“BECAUSE THATS NOT WHO HE IS…” – Aunt May
If someone would’ve told me Spider-Man: No Way Home would have Avengers: Endgame level audience engagement I would have laughed hysterically and offensively at them. Well, guess who’s laughing now… not me. Marvel and Sony, however, are all the way to the bank, as No Way Home exceeds every expectation I ever imagined it could and is POSSIBLY the GREATEST COMIC BOOK FILM OF ALL TIME!
Spider-Man: No Way Home is the exclamation point to one of, if not, the greatest superhero character arcs in cinematic history. It balances the drama and comedy to near perfection while raising the stakes and not cheapening the journey these characters explore.
Peter Parker must face a new reality where his identity is revealed to the world after his fight with Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Some say he’s a hero, but to others he’s a menace. This dejected Peter, desperate to undo the chaos in his life, pays a visit to Dr. Strange with the hopes of making the world forget the true identity of Spider-Man. After the spell goes horribly wrong, visitors from across the multiverse who know Spider-Man’s secret identity come to our world seeking retribution.
This trilogy of films, helmed by Jon Watts and penned by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, rebounds tremendously after Far From Home. Spider-Man: No Way Home re-contextualizes the entire narrative and subsequently every Spider-Man film before it. While I can’t say the graphics are as impressive as the work done in Endgame, the Action and the dramatic camerawork are.
This film’s narrative approach and understanding to who Peter Parker is, and what Spider-Man needs to be brings you to tears. It’s that human journey we connect with that draws us in. The lessons learned are earned and executed in a way that’s incredibly impactful and makes for one of the most REWARDING CINEMATIC EXPERIENCES EVER!
Tom Holland delivers the best performance any Spider-Man has ever given on screen and it is OSCAR WORTHY! The chemistry between him and Zendaya is special.
The camp of Green Goblin and Doc Ock from the Sam Raimi films is present here, but elevated by the incredible performances from Willem Defoe and Alfred Molina because of the script. This could’ve been an overstuffed back door Sinister 6 mess but completely avoids it. The script for Spider-Man: No Way Home even gives room to retcon a lot of what didn’t work in the Amazing Spider-Man films, specifically Jamie Foxx’s Electro. He’s actually cool in this movie.
Spider-Man: No Way Home earns the biggest leash. It’s self-aware and filled with meta surprises all throughout. The uniqueness of this movie and how it fits within the zeitgeist of superhero filmmaking adds to what makes it so one of a kind.
This movie really had no business being this good. It’s a surprising triumph on every level! A high school superhero drama with pathos, laughs and lots of love that aces the test. It’s the best film of the Trilogy. It elevates every Spider-Man film before it while also managing to succeed on its own two feet. It captures Spider-Man’s essence and perfectly applies thematic understanding to one of the greatest adages in Superhero storytelling:; “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.”
Spider-Man: No Way Home understood the assignment.
10/10
