INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
Back in 2017, Spider-Man: Homecoming was definitely a fun and entertaining way for the comic book character of Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man) to star in his own standalone feature film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, this wasn`t the first time that Spider-Man (played by actor Tom Holland) graced the screen as he debuted back in Captain America: Civil War, acting as a large cameo appearance, which was met with much fanfare anticipation than any superhero to appear in the MCU. Naturally, all eyes were on seeing Holland`s Peter Parker in his solo adventure, finding Spider-Man: Homecoming, which was directed by Jon Watts, to be a spectacular cinematic installment for the character, with many praising the feature for its light tone, it`s character development, and the performance by both Holland and actor Michael Keaton. The success of Homecoming paved the way for a brand-new Spider-Man trilogy within the boundaries of MCU, with Holland`s Spider-Man appearing in superhero team up films Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and Avengers: Endgame in 2019 before heading out on his second solo outing feature film with the release of Spider-Man: Far from Home in 2019. Much like Homecoming, Far from Home, which saw the return of Watts in the director`s chair as well as the main personal cast, saw Holland`s Parker venture on a class school trip to Europe, while trying to prevent a sinister plot that unfolds with the sudden appearance of the mysterious Mysterio (played by actor Jake Gyllenhaal). Far From Home encounters a positive review and becomes another global box office hit, another where the Spider-Man character develops further within the MCU between Disney (which dominates Marvel) and Sony Pictures. I have closed the deal. Now, three years later, Dutch Spider-Man returns to his epic adventure as Marvel Studios (with Sony Pictures), and director Jon Watts releases Spider-Man: No Way Home. Is this latest article in this new iteration of the famous Webslinger cartoon character tall and proud with this final look of a trilogy called Home, or shaken by nostalgia and fan service? Is it a bloated and redundant superhero movie?
THE STORY
After the shocking reveal as Spider-Man by the broadcast video by Mysterio to the entire world, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is in panic mode, unsure how to deal with everyone knowing his superhero identity as the web slinging Spider-Man. With public and media scrutiny awareness has left his close family and friends exposed to backlash, with now girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend pal Ned (Jacob Batalon) refused their collegiate dreams due to their association with Peter. Frustrated and distraught by the mess he`s made, Peter seeks out Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help, requesting the creation of a unique spell from the Sorcerer Supreme capable of erasing the memory of Parker`s identity of Spider-Man from everyone, permitting a fresh start for the young superhero. However, when Strange`s spell goes sideways, unexpected things begin to occur, creating a disruption that opens the doors to the multiverse and welcoming anyone who`s looking to kill Peter Parker into this universe. When Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) arrives to destroy Spider-Man, it quickly dawns on Peter that something mysterious and disastrous is occurring. With other malicious beings pouring into our universe, who will Peter and his friends return to Strange for help in restoring reality and give young superheroes a high fever price? Also triggers a series of unpredictable events.
THE GOOD / THE BAD
Borrowing a several lines from my review of Spider-Man: Far from Home for this review, I definitely can say that I like Tom Holland`s iteration of Peter Parker / Spider-Man. The character of Peter Parker / Spider-Man has been an iconic superhero character in the Marvel superhero catalogue. The past iterations (in a cinematic feature film context endeavor) have been a mixed bag of sorts, with the debating ranging on which portrayal (i.e., actors Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield), but the success of actor Tom Holland`s portrayal of the character has definitely been a fan-favorite amongst many, including myself. His introduction in Captain America: Civil War and his involvement in Avengers: Infinity War provided that the Holland`s iteration of the famous webslinger superhero could definitely stand alongside other superhero characters in the MCU (as well as the actors / actresses that portray them), but both Homecoming and Far from Home certainly demonstrated on this newest iteration of Spider-Man would ultimately play out in his own movie. As stated, I personally liked Holland`s Spider-Man, with the young actor showcasing his various acting chops within the latest iteration of Peter Parker / Spider-Man; bringing a new cinematic facet to the character and feeling like his own thing within the MCU.. Overall, I think the Netherlands is a great new incarnation of Peter Parker / Spider-Man. While some Spider-Man (Magwire, Garfield, or the Netherlands) continue to argue about what's best, the Netherlands is solid and I think it's bringing him a unique habit and emotional depth to the character. We hope that Disney and Sony Pictures will continue their contractual relationship with the Spider-Man character and that the Netherlands will continue to play Peter Parker for the next few years.
