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Spider-Man: No Way Home
Marvel movie fans will be in heaven as the Spider-Man franchise is gloriously brought full circle in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, a spectacular epic adventure bringing primary elements of a cinematic dynasty together bringing them to a place where it is uncertain whether we've been brought to an ending or a new beginning.
After an encounter with a villain named Mysterio, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has found his life forever changed because the entire world now knows that he is Spiderman. When he realizes that this revelation has not only made him a social pariah, but has practically destroyed the lives of girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and BFF Ned (Jacob Batalon). Peter goes to Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and asks if he can cast some kind of spell that will only allow a few select people to know about his alter ego. Unfortunately, the spell goes terribly wrong and finds Peter having to do battle with villains from other Spiderman universes (translation: other Spiderman movies).
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The screenwriters from the last two Spiderman movies have constructed a near brilliant homage to all of the films in the series that defies logic at every turn and shoves very hard against the 4th wall without ever knocking it down. The mounting of this story required referencing seven movies and simultaneously producing a new story that didn't just rehash the previous seven movies. Full disclosure, I did miss one of the previous seven movies, which may explain my confusion about certain plot points, but as villains from the movies I had seen kept popping up, I was riveted as memories of these other movies flooded my head.
I was fascinated as Doc Ock, Electra, The Lizard, Sandman, and especially Norman Osborn/Green Goblin showed up in this Spiderman's universe and had no idea who this guy was. Further delight is provided when MJ and Ned go looking for help for their Peter and find help in Tobey Maguire Peter and Andrew Garfield Peter. LOVED the scene before the climactic showdown where the three Peters sit down and compare notes about their pwoers (which are not identical) and the villians they've battled in the past.
Jon Watts who directed the last two films in the series, puts a lot of care and detail into the scope of this story and where it takes the viewers. Loved that the finale took place on the scaffold-surrounded Statue of Liberty. It goes without saying that production values were flawless for the most part. Loved the updating of the Spiderman costume. Tom Holland brings a goofy sweetness to Peter Parker and loved Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. It was so great to see Alfred Molina and especially Willem Dafoe return to their roles, as it was to see Maguire and Garfield. What I loved most about this movie is where it brought us to as the credits rolled...it didn't set up a another movie, but it didn't end either...I liked that.
Marvel movie fans will be in heaven as the Spider-Man franchise is gloriously brought full circle in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, a spectacular epic adventure bringing primary elements of a cinematic dynasty together bringing them to a place where it is uncertain whether we've been brought to an ending or a new beginning.
After an encounter with a villain named Mysterio, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has found his life forever changed because the entire world now knows that he is Spiderman. When he realizes that this revelation has not only made him a social pariah, but has practically destroyed the lives of girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and BFF Ned (Jacob Batalon). Peter goes to Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and asks if he can cast some kind of spell that will only allow a few select people to know about his alter ego. Unfortunately, the spell goes terribly wrong and finds Peter having to do battle with villains from other Spiderman universes (translation: other Spiderman movies).
The screenwriters from the last two Spiderman movies have constructed a near brilliant homage to all of the films in the series that defies logic at every turn and shoves very hard against the 4th wall without ever knocking it down. The mounting of this story required referencing seven movies and simultaneously producing a new story that didn't just rehash the previous seven movies. Full disclosure, I did miss one of the previous seven movies, which may explain my confusion about certain plot points, but as villains from the movies I had seen kept popping up, I was riveted as memories of these other movies flooded my head.
I was fascinated as Doc Ock, Electra, The Lizard, Sandman, and especially Norman Osborn/Green Goblin showed up in this Spiderman's universe and had no idea who this guy was. Further delight is provided when MJ and Ned go looking for help for their Peter and find help in Tobey Maguire Peter and Andrew Garfield Peter. LOVED the scene before the climactic showdown where the three Peters sit down and compare notes about their pwoers (which are not identical) and the villians they've battled in the past.
Jon Watts who directed the last two films in the series, puts a lot of care and detail into the scope of this story and where it takes the viewers. Loved that the finale took place on the scaffold-surrounded Statue of Liberty. It goes without saying that production values were flawless for the most part. Loved the updating of the Spiderman costume. Tom Holland brings a goofy sweetness to Peter Parker and loved Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. It was so great to see Alfred Molina and especially Willem Dafoe return to their roles, as it was to see Maguire and Garfield. What I loved most about this movie is where it brought us to as the credits rolled...it didn't set up a another movie, but it didn't end either...I liked that.