There has been much of excitement about the release of the third “Spider-Man” movie, but the question is: Who are fans more excited to see zip across the screen? Spider-Man or Venom?

If the answer is Spider-Man, fans will love the movie. If the answer is Venom, they may feel a little cheated.

The only real disappointing aspect of “Spider-Man 3” is the lack of screen time for one of the most beloved villains in the comic-book world. During the last half hour of the movie, Venom steals the show when he finally claws onto the screen.

This is a great movie. It is the weakest of the series, but is part of a series that has been rated by fans and critics as top-notch. So, although it’s the weakest, it still ranks by itself as a fun and action-packed movie.

A small meteorite crashes down to earth right by where Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson are making out in the park on a giant spiderweb. Out from the meteorite, a mysterious black substance crawls that ends up coming home with Parker.

Soon attaching itself to his suit and staining it jet-black, it causes Spider-Man’s worst attributes to come out: his already inflating ego and his unresolved rage about his uncle’s death, which boils over when he finds out Flint Marko, a.k.a. The Sandman, is responsible for the tragedy.

If two villains weren’t enough in one movie, there’s a third: Harry Osborn, last seen at the end of “Spider-Man 2” discovering his father was the Green Goblin, embraces his late father’s identity. Just as Parker feels hatred and a need for revenge against the Sandman, Harry feels the same toward Parker about the death of his father.

Although three villains attack Spider-Man throughout the movie, the real foe Parker faces in this movie is Parker himself. The movie focuses on him dealing with his own darkness and his battle to return the hero he used to be.

The movie continues to add more and more characters from the comics, including Gwen Stacy, Parker’s love interest in the comics far before Watson ever showed up. In the comics, she’s killed by the Green Goblin in a scene very similar to the climactic bridge scene in the first movie.

Stacy has a small part here. She is competition for Parker’s affections and to illustrate Parker’s inflating ego. Not to mention she also creates conflict between Parker and Eddie Brock, who rivals Parker professionally. Stacy is beautiful, but she stays on the sidelines for most of the movie.

The film juggles all these characters and storylines well. Fans might worry that it would start to move in the direction of the Schumacher “Batman” movies, but it stays clear of that. The only Schumacher-esque vibe this movie gives is when Parker dances, but thankfully it’s over quickly, and the movie resumes its quality very quickly after.

The performances aren’t bad. Although at first questionable casting, Topher Grace makes Eddie Brock/Venom his own. He has a couple cheesy lines throughout the film that may make an audience member or two cringe, but so do a lot of the characters. Don’t forget, this is a comic book movie.

The action is top-notch and the climactic final battle is one of the best moviegoers will see in years. It will leave them wanting more, and that is always the goal of a movie.

The running time is a little long under two and a half hours, so don’t get that extra large soda. If fans do and have to leave the theater for a minute, go when Aunt May is on screen. Although the scenes are cute and sweet, it’s mostly just her reassuring and inspiring her nephew to continue the hard road in front of him and doesn’t add much to the story.

Fans will be happy with the latest installment of the Spidey franchise, and will no doubt take a second and third spin with this film in theaters this summer, starting anticipation for the inevitable “Spider-Man 4.”

Chris Alexis can be reached at [email protected].