Three signs to tell you summer is approaching: 1. The sun comes out and the entire British public stops working, heading for the nearest patch of green. 2. News headlines about massive delays at Heathrow dominate the airwaves. 3. The major film studios release their big money spinning franchises on the world.

Three is a particularly significant number this year, with Shrek 3, Pirates of The Caribbean 3, Ocean's 13 (well it's got a three in it) all coming out. And the third instalment of old webhead himself: Spiderman. It's bigger, bolder, darker and there are three villains.

Everything is going swimmingly well for Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Toby Maguire). At last he has managed to successfully mix his love for Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) and his responsibilities as Spider-Man. He is even thinking of popping the question to MJ. Something he couldn't entertain before, as he was afraid he wouldn't always be able to put her first. Now that his successes as a superhero have made him the city's blue-eyed boy, he is confident he has found the right balance. However one night while wooing MJ on a massive spider's web, a weird ball crashes to earth and bursts forth into a black alien substance, attaching itself to the oblivious pair's moped.

The alien settles into Peter's room, but it isn't until his next life-saving call out that Peter realises his suit is black not red. The new suit enhances his superpowers, but this comes with a deadly consequence, as it brings out the very worse traits in his personality. It turns him into a thoroughly selfish egotistical prat. But if he is to help the city with the devastating arrival of the villainous Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) he needs all the help he can get. His attachment to his new suit might get him the villain, but at the cost of his girl and the city's respect.

This story is frankly rather a muddle and requires one to know in depth the background of the comic book. For instance having seen the other two films it isn't enough to know why one of the villains pops up - the black alien substance's (later called Venom) arrival is explained, but poorly. However this is forgivable, as the visuals are quite the most impressive of all the three films. It is easy to see how CGI technology has advanced since Spidey hit the big screen in 2002. Director Sam Raimi said previously he would never do the story of Sandman and Venom, but I suspect that was because he didn't think it could be visually effective before now. The Sandman is stunning and is given more soul here than in the original stories.

There is a priceless turn from Raimi's chum Bruce Campbell who played a wrestling commentator in the first film, and a theatre's snotty doorman in the second. Here he surpasses himself and is hilarious as a hotel's maitre de. Also Raimi's brother Ted repeats his performance as Hoffman the assistant to the editor of the Daily Bugle. As to the others, Maguire again is the personification of Peter/Spider-Man, and Dunst is perfect as Mary-Jane. That said Topher Grace wouldn't have been my choice as Brock the ambitious young photographer and then Venom, as he is rather an insipid young actor, and his parts require mega slyness. However this is a very enjoyable third round and I am sure all Spidey fans will have no complaints. 7/10