Entertainment
Misunderstood Marvel Masterpiece On Netflix Deserves Another Chance
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Spider-Man remains the most popular Marvel character in the world. Thanks to a deal Sony made back in the ‘90s, this web-head is also one of the only characters who isn’t fully owned by Disney. As a result, you can find earlier Spider-Man films outside of the walled garden that is Disney+. This includes one vintage movie that fans have been hating on for nearly 20 years: 2007’s Spider-Man 3, which is currently streaming on Netflix. After the blockbuster success of Spider-Man 2, many fans felt that Sam Raimi’s final film in the trilogy was a bitter disappointment.
Here’s the thing, though: Spider-Man 3 is worse than Spider-Man 2, but so are most superhero movies. Spider-Man 2 is basically the gold standard for tights-and-flights films, and that unassuming sequel is better than almost anything ever created for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For both fans and critics, however, it’s important to judge movies on their own merits rather than endlessly comparing them to something else. That brings us back to Raimi’s most hated film. On its own, Spider-Man 3 is much better than you remember and infinitely better than its reputation suggests (63 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes). Once you rewatch this maligned Marvel movie on Netflix, you’ll discover that, in several ways, this hated film is a modern masterpiece.
A Real Symbiotic Relationship
The premise of Spider-Man 3 is that our titular hero is getting ready to propose to Mary Jane Watson, but he’s got several problems going on at once. His old buddy, Harry Osborn, is trying to kill him, and he has recently discovered that his uncle’s killer is still at large. Oh, and a creepy alien symbiote has merged with his body, slowly giving him a newer, weirder personality. Soon enough, he’s dealing with relationship problems, and a rival photographer transforms into his archnemesis. Unless poor Peter Parker can get his groove back and patch things up with those closest to him, this will be the Amazing Spider-Man’s last battle.
Now, what did fans hate about Spider-Man 3 when it came out? The main criticism, and a fair one, is that the movie is overstuffed with supervillains. Thanks to studio interference, Spider-Man has to fight no less than three supervillains, more than are found in the first two movies put together. Additionally, fans mostly agreed that Topher Grace (the little dude from That ‘70s Show) was woefully miscast as Venom. Some fans disliked the endless Peter Parker/Mary Jane drama. But perhaps the most enduring critique of the movie is that Peter Parker’s “emo” phase (when the suit has given him newfound confidence) is just embarrassing to watch.
Tickle Me Emo
Now, I’ll grant you that Topher Grace was, for all his talents, an awful choice to play Venom, arguably Spider-Man’s most iconic nemesis. But the rest of the criticisms are overblown or, nearly two decades later, a non-issue. Sure, it’s frustrating watching Peter Parker and Mary Jane fail to get their sh*t together, but that’s part and parcel of a comic book drama. Let’s be honest, this is much less annoying than watching Star-Lord constantly fumble Gamora and then risk the entire universe because she died. Speaking of Avengers: Infinity War, after that movie, it’s hard to say Spider-Man 3 is bad simply for having three villains in it.
Also, you might need to sit down for this. If you’ve ever insulted the Emo Peter Parker scenes, you genuinely missed the point. The character is supposed to be annoying here, showcasing how the alien symbiote has turned him into a complete jerk. Other characters know it, too. When he is swaggering down the street or acting a fool in the jazz club, you can see how much it’s weirding others out. In these Spider-Man 3 scenes, Emo Peter is constantly the butt of the joke. Director Sam Raimi wanted to showcase Peter’s transformation into someone unlikable, and he simply chose to do so in the weirdest and most whimsical way.
Colorful Characters, Killer Chemistry
So, I’ve addressed the parts of Spider-Man 3 that people hate and why those critiques are overblown. What, though, does this movie have going for it? To start with, the performances are amazing. Tobey Maguire is still (sorry, Tom Holland!) the best Spider-Man, and his charisma is oozing out of every frame like a leaky web fluid dispenser. Kirsten Dunst is at her sexy ingenue best, and it’s fun to see her character’s feistier side come out thanks to a romantic rival played to heart-stealing perfection by Bryce Dallas Howard. James Franco is perfect as Peter’s frenemy, while franchise newcomer Thomas Haden Church does some of the best work of his career as the Sandman.
