After two years since the release of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Spider Man: Far From Home” (2019), the iconic Marvel superhero returns in “Spider Man: No Way Home”, which was released on December 16.
Post “Far From Home”, with Quentin Beck aka Mysterio revealing Peter Parker’s identity to the world and even framing him as a villain, Parker turns to his superhero colleague Dr. Stephen Strange aka the wizard Dr. Strange to help him out of this tricky situation.
Strange casts a spell which has unforeseen side effects, with Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina), Green Goblin (William Dafoe), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and The Lizard (Rhys Ifans) appearing from alternate universes alongside alternate spidermen from the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb films with the previous actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their roles.
“No Way Home” sees a different take on Spider Man in comparison to the previous two instalments, and his appearances in “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers Infinity War” and “Endgame”. His role in “No Way Home” carries more emotional weight than before in comparison to the standard MCU formula of the lighter setting and cracking jokes every few seconds.
However, it is not so devoid of the standard Marvel trope of comedy so as to be unrecognisable, merely that its setting has changed to what can be considered a more serious approach in comparison to “Homecoming” and “Far From Home”.
“No Way Home” further goes on to give a great deal of fan service to the fandom and movie watchers with its introduction of villains and alternate Peter Parkers from the previous universes, having a bit in common with the animated movie “Spider Man: Into The SpiderVerse” with its introduction of the multiverse.
Tom Holland’s spiderman however has evolved a great deal in the movie –from an excitable teenager with great powers who did not fully understand his responsibility, to becoming a mature superhero who is no longer just your friendly neighbourhood spiderman, but someone who looks out for more, and the actor certainly does this part justice.
The movie further goes on to show his relationship with Stephen Strange which after the death of his mentor Tony Stark in “Endgame” is similar to that of colleagues on a more equal footing as the two fought to save the entire universe from Thanos, though Peter thinks of Strange as the wiser one among them.
The story line is certainly interesting, and it focusing on a more emotional setting is certainly refreshing in Marvel’s case. Each actor has done their role justice, with the direction being brilliant, as writers Erik Sommers and Chris McKenna and director Jon Watts wrote and directed the movie with a clear cut understanding of the friendly neighbourhood spiderman as well as the hero’s spirit as is depicted in the comic books, and succeeded in bringing it onto the screen.
On a whole this is a definitely a worthwhile watch and a much better movie than “No Way Home”.
Variety chief film critic Peter Debruge called the blockbuster “a clever meta-adventure” adding that “audiences who’ve tuned out [of the ‘Spider-Man’ films] along the way will be rewarded for giving this one a shot.”
Clayton Davis of Variety in a tweet said of the film: “#SpiderManNoWayHome has a beginning, middle and an end. I like those three elements. Tom Holland and Zendaya are good at making me believe they are those characters. The special effects look real. I liked the fights. I had a lot of fun.
“This is how I review Marvel movies now.”
