That's my theory, anyway. I haven't seen any review so far that does justice to just how bad Spider-Man 3 is. (Anthony Lane, of course, comes closest. He's right: the Sandman's creation is just about the movie's only good scene.)

Most of the problem is with Raimi's script, not with his directing—though there are definitely some very odd choices on that front as well.

With too many characters to cram into the movie and too many special-effects sequences to navigate aimlessly between, Raimi has no choice but to turn to random coincidence over and over again to drive the engine of his plot. The result is a muddled and astoundingly dull disaster, certainly the worst major superhero movie since Batman & Robin, if not Superman III.

Keep your happy memories of Doc Ock and stay home.