The actors get to shine because Spider-Man 3 is all about characterization. Sam Raimi is one of the few directors who understands that, with tights-and-flights films, the “super” is far less important than the “man.” Scenes in Spider-Man 3 are compelling precisely because we are invested in these characters and their emotional ups and downs. Big battles are few and far between, leaving plenty of time for each character to complete their arc (Sandman’s is particularly great). Sometimes, newer superhero movies feel like we are just moving listlessly from one setpiece to the next. In Spider-Man 3, however, every scene has weight because every character has a purpose.
His Thwips Are Sealed
When we do get fight scenes in this movie, they are uniformly great. After you watch enough modern Marvel movies turn every battle into a generic CGI slopfest, the fight scenes of Spider-Man 3 feel like a breath of fresh air. Everything has a pleasant heft and physicality to it, and every character has the quirky, lo-fi charm that has become Sam Raimi’s cinematic signature. Is this the director’s best work? Of course not. But at the risk of sounding like a fanboy, even an old, mid-tier Raimi superhero movie is better than most of what we are currently getting out of the MCU.
Obviously, Spider-Man 3 isn’t the best superhero film ever made. But it’s far better than its reputation suggests, and it’s perfect for anyone suffering from so-called superhero fatigue. You see, you aren’t actually sick of these movies. You’re just sick of bored directors slavishly following the same Marvel formula to diminishing returns. Why not take a trip (or thwip) to the past and revisit a Marvel movie from back before Disney owned everything? You might be surprised to discover how much you like Spider-Man 3 after watching it on Netflix. Surprised enough to do your own little emo dance? Don’t worry, buddy. I won’t tell anyone!
Entertainment
Until May 31, get Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT for life for $70
TL;DR: 1min.AI gives you lifetime access to AI models like GPT, Claude, and Gemini, but instead of charging you every month, it’s only $70 for life if you buy before May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Most AI tools do one thing well. The problem is that most workflows need more than one thing, and paying separately for a writing tool, an image editor, an audio platform, and a video tool adds up to a lot of monthly bills fast. 1min.AI new all-in-one AI platform that gives you access to the same popular AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, but instead of paying for them every month, you can get them all for life for $69.97 (reg. $540).
1min.AI gives you access to a wide range of AI models so you’re not locked into one tool’s strengths or blind spots. On the writing side, you’ll get access to AI for blog generation, keyword research, rewriting, summarizing, paraphrasing, grammar checking, and social media comment generation across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
Mashable Deals
Image tools go well beyond a basic generator, with editing and manipulation capabilities that cover tasks even a professional designer would reach for a separate app to do. Audio handles voice, music, and translation work. Video covers both creation and editing, including tools specifically for YouTube content. Documents can be chatted with, translated, or turned into presentations without leaving the platform.
The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits per month, which works out to roughly 1,112,500 words, 1,186 images, or 37 videos monthly. On top of that, you can earn up to 450,000 additional free credits per month through daily logins, reviews, and referrals, and those credits never expire.
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Topics
Artificial Intelligence
Entertainment
Sexting in 3D: A beginner’s guide to AdultFriendFinder’s Live Action streaming features
The major standout feature of AdultFriendFinder isn’t their millions of users or their free-wheeling stance on nudity, nor is it their massive, searchable database of kinks. What truly sets them apart, in fact, is their Live Action tab, where AFF users can communicate in real-time across webcams and chat rooms.
In this area of the site, accessible to both paying and non-paying members, users can communicate in real-time via both text and video, and things definitely get wild. Here are the four main sections of the Live Action tab, and what you need to know about them:
Credit: AdultFriendFinder
Member Webcams
The first of four sub-tabs, Member Webcams is the place AFF users go to let loose on camera, for an audience. The camera feeds appear in a grid format, organized in order of viewer count, and as with the on-site dating profiles, you’ll be able to see, at a glance, who has a verified account or who is a paying member. Other details visible immediately include the model’s age, gender and location.
