Christian Cinema

Do you know that curious and confused tilting-of-the-head expression that puppy dogs do so well? A few of my Christian friends looked at me that way when I told them Spider-Man 3 is a deeply spiritual film with obvious biblical messages. Of course, they had not seen it yet. Now I'm not quite sure the makers of Spider-Man 3 intended to speak so profoundly about the spiritual realm, but they did nonetheless. When Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) allows anger and revenge to take root in his heart, Spider-Man is confronted with a new villain—his inner man—and faces the fiercest battle of his life.
Synopsis:
• Genre: Action; Adventure
• DVD Release: October 30, 2007
• Film Release: May 4, 2007
• Rated: PG-13
• Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
• Director: Sam Raimi
• Cast: Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Thomas Haden Church (Flint Marko/Sandman), Topher Grace (Eddie Brock/Venom), Bryce Dallas Howard (Gwen Stacy), James Cromwell (Captain Stacy), Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)
• Writers: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent
• Producers: Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad and Grant Curtis

In Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker has finally reached a level of success. At last he can enjoy the devotion of the woman he loves, M.J. (Kirsten Dunst), and still maintain his duties as a superhero. But success starts to go to his head and then suddenly a change occurs. His Spider-Man suit turns jet-black and his super powers become even stronger and more thrilling. Under the influence of the suit, Peter transforms into a prideful and overconfident man, yet still a nerd. He begins to hurt the people he loves. As always, terrible villains must be faced, like Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace), but Peter's fiercest battle is the one he faces within himself.

Valuable Elements:
When Peter finds out who killed his uncle, he's filled with anger. He is already weary and his defenses are low. Then Peter's anger gives way to revenge and he seems to enjoy the destructive emotions. In a spiritual sense, Peter gives himself over to sin, allowing a foothold for the enemy of his soul to come in and capture him. The demon-like possession of the new black suit is a wonderful illustration of the carnal nature. When we nurture it, we give ourselves over to its control. Peter is enticed by the enhanced powers of the new suit. He likes how it feels, but then he becomes imprisoned by the dark nature. He can't see how it controls him and is destroying the compassionate character that makes him a hero.

Viewers see a vivid picture of the choice we all have between serving God and serving Satan—choosing sin or rejecting it. Peter chooses wrongly each time he selects the black suit. When he finally sees the evil of the suit and the blackness of his own heart, Spider-Man cannot free himself. He must turn to God. This "turning to God" is shown as Spider-Man spends a repentant time alone outside the church. Then he fights and wrestles with all his might to remove the suit, but fails. Finally in the high tower of the church as the bells clang loudly, spent and weak, Spider-Man can do nothing but kneel and pray. At last, the chains of sin are broken and the ugly, black tentacles give up their hold. What a powerful illustration of repentance from sin!
Peter and M.J.'s relationship has all the elements of your typical man and woman in love. They are very real people we can all identify with. He's a superhero, brilliant, but a bumbling nerd as well. She's beautiful and talented, but insecure too. They are both young and learning about love. Through their journey of sacrifice and forgiveness, these verses in Ephesians chapter 5 are repeatedly taught in the love story of Spider-Man 3: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ... each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
Negative Elements:
Spider-Man begins to enjoy the notoriety and positive attention he is receiving. At an awards ceremony he encourages the pretty woman presenting the honors to give him a kiss, as a publicity stunt. But M.J. is watching and is hurt by the public betrayal. Later M.J., feeling rejected and alone, turns to a friend for comfort. She kisses him, privately betraying Peter.

Spider-Man/Peter Parker puts down religion, shows cruelty, acts like a playboy (a very nerdy one at best), dances sensually, drinks a martini, taunts maliciously and even punches M.J. in the face, but all these things happen under the influence of the black suit.
Sexual Content:
There is no nudity in the film. In one scene, Spider-Man and M.J. are kissing and embracing. In another Harry Osborn (James Franco) is dressed only in tight fitting underwear. There are plenty of low cut tops exposing cleavage. In one scene a waiter with a French accent butchers Peter's last name, pronouncing it "pecker." Peter and his date perform a sensual dance in a piano bar.
Violence:
The many battles in Spider-Man 3 are played out with intense violence. Police are seen shooting guns. Piercing screams from scared-to-death women abound in this film. Villains and heroes alike deliver impossible acts of aggression that no human could survive. All of the force and fury, however, results in very little blood shed. The destructive power in emotions like hatred, anger and revenge are revealed, yet similarly, the redeeming qualities of forgiveness, compassion and kindness are the forces that heal and overcome.
Language:
While given over to the dark side of his nature, Peter Parker's long-endured patience with his dilapidated apartment door ends in cursing. Shocking his landlord, Peter blurts out, "d**n door!" The only other language in the film is the phrase, "what the h**l," and the use of the word "a**."
Drug and Alcohol:
In a few scenes, characters are either making or drinking martinis. Champagne is served at a restaurant. Harry Osborn drinks straight from a decanter of whiskey.

Source: http://christianity.about.com/od/christianmovies/fr/spiderman3revie.htm