This, of course, brings me back around to talking about Spider-Man: No Way Home, a 2021 superhero action-adventure film and the third standalone entry in the MCU for Spider-Man as well as the final chapter in the officially dubbed Spider-Man “Home” trilogy. After the success of Far from Home, I was definitely looking forward to seeing where the next Spider-Man will go, but (like many out there) I was a little bit worried about Holland`s Peter Parker returning to the MCU, especially since the deal between Disney and Sony Pictures sort of reached an end and that the two studios were going to part ways; finding Sony planning to create its own franchise universe with the character. Luckily, a new deal was struck, and Spider-Man was going to be back in the MCU with a third movie, with Tom Holland returning to reprise his role of Peter Parker once again. After that, there was a bunch of rumor as to what the third film was going to be, with some rumors mentioning the involvement of past Spider-Man characters. Soon, a film`s movie trailer was released, which showcased the first glimpses of the upcoming superhero feature, which did in fact teased the return of several villains from the past Spider-Man movies (ones from the Maguire and Garfield Spider-Man universe) with the film`s plot centering around the multi-verse. Of course, I was definitely excited, but the studio "redeemed" nostalgia (which can be good or bad) and is riding Sony's 2018 feature film Spider-Man: Spider-Birth. By taking the idea of the Multiverse, which was particular about the fact. However, despite some of those questions, many movie details weren't revealed, especially about the Superhero project, and I continued to build expectations and rumors until the release of the Internet. I was very excited to see the Norway Home. So, on the release date of December 17, 2021, I finally got the chance to watch the movie on the opening night. But due to my busy work schedule, I had to postpone the Spider-Man: Noway Home review for a few days ... to gather my inner thoughts on this review. So what did I think about it? Did the movie respond to that incredible hype? I liked it! Despite some minor issues, Spider-Man: Noway Home is a wonderful superhero spectacle that deserves all the praise and admiration received from both critics and movie fans. While drawing the future with the famous web slinger, we provide wonderful Driquel parts that feel like a feature film celebrating the past. There are nuances of heart, drama, comedy, superheroes, and the movie is everything it is intended for ... and more!
By the way, like many other fans, I kept the movie secret and avoided internet spoilers so as not to ruin the overall enjoyment of seeing it for the first time. So my review has almost no spoilers. So rest assured, some of the big moments in the movie aren't mentioned in this review will be, for the most part, spoiler free. So, rest assured, some of the big moments in the film will not be mentioned in this review. So…enjoy!
Well, have fun! Previously Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home directed by Jon Watts, and other films such as Piero and Cop Car are back to direct Spider-Man: Noway Home. Given his familiarity with the directors of the previous two Spider-Man films (and their success with film fans and box office revenue), Watts has made such a project for this three-tier entry in this franchise. It seems to be a logical choice to take the lead. Part of the success that makes Norway Home so great is the past knowledge that Watts has in the repetition of Peter Parker / Spider-Man in the Netherlands. This is a very powerful culmination of this movie. It is safe to say "highlight". It's in the right context as Watt has a festive (and epic) adventure to play at Norway Home. Homecoming was about Peter's establishment in the superhero landscape, and far away from home was about his ultimate leadership role (after the death of his mentor), although NoWay Home is symbolic of Spider-Man. Must be provided by Peter Parker's character, which shows what it represents as a result of MCU iterations. He solidifies a young superhero as a full-fledged hero, makes his own decisions, and brings the consequences of his actions. For this reason, Watts shows the growth of characters that have grown since their first appearance in Captain America: Civil War, and the dynamism of young superheroes. Of course, that's evident in previous film attempts at past Spider-Man films, but Watts has a way to make his film version of Peter Parker feel organic and a little more realistic. Perhaps the director still finds "youthful" energy in the shining character in all parts, and while Peter Parker tries to balance to create the everyday life of a superhero, the usual "teen" Because I see them working on the problem. No Way Home definitely shows that, but on a much larger scale ... trivial time criminals and fraudulent alien worlds, as Watt has put together a much greater threat for Peter to fight. It's more than a superhero. That said, Watts has plenty of time to show that Peter is facing the usual problems, such as enrolling in college or getting public attention as an exposed superhero. But there are still bigger threats.
