Directed by:
Jon WattsCinematography:
Matthew J. LloydComposer:
Michael GiacchinoCast:
Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angourie Rice, Remy Hii, Martin Starr (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Even your friendly neighborhood superhero can use a vacation. But a new threat forces Peter Parker to swing into action during a school trip to Europe. (Netflix)
Videos (9)
Reviews (12)
I enjoyed the first Spider-Man, and I recently watched it a second time. Tom Holland is great, Michael Keaton creates an interesting villain and the whole thing moved along nicely. In Far From Home, though, things are a little shakier. Holland keeps trying and the action is good to watch, but the whole thing feels kind of pointless. Whether it's the rather off-kilter antagonist with strange motivations and Bond villain appearances, the excessive running time, or the fact that Parker's classmates get a too much space and they're not particularly interesting. Oh, and it's also too long. There's action, there's humour, there's some suspense or romance (Spidey's strongest in that, ironically), but there's nothing outright exceptional, breathtaking or extra interesting. Spidey's second solo effort often feels tedious and tired. It's as if this is the fifth film where they didn’t quite know what to do next, so they send the hero to Europe. It's still okay, it's just hard to find anything "wow". But Holland is likable, Zendaya as a plucky high school femme fatale is too, and the burning Liberec city hall made me happy as a local. On the other hand, I don't think I'll give it a second viewing.
()
Lies, tricks and acrobatics. The second Spide-Man movie is a successful follow-up to the first one, as well as to Avengers: Endgame, although the storytelling is a little heavy-handed. Compromises are made in the quest for originality. The juxtaposition of the school trip and destructive fights is inconsistent. There is a reason for this, but it spoils the viewer’s enjoyment a little. The romantic interest works at 100% and Holland and Zendaya lend the required chemistry and a certain cuteness to the story of the loser/nerd in the love story. The storyline with Mysterio has one massive weak point in that people who have read the comic book know it already, but the screenwriters don't take that into account. Even so, Gyllenhaal delivers an interestingly double-faceted performance, accentuated especially in the second half. The illusionary scene is an unbelievable shower of ideas, the action in the climax is a fan’s dream come true and the setting in Prague/Liberec of course pleases us Czechs. Even so, the first movie impressed me a little more. The post-credits scenes are really worth it this time.
()
One of the most original Marvel films in recent times. It doesn’t rely solely on flashy action but also incorporates a solid dose of humor and entertaining moments featuring the main characters. It’s hard to compare it with Raimi’s original Spider-Man, as it presents a completely different style. I remember initially finding Tom Holland unappealing, as I wasn't keen on his teenage behavior. However, over time, I grew to like him more and more, and by the second film, he had somewhat won me over. He seems truly born for the role of the quirky young Spider-Man. The sequel offers an intriguing story where the focus is more on Peter Parker’s character rather than his superhero side. Surprisingly, I found this more grounded part of the film engaging, but of course, the tension also builds, and you'll encounter plenty of exciting action sequences with impressive special effects. The villains, known as the Elementals, immediately captured my attention with their depiction. Jake Gyllenhaal, with the erratic nature of his character, carried the film. It’s a bit of a shame that comic book fans know the true nature of his character, but I admit that some viewers, like myself, were genuinely surprised by the plot twist midway through the film. The first sequence with Mysterio and his illusions is extremely original, filled with fresh ideas and even a hint of horror (the graveyard scene). The ending was slightly less impressive, but still well-executed (though it couldn’t quite surpass the first scene). The post-credits scene set up anticipation for the next installment. If the series maintains this high standard, we have much to look forward to. Although I didn’t expect it, Spider-Man 2 outshone Avengers: Endgame. I give it 88%.
()
This feel-good adventure movie is elevated to the four-star level by multiple aspects and their fresh interaction – frequent moving around nice European locations, more space for Jon Favreau and his nice performance in the mentor role, frequent references to Tony Stark and Mysterio’s impressive technological games, paralleling the very charm of film illusion. And the well-depicted inner struggle of Spider-Man with his own responsibility and the inevitable expectations he has for himself.
()
This year has actually been pretty good so far. The only thing I had to suffer through from Marvel was the awful Captain America, and with Endgame I just pretended I didn't know it existed. When that huge color spectrum of objects and characters in monumental resolution came flying out at me again after so long, which mercilessly testifies to the fact that even a normal street had to be created mostly from a green screen, I was quite startled. This despite the fact that I surprisingly liked the previous Homecoming for its return to its roots. I mean, Spider-Man, as he himself hints at several times in this installment, is one of those "street-level heroes" whose main agenda is to right everyday wrongs against everyday but upstanding citizens, and ascribing the role of savior of the world to him doesn't sit well. While the first action scene in the last installment took place essentially in the confines of a laundromat against a bunch of common thugs, now it's already taking place in Venice against 20-foot elementals. The one delight there is in all sorts of details, realistic object physics, and the need to improvise with limited surroundings. It's boring to see buildings getting torn down and cars exploding again. The only thing that remains at least preserved is the identity of the villain, who, as in the first installment, is created as a result of the indestructible arrogant Stark hegemony. Besides, in an age of necessary war on tourism and its ensuing tastelessness and disposability, it's hard to rise above the issues of the plot, which constantly serves us images of whiny, spoiled American tourists with cell phones for heads raiding European capitals for instant gratification. No matter how much it makes me enjoy the idea of a conversation between a director and a Czech location scout: "With Prague, I'd like to shore up the quirkiness and history of the place by having the heroes arrive in that city just as some of their traditional celebrations are going on or something. What do they have there?" "Uh, well, there's always drunk guys chasing women with sticks and beating them up in the spring. They have to give them something in return, usually eggs or more booze. If they don’t, they're a write-off." "Hahahaha you're funny, but seriously, what are their specific traditions?" "Well then, like in February, kids dressed up as the three kings walk the streets and sign their names in chalk on the door to get some kind of a handout..." "Well, see, that's a nice custom..." "...and one of them in is blackface." "Oh, good gracious! Please, say no more. Do they at least know what paper lanterns are?" "Well, I guess so?" "Then let’s go with the Festival of Lights idea."
()
Gallery (49)
Photo © Sony Pictures
![Spider-Man: Far from Home - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/163/460/163460696_65e201.jpg)
Ads