Well, the Keeper clan finally made it to the local cineplex and saw Spider-Man 3.

(We never claimed to be on the cutting edge of pop culture, OK?)

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening. Mrs. Keeper declared Spider-Man 3 the best super-hero film she had ever seen, while Fortress Boy docked it one star for messing with the character’s origin story.

(He’s rapidly becoming a geek off the old block!)

As for your humble host, the film reminded us of the best and worst of Spidey during the Conway/Andru era: multiple story-lines, crazy villains popping up out of nowhere, soap opera romance, changing allegiances, a tragic death and - last but not least - a shattering revelation or two.

The difference, of course, is that a comic book can take years to piece so many plots together. A modern-day blockbuster only has a few hours, and at times you could see director/co-writer Sam Raimi strain to fit everything into a 140-minute package.

Although the Sandman was an awesome visual effect given heart by Thomas Haden Church’s affecting performance, the overall movie would have been stronger if his character was excised from the final cut.

His story fit into the central theme of the choices one must make between good and evil (Steve Ditko would be proud, if he even has any interest in Spider-Man these days), but the true drama of the film is found in the New Goblin/Venom arcs.

In each case, characters are driven by circumstances to desperate places and not necessarily wise decisions. Peter revels in the black suit’s power, but unlike Eddie Brock manages to pull himself back from the brink.

Harry Osborn, much like his comic-book counterpart, struggles with his father’s legacy and true devotion to Peter and MJ.

Among such plots, Sandman is little more than a (spectacular) sideshow who detracts from the film’s heart.

While ultimately inferior to its predecessor, Spider-Man 3 provided more than its share of spills and chills. We also found little fault in the actors’ performances, and were especially enchanted by Bryce Dallas Howard’s luminous Gwen Stacy.

Talk about hitting the jackpot, Tiger!

Now, on to Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Maybe we can see it before September!