Of course, I'm talking about the Multiverse and how the former Spider-Man villains appeared and caused annoying havoc to Peter at Norway Home. Yes, there is no doubt that Watt throws a lot of fan service and references to past Spider-Man movies into the movie, but it doesn't feel verbose or an "eye roll" that evokes presentations. In fact, all fan services / references are great and are commonly used with this feature, creating great moments throughout the movie. Further exploration of this aspect leads to some well-founded sequences that respect the past (the Spider-Man movie that appeared before it) and provide a great moment for Watt to play. Supporting this effort is the screenplay of a movie written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. They work on Homecoming and Far From Home (like Watts) and are familiar with this iteration of Spider-Man. Thus, the story seems to be related to this portrayal of Peter Parker, and feels like a culmination of a personal journey and the rampage of a prominent Spider-Man variant superhero (again, that). Words are important). Without much spoiling, what's presented at No Way Home is like all the culminations so far for an immersive Spider-Man adventure for both the franchise (as a whole) and the portrayal of Peter Parker in the Netherlands. Definitely feels / Spider-Man. What
Watts does very well in the film is how he amplifies many of the emotionally dramatic moments scattered throughout the film. It is undeniable that the Noway Home is full of mental and emotional development. To see many of the different things facing the greatest difficulties and tackle their destiny. For this reason, the film strikes a balance between superhero frivolity and dramatic storytelling beats. This is the general marriage of NoWay Home's balanced story. That said, Watts made the movie differently than he expected from the MCU superhero blockbuster, which branded the world of the movie with notable trademarks such as comedy, action, and life-size CGI visuals. I'm not doing it. Rest assured that what you are presented with is fun and entertaining and will generate a lot of laughter and energetic behavior. So, after reading all this, you can imagine how much I liked No Way Home. The film resonated heavily with this iteration of Peter Parker / Spider-Man and found a way to completely celebrate the film's Spider-Man franchise. Given all the hype and expectations surrounding this movie, it's amazing that the project didn't collapse underneath. But despite this lasting concept, this movie never fails, and I think Watt deserves all the praise and admiration (along with some others in this movie). In short, No Way Home is wonderfully directed, well-performed, and provides a powerful and inspiring spectacle of superhero for the everyone’s favorite webslinger.
In its presentation category, No Way Home is very much a solid superhero blockbuster endeavor that shines for its technical achievements in visual effect wizardry. While the last film highlighted various locations and places within European adventure in Far from Home, No Way Home returns to NYC and has plenty of fun seeing the character of Spider-Man swinging and running around this familiar urban landscape that is common for this famous superhero. Thus, from a background visual standpoint, No Way Home feels very much like a Spider-Man movie. So, the film`s “behind the scenes” team, including Darren Gilford (production design), Rosemary Brandenburg and Emmanuelle Hoessly (set decorations), Sanja Milkovic Hays (costume designs), and even Leigh Folsom Boyd and Jeffery Ford (film editing) should be applauded for their efforts in making No Way Home has a solid back and visual presentation all the way around. Likewise, the feature`s visual effect shots are solid, with their technical achievements lend to the superhero aesthetics with plenty of large-scale action appearing throughout the movie. There may be some scratches here and there, but nothing big, as the visual effects of the movie help enhance the nuances of the superhero flavor blockbuster. In addition, Mauro Fiore's camerawork excels in every respect, with a variety of cinematic moments and sequences, especially when looking at some of the dramatic and emotional scenes. Finally, the soundtrack, previously composed by Homecoming and Far from Home music composer Michael Giacchino, provides his most impressive Spider-Man soundtrack at NoWay Home. Jackino's composition for this movie is well done and definitely hits the right notes ... Whether it's a moment of quiet and obedient character dialogue, or something that evokes the melody of a superhero. It all works and is definitely a great movie soundtrack.
While I did enjoy the film immensely, I did find a few minor points of criticism in the film that No Way Home slightly falters upon. Perhaps aspect that the movie stands upon is in how different the film is compared to its previous two entries of Holland`s Spider-Man. While Homecoming had smaller scale, lower stakes narrative to tell (compared to the larger overarching story within the MCU) and Far from Home had a bit more personal obstacle for Peter to overcome (along with love interest awkwardness), No Way Home is a larger scale adventure for everyone`s friendly neighborhood character, which involves numerous villains, multi-verse expositions, heavier emotional drama, and having more of an MCU-style tale than the previous two. That being said, this isn`t the first time that a tonal change of style has appeared in the MCU, with Captain America`s second standalone film (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) having a more serious action/ gravitas tone versus his first feature film as well as Thor: Ragnarök, which had more comedic beats than the overtly serious Thor: The Dark World. No Way Home definitely feels like shifting tonal shift compared to its two predecessors, which definitely has more “bigness” and “grandiosity” to the story being told (as mentioned above), but it just seems a tad jarring and, despite how much I loved this movie`s narrative, I did kind of wish that the movie remained on a smaller scale. Again isn't a big deal for me, but it's something I can't shake.
