05.11
I went to see Spiderman 3 last night with a friend. I’m not sure why it has gotten so much flack in the reviews. I thought it was a great movie. The action was good. The interchange between the characters was good. It even had some of the corny Raimi/Campbell-ness of old. All in all, it was a fun watch. The only negatives I can pinpoint are that the beginning of the movie was pretty slow, and they probably should have left Sandman out of it. The first 30 minutes or so were kind of dragging as they set the groundwork for what would happen between Peter and M.J. later on. It probably wouldn’t have taken so long if they had left Sandman out though. He really didn’t serve much purpose in the movie other than some good FX. The time spent on his story would have been better served concentrating on Peter and Mary Jane. Plus, you don’t want too many villains in a movie. Nobody wants to make another Batman 4. Eeek!
I thought the theme of forgiveness was well played. Forgiveness is a subject that modern sensibilites are a little afraid to touch. Sure we get preached at about taking “revenge”. But simply not being vengeful is different than true forgiveness. Forgiving someone for a wrong committed is one of the most un-natural and hard things a human being can do. But, that is what Christians are supposed to practice:
’Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ’Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ’Pay back what you owe.’ “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ’Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ’You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ’Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
–Matthew 18,NASB
