I haven't seen it yet, but in every interview or snippet thereof I've read with Sam Rami, he makes it clear (if you're listening) that he didn't WANT Venom in this movie, but Ari Arad made him include him because "fans love Venom". As soon as I figured out the producer forced the director to add something he didn't want in there, I knew it'd a) be way too villain-heavy and b) not as good as one-badguy movies.
Seriously, you only have so much screen-time, how can you develop TWO new villains and continue the Goblin and Peter-is-just-this-guy-you-know-? storylines as well?
A shame, but it looks like it'll make umpteen-skadillion dollars and maybe he can make another one without bowing to Produceritis.