In addition, the pace of the movie slows down a bit, and No Way Home is a huge project, so you have to work hard to avoid it altogether. The long run time of the film and the duration of the film is about 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes), which causes slight fatigue of the film in some pocket areas scattered throughout the film. Several scenes and moments, including great fan service scenes, bring the movie story to a screaming stop. This is very visible, but it rarely advances a particular event in the story. I entered this movie hoping to see something like that, but this feature turns on some action to break the general ups and downs of a paced scene, or how many. You may have trimmed that area.
What definitely makes No Way Home quite enjoyable from start to finish is in the overall cast for the film, which definitely bring their “A” game for this third Spider-Man outing; delivering some awesome standout performances regardless of how much they stand in the spotlight. Leading the charge in the film is actor Tom Holland, who once again returns to reprise his lead protagonist role of Peter Parker / Spider-Man. While starring in other films like Spies in Disguise, The Current War, and Chaos Walking Holland has certainly made a name for himself as Spider-Man within the MCU installments (or rather the MCU iteration of Peter Parker). Holland`s involvement in No Way Home is one that builds upon his inclusion in the MCU`s large sandbox of superheroes as well as continuing to see the young aspiring hero grow / evolve with each of his own personal installments. No Way Home definitely showcases that; finding Holland`s Peter a little bit wiser and stronger, yet still naïve and inexperience to what the dangers that lie ahead of him. Perhaps that's why I like Holland like Peter Parker (like many who are there) and the youthful antique and charismatic energy of the actor plays part of the character. At Norway Home, Peter has been challenged and perhaps the most emotional adventure to date, and the Netherlands has carried out its mission and handled all his scenes fairly well. After all, I think the Netherlands is at the top of his game as Peter Parker / Spider-Man at Norway Home. This proves that his repetition of the famous superhero has evolved in a balanced manner through his own personal journey in this shared film world. Expect the Netherlands to stick to future projects for the MCU!
In supporting character roles, actress Zendaya and actor Jacob Batalon return to reprise their character roles of MJ and Ned Leeds, Peter Parker`s now girlfriend and best friend respectfully. Given her past involvement on the past two Spider-Man movies, Zendaya, who is known for her roles in The Greatest Showman, Euphoria, and Dune, has certainly a large part to play in this Spider-Man installment, with her character of MJ playing a big participation in the narrative. Plus, it also helps that both her and Holland have great on-screen chemistry with each other, which aides in the believability of the relationship between MJ and Peter Parker. Similarly, Batalon, who is known for his roles in Let It Snow, 50 States of Fright, and Zaya, is still a great fit for the comedy relief platform in these Spider-Man movies as his friendship bond with Holland`s Peter is just as strong (and impactful) as it was in Homecoming, with No Way Home showcasing their relationship. Interestingly, another big MCU character shares some of the spotlight in No Way Home, with actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who is known for his roles in Star Trek Into Darkness, Imitation Game, and The Courier, reprising his MCU role of Dr. Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange. He's definitely a supporting role in the movie, but his involvement in this project is fairly well established and lends his acting gravity / character role in the Norway Home. Also, the playful back and forth jokes he makes with the Netherlands are cheerful and entertaining throughout the film. There are various Spider-Man characters in the movie, so it was definitely a pleasure to see Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange at Norway Home.
Of course, the villains of No Way Home do get a prominent spotlight for No Way Home`s story and definitely are a great fit for the film, seeing several iconic Spider-Man baddies from the past entries return for this multi-verse crossover adventure. Who definitely steals the show in the film is actor Williem Dafoe (At Eternity`s Gate and The Florida Project), who returns to reprise his Spider-Man character role of Norman Osborne / Green Goblin. It`s terrific to see Dafoe returning to play this iconic Spider-Man villain once again and its clear that the actor hasn`t missed a beat as he easily slides back into the role after nearly twenty years. There is still plenty to play around with, with Dafoe adding to a new layer of dynamics into Osbourne and creating pivotal questions as to what Holland`s Peter wants out of life. Likewise, it was great to see actor Alfred Molina (Frida and The Da Vinci Code) reprise his role of Dr. Otto Octavius / Doc Ock. There isn't as much additional layer material for the character as previously established in Spider-Man 2, but Molina's acting talent is still top notch and beats when he returns to many villain role-plays (like Dafo). Years you didn't miss. There is no doubt that he is enjoying Otto again. The same applies to actor Jamie Foxx, who has no connection to Soul and Django, and replays his character's role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Max Dillion / Electro. I think he's actually doing a better job at Norway Home. Fox is more fun to play than the 2014 movie and looks better overall. Also, Max's character has a little more redemption-like motive, so I like it a bit. that.
