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Spider-man: Homecoming - Movie Review

5 stars

“Face it, Tiger.  You just hit the jackpot.”  It’s the line Mary Jane says to Peter Parker when, in the comic book, he first sets eyes on her.  It’s sort of how I feel after watching this movie.  We. Just. Hit. The. Jackpot. 

Tom Holland is the full package.  He is both Peter Parker and Spider-Man and his first feature-length foray into the AMAZING world of the web-crawler is, while I am coining Marvel phrases, SPECTACULAR.  After his crowd-pleasing part in Captain America: Civil War, though, was there any doubt that he wasn’t going to knock this role out of the park?  Not in my mind.  It seems Marvel Studios, who now shares the property with Sony, has yet another monster-sized hit on its hands.

And I couldn’t be happier about the results.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is NOT an origin story.  For God’s sake, we certainly don’t need that nonsense.  After all, if Spider-Man circa 2002 or The Amazing Spider-Man, back in 2012, didn’t make it clear on how Peter became Spidey, then all hope is lost.   Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider.  We get it.  And so, too, do writers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who give us exactly what we need.  They understand what we already know about the character and skip it all, swinging us straight into the exciting “swing-bys” (see what I did there?) of Manhattan. 

Know this, too: the web-swinging action is front and center.  And so, too, is the character building.  First up is the establishing of Adrian Toomes/Vulture as the film’s main villain.  Played by Michael Keaton (ironically enough of Birdman fame), Adrian watches as his salvage business goes to hell thanks to the interference of the United States government and, due to a bit of alien technology, channels his frustration into a life of crime.  As Vulture, Keaton is a menacing presence that stealthily chills and proves to be a threatening foe for the limber young underoos-wearing crime fighter. 

Marvel successfully takes us back to high school in this one and, hell, even John Hughes would be proud of their entry through those “pretty (in) pink” double doors to the gymnasium.  It hits all the right buttons to be a warmhearted charmer.  This is a coming of age story after all…with masks! 

Peter Parker, learning how to balance his life as Spider-Man, can’t help but be a geek.  His bubbling joy makes him one.  Easily.  And the girls, especially Liz (Laura Harrier), remain elusive.  But that doesn’t stop him from trying to impress them nonetheless.  He’s an Avenger, after all.  Well, maybe, he is…and that’s where all the angst and frustration comes into play.  He wants to do more and more and more and Tony Stark/Iron Man is pushing him to do less and less and less. 

Take it slow, kid.  Be friendly.  Cruise the neighborhood. 

So, with this film, we have a centralized location (Spidey’s not saving the world!) and a cast of young talents – including Donald Glover and Zendaya – mixing with established ones, like Bookem Woodbine and Martin Starr.  Everything comes together to create something equal to the effervescent high of summertime.  The action sequences are full of Spidey quips (with smartass wit, too) and high-flying thrills as he zips across the city skyline.

Director John Watts (Clown) has assembled a remarkably fun film that captures everything we know and love about the beloved comic book character.  The film feels fresh and full of life; and the special effects are solid.  I absolutely love that Marvel gave him the opportunity to grow as a director with this film as he certainly delivers.  And it is all so very memorable that you might just soon be forgetting all about all the other incarnations of the hero.  I know, I know, but Spider-Man 2…. 

With Marvel regular Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark involved in more than just a cameo, a returning Marisa Tomei as (a hotter and funnier version of) Aunt May, and newcomer Jacob Batalon as Ned, the superhero-obsessed BFF to Peter Parker, the story structure and set pieces are firmly in place for the new series to soldier on for a good number of years in this friendly Spidey’s neighborhood.   

Welcome back to Marvel, Spider-Man.  Your homecoming is truly worth celebrating.

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Spider-man: Homecoming - Movie Review

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments.
Runtime:
133 mins
Director
: Jon Watts
Writer:
Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Cast:
Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr.
Genre
: Sci-fi | adventure | fantasy
Tagline:

Memorable Movie Quote: "That's not a hug. I'm just grabbing the door for you."
Theatrical Distributor:
Columbia Pictures
Official Site: http://www.spidermanhomecoming.com/
Release Date: July 7, 2017
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
No details available
Synopsis: A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Spider-man: Homecoming - Movie Review

 

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Sony Pictures
Available on Blu-ray - October 17, 2017
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD-50, 1 DVD); UV digital copy; Digital copy; Movies Anywhere; DVD copy; Bonus View (PiP)
Region Encoding: Region-free playback

 

 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.39:1, Sony Pictures the new Spider-Man with visual aplomb. The color palette is naturally well balanced with warm and rich hues. Contrast is excellent, with solid and deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Fleshtones are naturally cast. The action scenes – both during the day and the night – do intensify the overall effect of the picture, which effectively enhance the excitement and Spider-Man's fluid swings through canyons of the cityscape. It is these action scenes that deliver impressive visuals and dynamically shape the sense of natural space and effective depth. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamically and spatially engaging. A digital copy and a DVD copy is included with the release

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

There are a number of behind-the-scenes peeks at the making of the movie, including the hunt for the new Spider-Man and how the Vulture was brought to life. Fans of webhead will certainly get a kick out of The Spidey Study Guide, a pop-up feature for trivia fans. The extended scenes include A Film By Peter Parker (Director's Cut), Cafeteria, Return from ATM, Triskelion Cleanup, Anxious Tomomes, Aaron Still Stuck, Go It Alone, Happy Calls His Mom, Midtown Final Segment, and Mr. Harrington Lessons in Love.

  • Gag Reel (2 min)
  • Deleted & Extended Scenes (16 min)
  • A Tangled Web (6 min)
  • Searching for Spider-Man (8 min)
  • Spidey Stunts (6 min)
  • Aftermath (5 min)
  • The Vulture Takes Flight (6 min)
  • Jon Watts: Head of the Class (5 min)
  • Pros and Cons of Spider-Man (3 min)
  • Rappin' with Cap (3 min)
  • Photo Gallery
  • Trailers
  • Previews

 

 

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