effects, explosions, chases, etc.
In 3 everyone wants revenge. Peter wants to take revenge on the Sandman for killing his uncle. MJ wants to avenge the hurt she felt when Peter kisses another girl. The Sandman and Venom want revenge for how Spidey has humiliated them. Harry/Goblin Jr. wants to avenge his father's death. Everyone gets sucked into the pleasure and pain that is revenge. It is a prison that surrounds us and conquers us. Aunt may calls it a poison. We spend all our time and energy on it, but is it worth it? Should we really give all we have to it? Obviously Jesus wants us to forgive. But that is very, very hard sometimes. Yet, if we don't it will tear us apart (as is quite apparent in the film). When Peter finally forgives, he is freed from the prison of vengeance. A huge weight is lifted. It is hard, but we should follow that lead.
Another theme focused on in 3 is marriage. Peter's aunt tells him that a husband must put his wife before himself. Is Peter ready for that? The film makes it clear by the end that Peter can fight crime and save people, he can do the superhero thing. But it takes more to be a good husband, it takes more to have a good marriage. That should tell us something about who we give respect to in our society.
The best scene in the film takes place in a church. Peter is at the top, next to a ringing bell, and he is struggling against the symbiote (which becomes the black Spidey). He is struggling against his own sinful and fleshly nature. You see, the black Spidey makes Peter more confident and powerful, cocky if you will (and makes him look Emo). But this corrupts Peter, and it will corrupt all who try to wield it. The sinful nature is fun, but it ultimately destroys us and others. We all have a sinful nature, and there is a battle raging inside each one of us to overcome it. 3 does a great job of visualizing this. Ultimately he throws of his evil side, but we must recognize that it can never be done alone. In our lives, Jesus is the only one to free us from our fleshly desires. And he must continue to free us, day after day after day. It doesn't just go away once and for all. But as Aunt May says, we all have a battle raging inside of us, but we can choose to do what is right.
Overall, this third installment was less satisfying than the other two, yet still worth a good investigation. Why are we so enthralled with superheroes? It all goes back to wanting something bigger out of life, knowing that there has to be someting more. We want purpose, we want to save people, we want to make the world right (if only we had superpowers, right?). But I believe we can actualize these desires through our Saviour on a daily basis, with His help. But what does that look like?