The Ultimate Spider-Man Movie, For the Spider-Man Fan
Creator: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Copyright: ©2021 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2021 MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
SPOILERS AHEAD
In 2019 when Avengers: Endgame arrived in theatres fans witnessed a culmination of over ten years of methodically setting up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It paid off. Fans shelled out over 2.7 billion dollars as they saw dozens of Avengers assemble for the climactic battle that was unlike any other movie moment in history. Around the world, there were countless moments where fans jumped out of their seats with rousing cheers as the Avengers assembled. (During the movie theatre shutdowns of the pandemic, I rewatched audience reactions on YouTube to relive the moment and hope for moments like this in the future.) After the bliss of Endgame wore off, many wondered if there was ever going to be a comparable cinematic moment like that again. Based off early audience reactions on social media, the next Portals moment has arrived.
Tom Holland’s Spiderman has received some criticism that he was handed the keys to the kingdom when Tony Stark took him underwing when he was first added to the MCU in Captain America: Civil War. His backstory of how he became Spider-man was skipped in the interest of time and taking advantage of the audience’s built-in familiarity with the spidey story. Holland’s Spider-Man was thrust directly into the fray as he joined Team Stark and received Stark tech complete with nanotechnology to upgrade his pajama looking get up. Homecoming and Far From Home did a decent amount to add to the narrative of MCU Spider-Man and reviews were mostly favorable but fans were left with wanting more development with tougher decisions that MCU Peter Parker had to make. Of the many high points and triumphs to be excited about in NWH the theme of choice and consequence is the most rewarding payoff for No Way Home.
NWH picks up from the moment Peter Parker’s identity is revealed in Far From Home and Peter is instantly thrown head first into tough decisions he has never had to make before. He is faced with scrutiny from media and classmates as he tries to get into MIT with Ned and MJ. Going from hero to public menace makes Peter wish he was out of the spotlight. With help from Dr. Strange Peter wishes that no one knows his identity. Strange obliges and Peter gets what he asks for but with great wishes there are great consequences.
As alluded to in the Disney+ series Loki, the multiverse is real and figures to be the main focal point for the next phases of the MCU. Strange and Peter’s ritual gone awry has tampered with the space time continuum, AKA Multiverse. Visitors, well mostly villains anyway, are brought to MCU Spidey’s world and are seeking Peter out for vengeance from their universes. Peter must now choose to kill his enemies or to rehabilitate them and send them back. Another example of Peter maturing on the screen before us. Aside from seeing his mentor Tony die in Endgame, the ones closest to Peter have rarely been killed off. That changes with Aunt May in the third act. Peter now must live with his choices in the most devastating of ways.
All of this is uncharted territory for an MCU Spiderman that has never personally faced realities this heavy. Later, through the help of Peter’s homeboy Ned and his apparent newfound sanctum powers, we get to see a moment that evokes Endgame assemble memories. It was a surreal moment. They did it. They brought the boys back. Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield are in the MCU. For how long? Who cares! The freshly assembled spidey team shares some incredible fan service and spectacular meme-references but most importantly each of the two other spidermen bring elements from their universe to advise Holland’s Peter on how to embrace his role of a life of great power with great responsibility.
Overall Score | 9.5/10 Webs
