Since 2002, there have been eight Spider-Man films and three different actors taking on the web-slinger mantle. Spider-Man: No Way Home is a fitting culmination of all three eras and is the best Spider-Man film yet.
Director Jon Watts has done a great job of handling the Tom Holland Spider-Man films. He shines at balancing the tonal shifts throughout the film. No Way Home is full of great humor but is also the darkest Spider-Man film. The action and visual effects in Homecoming and Far From Home fit the story told but didn’t break new ground. No Way Home’s action scenes are far better than anything in the MCU with the exception of Endgame. The theme of ‘great power comes with great responsibility” hangs over the film throughout.
Holland gives one of the best performances in any film this year. The conclusion of Far From Home revealed Spider-Man’s identity to the world. With his identity out in the open, Ned and MJ’s lives have been altered just by their connection to him. He reaches out to Dr. Strange for help and all chaos ensues.
Dr. Strange’s spell pulls several villains from across the Spider-Man universe. Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, the voice of Thomas Haden Church, Jamie Fox and Rhys Ifans reprise their roles as Doc Ock, Norman Osbourne, Sandman, Electro and Lizard. Dafoe is phenomenal, Molina is sublime and Fox oozes cool, which is something that can’t be said about Max Dillon in The Amazing Spider–Man 2. Sandman and Lizard aren’t given as much to do, but it’s nice to hear Ifans and Church again.
Zendaya is wonderful as MJ. When Peter screws up, she accepts his apology and does what she can to help her boyfriend. Jacob Batalon continues to be reliable as Peter’s best friend Ned. However, the best supporting character is easily Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. Tomei as Aunt May is given far more to do in this film than any other Aunt May in a Spider-Man film. She gives an Academy Award-caliber performance in every scene she’s in. Tomei’s not in enough of the film to actually warrant a nomination, but her performance is sensational.
There are two issues in No Way Home. Ned’s ability to easily pick up magic isn’t earned. It’s a cool character beat that’s played for humor but needed to be built up over the course of the trilogy. There are some oddities with Dr. Strange’s involvement in the story specifically with the spell he casts. However, I did enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Strange opposite Holland’s Peter.
Despite those couple of issues, the ending of No Way Home is the best out of any MCU film. Equal part sad and oddly hopeful, the ending is a fitting conclusion to the three Holland films and sets the course for the next phase of Spider-Man films.
With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood out in No Way Home. There will be Spoilers on the next page.
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