It is also at the church where we see the creation of the very evil which would destroy Peter and Spider-Man.  As Peter finds redemption, one can’t help but think of the symbolism involved.  When people go to church for the wrong reasons, bitterness, anger, and revenge can take over their lives.  It is evidenced not only in their actions, but in their supposed faith and prayer life.  I have no doubt, after seeing the Spider-Man series and this final episode in the trilogy, that the creators had this in mind.  It is evident in the dialogue as we hear a voiceover from Aunt May: “Uncle Ben wouldn’t want us living with revenge in our hearts. It’s like a poison. It can take you over and turn us into something ugly.”

As important as the themes of controlling our actions, not seeking revenge, and of loving and caring for others are in Spider-Man 3, I would have to say that the primary theme has to do with forgiveness.  In one scene Mary Jane says, “We’ve all done terrible things to each other. But we have to forgive each other or everything we ever were will mean nothing.” In other critical heartbreaking scenes, forgiveness is offered without being asked for.

I have to say, I was among the skeptics who doubted the casting of Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker / Spider-Man.  I have to also say, I was wrong.  I was wrong because the casting director, director, and writers of Spider-Man knew that the power of the Spider-Man series would lie within the life and struggles of Peter Parker.  Sure, Maguire was able to carry out the action sequences in all of the movies.  But he also developed the character of Peter Parker to a level that made us care, and we related to the struggles we saw on the screen.  Spider-Man succeeded as a series for a reason: it never forgot how to develop characters and stories we care about. 

For those wanting a story to go with the action, you won’t do any better than Spider-Man 3.  Take my word for it and go to church—church at the local cinema, that is—where you will see the totality and need of humanity addressed. On a scale of 1- 10, for a movie with everything, for the 3 movies times the three adversaries, plus Spider-Man who has to battle himself—a wonderful conclusion to the series—I give it a very deserving 10

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