Hookup apps for everyone
AdultFriendFinder
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readers’ pick for casual connections
Tinder
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top pick for finding hookups
Hinge
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popular choice for regular meetups
If you can’t find what you’re looking for right away, you can start to apply filters: Men, Women, Couples, Trans, as well as Nude or Non-Nude. You can even use the Sort By button to arrange the models in order of their proximity to you.
Best of all? This entire section of the website is accessible to free accounts, although if you want to actually interact with the models, either via public-facing comments or by sending gifts or emoji reactions, you will need to upgrade your account.
Mashable Trend Report
And pro tip: if you come across a particularly attractive model or manage to have a good conversation with someone, click the Star icon in the upper right-hand corner of the webcam feed to Favorite them, which will make it easier to find their feed when they next come online.
Pro Models
The Pro Models section resembles a bigger-budget version of the Member Webcams area, except instead of camming for the love of the experience or to make new connections, the Pro models are explicitly there to make a bug.
Free users are able to view these cams, but if you want to chat, tip or engage a model in a private, one-on-one cam session, you’ll need to pull out your credit card.
To our mind, this is the least interesting part of the AFF Live Action experience, and the most transactional. Their Pro Models section doesn’t offer anything that competing adult webcam sites don’t, and most of the competition offers more models and a better interface.
Chat Rooms
If you’re not necessarily looking for visual stimulation but happy to use your words to titillate, check out the Chat Rooms area. Here, you can enter into chat rooms based around specific interests and topics, or look to join a regional chat room based in your country or state.
While words, stories, and shared experiences form the basis of this section, people often do also share photos. Best of all, there are very few restrictions on non-paying members in these areas, so you can build a following or interact with other people without having to create a paid subscription.
Activity Feed
The Activity Feed is the fastest way to catch up on what’s trending on the site, usually populated by new images and videos uploaded by members. The default view is Global, showing you the hottest content from members across the world, but you can also sort by Near You to find more local posts, or even restrict the list to your Friends & Hotlist, helping you keep up with what your mutual friends or followers are doing on the site.
Entertainment
The 6 best open earbuds stay put, sound great, and keep us aware of the world
Open-ear earbuds sit on the exterior of the ear, but they also come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are specifically designed for working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick, thanks to their sound quality and color options, but at $299, they’re hardly the most affordable option.
Plus, since the Bose Ultra Open came out in 2024, big audio brands like Sony have released open earbuds of their own, while Shokz has introduced noise reduction into the category for the first time. To help you find the best open earbud models available in 2026, we tested the latest options from Soundcore, Sony, Shokz, Bose, and more.
What are open earbuds?
Open earbuds let you get as close as possible to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds, which sit in your ear canal, open earbuds sit just outside your ears (as the name would suggest). Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook, while others opt for an ear cuff.
People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:
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They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of your surroundings. It’s like the best transparency mode you’ve ever used.
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For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.
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The hooks and cuffs (along with general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping you in place and alert while you’re working out, working, or simply existing in the world.
What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?
As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don’t come with active noise cancellation. That’s mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.
Also, thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren’t going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That’s not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you’ve never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you’re imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.
That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our best picks for sound, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds and Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds, even have spatial audio features that work surprisingly well.
Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) will be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.
Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel especially light, it’s something to keep in mind.
How to wear open-ear earbuds
Open-ear earbuds come in three major styles: cuff, ear hook, and bone conduction. How you wear them depends entirely on which style you have. Cuff earbuds “clip” onto the ear, not unlike a piece of jewelry, generally around the area right above the earlobe. Ear hook earbuds have a hook situated around the back of your ear and a speaker component situated right over your ear canal. Finally, bone conduction earbuds sit right behind the ears, with a band that goes around the back of the head to hold them in place.
Regardless of the style, its important to adjust the exact positioning of your open earbuds to see which offers the best sound, especially as the wrong positioning can deteriorate the quality.
For a visual representation of what wearing a cuff-style earbud looks like, you can check out our open earbuds explainer.
What about bone conduction headphones?
Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.
Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:
What’s next in our testing pipeline
The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we’ll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. We recently added the Sony LinkBuds Clip and Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro to this guide.
In addition to the earbuds that made our initial guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.
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