Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
A (95%)
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch Synopsis: With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of action/violence, some language and brief suggestive comments) Runtime: 2 hr 28 min Release Date: December 17, 2021 The character of Spider-Man has gone through quite the journey the past 2 decades in film--from Sam Raimi's trilogy starring Toby Maguire as the title character, to Andrew Garfield's two Amazing Spider-Man films, to the MCU-incorporated Tom Holland reboot. Though Tom Holland has been virtually undisputedly regarded as the best live action version of the character, I personally prefer Toby's Spider-Man. Yes, part of it is nostalgia, having grown up watching those films. But it's also because Raimi's trilogy had such a strong focus on character, and not just a comedy-infused story built on big, CGI laden action sequences and a Spider-Man who's overly reliant on Iron Man in the storyline. Remember, Raimi's trilogy was created before the MCU arose and became a behemoth of interweaving storylines and characters.
Thus was my frustration with Holland's Spider-Man (Garfield's portrayal has grown on me significantly since its release--even though the films themselves are far from perfect). The MCU has continued to frustrate me, particularly since Thor: Ragnarok, as over-the-top lighthearted comedy has consistently replaced solid, character-driven storytelling and real, tangible stakes and relatable subject matter. Holland's second film, Far From Home gave me some hope, as it was an improvement over its predecessor in the fact that we got to see a glimpse of Holland's Spider-Man struggle and grapple with the loss of Tony Stark from Endgame. But I still wanted to see more struggle. More heartbreak. An even darker storyline. And, boy, did Spider-Man: No Way Home deliver. This film had a ton (and I do mean a TON) of hype leading up to it. And many films with this level of hype flounder, but No Way Home sails. Yes, it's a crowd pleaser, and yes, it's sure to please any and all Spider-Man fans. But the deep-rooted reason is that we see Holland's Spider-Man actually become Spider-Man. In the course of this film, he transforms from the teenage kid wielding flashy spider powers to a man who finally understands what it means to be a superhero, as well as learning the powerful lesson of the self-destruction that can occur from being vengeful on your enemies. This is finally a character driven MCU film, one that lets Holland show off his acting chops in full force, and one that lets us see the darkness that his character must go through. It's not an understatement to say that this is some of the best writing in the MCU, and you can't help but feel that Sony had a larger role in the writing this time around. It just feels like old-school Spider-Man again, in the best of ways. Yes, there's still plenty of comedy, but it takes a backseat to the dramatic core of the story--the comedy doesn't undercut the drama, and the difference is astounding and hugely satisfying. Another strong aspect of this film is its pacing--for a 2-and-a-half-hour runtime, it moves swiftly from one plot point to the next, never feeling dragged out. And unlike most MCU films, No Way Home's climactic final action sequence doesn't contain end of the world stakes. Yes, they are very large stakes, but they aren't apocalyptic, which is refreshing to see. And while there's still more CGI than I'd care to see, it isn't overwhelming or over extended. If you've seen the trailers, you know that the film features the return of several former Spider-Man villains, including Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Electro (Jaimie Foxx), Lizard (Rhys Ifans), and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church). This was concerning at first, as Spider-Man 3 (2007) was plagued by too many villains, but No Way Home does an outstanding job of juggling every one of them. It's important to note that these villains aren't merely cameos or minor roles--they play a significant role in the story and to Spider-Man himself, which is surprising and very entertaining to watch. All give solid performances, but Willem Dafoe ultimately steals the show. He clearly lavishes playing the Green Goblin, and his menacing voice sends chills down your spine again, especially since it’s been almost 2 decades since he's played the role. Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the MCU's best films. Upon writing, I'm placing it in the top 5, which is very high praise, but the film deserves every bit of it. From its refreshingly character-driven story, darker thematic material with less focus on overriding comedy, a well-crafted juggling of numerous characters, and strong performances--particularly from Tom Holland Willem Dafoe, Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of those superhero films that, unlike a lot of recent Marvel efforts, will remain memorable for years to come. Written by Anthony Watkins, December 22, 2021 |