Spider-Man is back in Beijing for the premiere of the popular film series' third installment - two days ahead of its US release.

Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man 3 makes its debut in the capital and other parts of the country on May 2.

The early release is part of China's push against pirated DVDs spoiling the suspense for those awaiting the cinema release of new movies.

China Film Group's Film Import & Export Corp president Yuan Wenqiang said the move was designed to secure a strong opening at the box office before pirated copies have a chance to flood into the market.

Yuan said Hollywood studios had their eye on China, hence the country scooping North America for the long-awaited film's debut. Hollywood studios chose to release big films in China on or near their worldwide premiere dates to prevent losses from piracy that increase the longer a film is out.

Spider-Man 3's local release during the peak of movie-going season around the week-long May Day holiday was testament to the growing importance of Chinese theater-goers in American eyes, Yuan said.

The China Film Group Corporation has prepared 500 copies of the new movie, the most it has ever done for a foreign release.

Directed by Sam Raimi, this film is the third of the Spider Man series and re-unites the cast and film-makers of the first two blockbusters.

Tobey Maguire stars as college student-cum-superhero Peter Parker (in the right photo), and Kirsten Dunst plays his love, Mary Jane Watson.

In Spider-Man 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero.

But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it transforms him as well, bringing out a more negative side to his personality that he struggles to control.

Under the influence of the changed suit, Parker becomes overconfident and starts to neglect the people who care about him most.

Forced to choose between the seductive power of the new suit and the compassionate hero he used to be, Parker must overcome his personal demons.

Thrown into the mix from this movie are two of the most feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom. The evil twosome gather unparalleled power and a thirst for retribution to threaten Parker and everyone he loves.

The first Spider-Man movie was released in the US in May 2002 and grossed $403.7 million there, topping the US box office for 2002. Spider-Man grossed 43 million yuan ($5.5 million) in China the same year.

Spider-Man 2 made 55 million yuan ($7.1 million) at China's box office in 2004. The box office of Spider-Man 3 is expected to exceed 100 million yuan.

Spider-Man 3 made its global debut in Tokyo on April 16, with stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst taking a walk down the red carpet for the premiere, held in drizzling rain at a ritzy Tokyo arena.

(China Daily 04/25/2007 page7)