Directed by:
Jon WattsCinematography:
Mauro FioreComposer:
Michael GiacchinoCast:
Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
When his loved ones are put at risk, Peter Parker asks Doctor Strange to restore his secret — and accidentally sets off a disaster of epic proportions. (Netflix)
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Reviews (14)
One of the most overrated films of recent years, rivalled in this respect perhaps only by Joker and Bohemian Rhapsody. It does have a fine idea about the weight of the superhero's fate and its impact on family and love life, but otherwise it's a surreal and far-fetched borefest. One big bag of synthetic fan-service that brings back old favourite characters from other movie worlds in a childish plot that, while it sort of fits Peter's character development, mostly just makes the otherwise normal characters look like morons and treats the returnees like they're in a Saturday Night Live sketch. A great scene in the mirror dimension, an initially unpredictable lead-in, and a few heartwarming moments for the most hardcore fans (no one else can really like it) don't redeem the lack of adult humor and any emotional believability – except for Peter, who actually repeatedly acts contrary to how a protector of our planet and dimension should behave (and the impossibly imbecilic Strange, perhaps played by Cumberbatch this time online from vacation, puts the crown on that), all the characters are flat and uninteresting. Parker's relationship with MJ suffers as well, but partly because of the unconvincing Zendaya, who can only pretend to be ironic with various subtle variations. If it was just fun and full of eye-candy, I would put all these 'little things' behind me, but not even that. For the first time, the world of the MCU is starting to look really stupid and illogical, and it's driving me crazy that a film with such a pandering concept is dominating financially at a time when truly inspiring and rewarding titles from directorial mavericks are making a splash in theaters. I'd give it a 2*, but that probably wouldn't be entirely fair given some of the even worse Marvel movies I've given 3* to - though those were at least funnier and snappier.
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The best Spider-Man and a solid Marvel movie, but still does not reach the level of Endgame. I'm sorry I didn't see it in the cinema and it's strange to write about a movie after so long when almost everyone has seen it (not my style), so just briefly. The opening with the reveal of Spiderman's Identity is quite overwhelming and powerful, the emotions work and I could easily see the whole movie in a similar vein, but once Dr. Strange intervenes, nothing will ever be the same thanks to the Multiverse. The return of the old villains from the nostalgia side is a pleasure (on the other hand quite a shame, as I like the new villains), and so is the the return of the older Spider-Men (after 5 months of spoilers I guess no one will complain). It has great pace, a nice atmosphere, the humour works in places and the action is solid, although there is not much of it, but it doesn't really matter. All the fatality, atmosphere and visual play, along with the emotions and the excellent Holland and the diabolical Defoe work, and even though I was expecting a stronger impact at the core, it's still a solid film and comic book adaptation that will offend few. I won't resist watching it again. Story 4/5, Action 4/5, Humor 3/5, Violence 0/5, Fun 5/5 Music 4/5, Visuals 5/5, Atmosphere 4/5, Suspense 2/5, Emotion 4/5, Actors 5/5. 8.5/10.
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There are very few movies I wouldn’t mind arriving late to so I could actually appreciate them. Spider-Man: No Way Home is really great, unfortunately it's only great after an hour, when everything starts to come together, kicks into high gear, and Jon Watts delivers not only fanservice and very solid action, but also very effective emotions. Everyone on the screen is enjoying it and they can rightly pat themselves on the back for making fantastic popcorn entertainment without getting lost in grand ambitions. But then there's that first hour, for which the screenwriters, the director, Tom Holland, and maybe everyone who could have prevented it from looking the way it does, deserve a good slap. Peter Parker in Holland's portrayal is still a kid, or rather a teenager. That's what the series is built on, I get it and actually enjoy it, but he was never an idiot. Here he is. Parker behaves like an irresponsible jerk, but it's no longer funny, playful, or entertaining. His incompetence and stupidity far exceed everything I'm willing to tolerate in an action blockbuster, and I set the bar really high. And actually, it ruined the whole movie for me to a large extent, because in all the following scenes I was thinking that it looks great, but I would actually be pleased if Parker got buried under a skyscraper, because I don't know if I want to cheer and root for such a dumb moron and a happy ending. Two hours after the end of the screening, I can honestly say that I belong to the satisfied ones. However, if I ever watch it again, I will definitely start from the halfway point.
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A solid popcorn flick and a decent Spiderman movie about Peter's transformation from a teenage boy to a man, but it fails completely in two aspects. Paradoxically, in those on which it should build and stand: the use of old friends and in the fan service. At a time when the spider-universe has offered such gems as Into the Spiderverse (this is how you work with the possibilities of "many worlds"), Life Story (this is what real fan-service looks like), and the Insomniac reimagination (this is how you work with serious themes in Spidey's rendition), to come up with something that brilliantly scatters all the available LEGO bricks on the floor, but doesn't assemble them into anything other than exactly what you'd expect, is a bummer. There is plenty of time and space, but there is not even a hint of an attempt at anything more than "XY takes off his mask, his musical motif plays, his catchphrase comes on, the audience freaks out"; no idea, no playfulness, nothing beyond a few seconds of nostalgia. That's not fan service worthy of as many aces up your sleeve as there are. And there are plenty! They could (and should) have got out so much out of it. Well, they did, but it didn’t work. And as a result, it’s nothing but a solid pop-corn flick and a decent Spiderman movie.
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Objectively, I should probably say that No Way Home is the weakest of the new Spider-Man movies, but subjectively, there are so many great moments that I rate it as I do without even blinking. Spider-fans will be in seventh heaven at times, Jon Watts and Tom Holland have simply done it and concluded the trilogy with the promise of great things to come. Of the non-spoilers, I have to single out Michael Giacchino's music and literally every scene in which Spidey meets Doctor Strange.
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