Spider-Man 3

May I have your attention please: The summer movie season has just begun. In case you just crawled out from under a rock, Spider-Man is out again defending his beloved New York City. And this time around, he's got his hands full.

While it's no match to its predecessor Spider-Man 2, the third (and final?) installment does justice to the key characters while introducing a few new faces. Back for the third film are Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), and James Franco (Harry Osborn/New Goblin). All are in full form as they try to come to terms with the events that have transpired over the course of the first two films.

The story begins with the webbed hero being at an all time high in popularity. Of course, that simply can't last as Spider-Man must face four - yes four- villains this time around. First up is a mysterious symbiote from outer space that attaches to a human host. The symbiote finds its way to Spidey, which generates a more bad boy personae for our hero.

Next up is Flint Marko/Sandman, played by the versatile Thomas Haden Church. Discovered to be the real murderer of Ben Parker, Marko stumbles upon an experiment that changes his DNA to sand. Needless to say, the special effects are spectacular. Not to be outdone, Eddie Brock/Venom, played surprisingly well by Topher Grace, takes revenge on Peter after some less than stellar occurrences at the Daily Bugle.

Last, but of course not least, is the revenge story we've all been waiting for. Finally, after stewing over the death of his father, Harry Osborn finally takes his revenge against Pete. It's hard to believe, but the story of Peter and Harry's friendship outshines the love story between Pete and Mary Jane.

A could be problem for the film is the enormous scope and story matter. There is a lot to cram into the 140 minute running time, but due to great direction and fine editing, it all works out in the end. Don't get me wrong, the film has some flaws, but its still amazing (pun completely intended). A-.

The Hoax

Richard Gere and Alfred Molina work wonders with this delightful film from Lasse Halstrom, the talented director who brought such films as Chocolat and What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Set in the late 1960s-early 1970s, the film uncovers the events of Clifford Irving's fake autobiography of aviation legend Howard Hughes. Alone, however, Gere is not. Alfred Molina works as his co-author Dick Suskind. Together, they fabricate the book accounting Hughes' life.

Of course, they can't get away with it. Eventually, the two men are caught for their wrongful deeds. But the nice part of the film is that it doesn't focus on the payoff, rather it's all about the process. My favorite part of this film is of course the subject matter. If you've seen Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, then this film is even a bigger treat as it focuses on the life of Howard Hughes, as played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the aforementioned Aviator.

The film works wonders with the subject matter, and it all boils down to having too much fun and telling too many lies. A.

Hot Fuzz

When I first sat down to watch Shaun of the Dead, I wasn't expecting much. However, what I got was a great film about love - with zombies. Needless to say, the success of that film has propelled its creators to try bigger and better things. Hot Fuzz, starring the same guys from Shaun, shows us just how flashy and manly we like our action movies. With a blueprint from filmmakers like Michael Bay and James Cameron, Fuzz sets up one sweet film that will surely be remembered.

The film revolves around Nicholas Angel, a no-fun cop who gets a transfer to a small community. While in the community, he uncovers a mysterious commonality between murders and accidents. For years the town has registered a high number of accidents with an extremely low number of murders. But Angel feels differently. Filled to the brim with cheesy action scenes and witty quips, the film works on so many levels. If you are a fan of action films, and you're willing to admit that they can be at times cheesy, this film will not miss. A.