Saw it yesterday. I tend to agree with most that the evil Peter at the jazz bar was waaaay unnecessary, but on balance I thought the movie was well done. The dialog was campy at times, and I wanted to rip my own ears off when the reporter was "on the scene" as it were when the final battle was going down. Of all the actors I think Church and Franco were at the tops of their games. Franco definitely had a cool turn in this one.

Rosemary Harris and JK Simmons (Jameson) didn't seem to have as much face time. The schtick with Jameson and the intercom was another cringe-worthy scene that I just wanted to end, and it took one of the parts I most look forward to (Jameson on a tirade at the Bugle) and made it painful.

Kirsten Dunst has got to go in any sequels that may follow, and there will be more given the opening numbers. Bryce Dallas Howard was ok in what she was asked to do, which wasn't much, and James Cromwell should fire his agent. I was hoping for more of Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben, as in the second one in Peter's dream sequence, which I thought was one of the most powerful scenes in any of the films.

I agree with Tip regarding the second one in terms of the personal drama and character development. The stuff Peter went through in the second one was very moving and I think has cemented that one as the best in the series.

At this point I'd have to say in terms of my preference it's 2, 3, then 1.