Anyone who somehow lacks a movie will see Dr.'s character. Curt Connors / Lizard and Flint Marko / Sandman have been juxtaposed in honor of the repeated villains of The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 3. The characters appear in the movie because they take a backseat approach and aren't as "in the limelight" as Dr. Octopus, Electro, and Green Goblins. I wish they would appear in more movies. However, they are both visually visible villains in the movie and are definitely included in Noway Home. It was also great to see actors Rhys Ifans (Snowden and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1) and Thomas Haden Church (Easy A and Sideways) returning to play the villains of Spider-Man. is. Altogether, I loved how all these acting talents returned for No Way Home and it was definitely an awesome treat to seeing them all together in one movie.
The rest of the cast, including actress Angourie Rice (The Nice Guys and The Beguiled) Peter`s fellow classmate / Ned`s ex-girlfriend Betty Brant, actor Hannah Buress (Tag and The Secret Life of Pets) as Peter`s high school gym coach Wilson, actor Martin Starr (Silicon Valley and Freaks and Geeks) as Peter`s Decathlon academic teacher Roger. Harrington, actor J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm and Almost Christmas) as Peter`s teacher Julius Dell, actor Tony Revolori (The Grand Budapest Hotel and Dope) as Peter`s classmate Flash Thompson, actor / director Jon Favreau (Chef and Swingers) as Happy Hogan, and Benedict Wong (The Martian and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) as Doctor Stranger`s mentor / companion Wong, and actress Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny and What Women Want) as Peter`s aunt May are minor supporting players in the movie. Some are simply there for continuity reasons, while others have a bit larger role to play than their co-stars in this grouping. However, what can be said is that all of these acting talents are well-represented in the film (in whatever capacity their characters are in) as well as being well-acted by their actor / actress counterpart.
Finally, as the usual standard for MCU films, No Way Home has two secret Easter egg scenes in credit. One is placed in the middle of the credit and the other is placed last. It doesn't ruin what is presented in both, but both are great and say they are planting more new and exciting seeds to emerge on the horizon of this Marvel Cinematic Universe. Please check it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
While trying to erase the memory that everyone had forgotten to be Spider-Man, Peter Parker's life is upset and faces the biggest challenge of life at Spider-Man: Noway Home. Jon Watts' latest film takes what was established in the previous two films and amplifies almost every aspect of these three quel adventures. Deliver a cinematic superhero adventure with plenty of action, comedy and drama throughout the project. The movie stumbles in some small areas, but especially with Watt renditions, Spider-Birth material handling, great comedy / dramatic beats, and superhero action, many of the features are often done as part of a presentation. The well-received large screen and overall solid acting talent. I personally loved this movie. Yes, I often say this about MCU superhero movies, but Spider-Man: Noway Home has fulfilled that promise and more. It was a amazing film that definitely was the culmination of Holland`s Spider-Man Home trilogy as well as honor the past Spider-Man movies within its own way. Given all the MCU films that have come out during the 2021 releases (i.e., Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, and this movie), I would have to say that Spider-Man: No Way Home is my favorite one as well as being my favorite entry in the Spider-Man Home trilogy. The hype and anticipation for this film is real and it`s almost a forgone conclusion by many that the movie won`t disappoint. Thus, it kind of a no-brainer to say that my recommendation for this movie is a highly favorable “highly recommended” as fans of both the MCU and of Spider-Man will be enthralled with No Way Home`s story / presentation as well as casual moviegoers who are looking for some great blockbuster superhero entertainment. It`s clear that the Holland`s Spider-Man will appear once again in the MCU in the near future and I, for one, am excited what new cinematic tales await this latest iteration of the famous superhero character. Who will he face? Who will form an alliance with him? What challenges do Peter Parker face? It's not clear, but we welcome whatever comes. Ultimately, Spider-Man: Noway Home is the premier glory of the acclaimed MCU superhero movie that tells the story of his Spider-Man past and shapes the future with immersive and fantastic Spider-Man adventure spectacles. ..
4.7 Out Of 5 (Highly Recommended)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlsMWz4QAvM
Released On: December 17th, 2021
Reviewed On: December 23rd, 2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home is 150 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for sequences of action / violence, some language, and brief suggestive comments
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