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No Way Home, best of all?

It’s Tom Holland’s last lap. After two installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the friendly little neighborhood spider bids farewell with the conclusion of her Marvel adventures. A third film particularly awaited by fans of the license. Spider-Man has he tripped over his web? Critical.

In 2017, Marvel unveils the first adventures of Spider-Man within its vast cinematic universe. Homecoming, literally translated as homecoming, sounds like a rebirth for the character now played by Tom Holland. At just 21, the British actor plays a seemingly mundane teenager who has to deal with his high school life and a power that comes with great responsibility.

Quite different from previous cinematic iterations of the character, the saga with Tom Holland revisits the mythology of Spider-Man. An effective “teen-movie” that revives the tone of the comics, without equaling the excellent trilogy of Sam Raimi. The bet is nevertheless won for Marvel and Sony, who amassed no less than $ 880 million at the international box office.

Quickly, the two studios decided to offer it a sequel, just as popular with the public. But now, the two industry giants are struggling to find common ground and the third part is more threatened than ever. This collaboration could therefore have ended there, but the call for the greenbacks was stronger than the winds of discord. And the third part is quickly started.

A particularly anticipated new opus, since it promises to redistribute the cards within an MCU which is entering its fourth phase and a whole new saga. Exit the infinity stones and Thanos, the scriptwriting issues will take a whole new turn. From now on, it is the multiverse that opens its doors, first on Disney + with Loki then on the big screen with No Way Home. A spatio-temporal intrigue therefore, which will have to prove itself at a time when the fervor of the spectators begins to run out of steam.

After the death of Quentin Beck, Peter Parker must face the consequences of revealing his true identity. Cornered from all sides (by the press and public opinion) the friendly little neighborhood spider has quickly become public enemy number 1. To get out of this mess, he turns to Doctor Strange and his temporal powers, but playing with fate is never really a good idea, and Peter will learn it the hard way. The spell cast by Strange took a heavy toll on his reality and more than ever the universe is in danger.

spider-man no way home black suit
Matt kennedy
© 2021 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2021 MARVEL

Spider-Man: No Way Home is a risky bet for the House of Ideas and Sony Pictures. The feature film is particularly awaited by fans of the saga, and many rumors have been circulating for several months on its plot and its impact on the rest of the license. It is just as many fans who foment theories and who would therefore be likely to be particularly disappointed if things do not turn out exactly as they had imagined. We could easily compare Spider-Man: No Way Home at Avengers: Endgame, as the latter had occupied the minds of spectators several months before its release.

As for its place in the MCU too, the task is heavy since the film must lay the foundations of a whole new part of the adventures of Marvel superheroes, which should occupy us for a dozen feature films and without just as much doubt about Disney + series. However, faced with the scale of this mission, the writers do not flinch and deliver a fundamentally effective introduction.

No Way Home is a subtle blend of grandiose stakes and human-scale intrigue. Without forgetting the emotional significance of the story, Erik Sommers and Chris McKenna give birth to entertainment on all levels, sometimes funny, often intense and always enjoyable. The two screenwriters already at work on the previous opus take the best of the previous films, but do not avoid making a few odds.

We can blame them for some scriptwriting facilities here and there, strings sometimes as big as the vigilante’s canvas clusters, but nothing that could hold the experience for fans of the license. Even if the whole thing is a little wobbly – a vulgar Bluetooth pairing to control a villain – Spider-Man: No Way Home has no trouble transporting us to the heart of its sprawling plot.

Even on the side of the realization, there is better. Evidenced by a mirror confrontation scene that works miracles on the big screen and rather controlled and impactful melee. Still, sometimes the editing does not do justice to the staging of Jon Watts. Despite everything, after more than 2h30, we want more!

Electro in Spider-Man
Matt kennedy
© 2021 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2021 MARVEL

Spider-eggs do you want some here

In recent years, the MCU has looked less like an interconnected universe than a real saga. Despite the fact that each of the films is independent, we have to admit that they are so inseparable that their discovery can be a puzzle for the uninitiated. Spider-Man: No Way Home is no exception, so you have to be up to date on the various films and series of the house of ideas before settling in those good old red armchairs. If the first films can be enjoyed independently of the rest of the saga, this last part requires a certain mastery of the subject.

A feeling reinforced by the omnipresence of references and nods to previous Sony films, whether in live action, and even in animation. Fan service that is sometimes a little easy, but ultimately almost always successful. Without revealing too much about the plot, we will simply say that the crowd was jubilant at each of these little “easter eggs”. The fact remains that a film cannot be based solely on fan service; sometimes Spider-Man: No Way Home lack of ambition and is content a little too much with the minimum.

Some of the twists and turns lack consistency, are not always very inspired and even often rather predictable. However, we can’t help but follow with frenzy the adventures of Peter Parker in the land of the multiverse.

Spidey takes it for his rank

He has grown up well since his first swings between the buildings of New York. The character played by Tom Holland gains in density with each opus, this last part particularly succeeds in this evolution. The cool kid of the MCU is getting tall and far less naive. If the first films were meant to be lighter, No Way Home is a tipping point for Spider-Man, which embraces the full dramatic dimension of his tale.

Tom Holland and Zendaya Spider-Man
Matt kennedy
© 2021 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2021 MARVEL

A maturity that Tom Holland takes brilliantly, always excellent in the register. After Cherry, the 25-year-old British actor proves he has mastered more than one palette, from comedy to drama to action. Zendaya is no slouch. The chemistry between the two actors is palpable, so much so that one comes to wonder if this is not the best duet that the universe of Spider-Man has given us to see.

The rest of the cast is just as convincing, starting with the antagonists who are making their comeback like Electro, Doctor Octopus and also and especially The Green Goblin. Willem Dafoe shines especially for his embodiment of the duality of the protagonist, still as effective as in the Sam Raimi trilogy, and much more. Our only regret will undoubtedly be linked to the character of the Lizard, unfairly relayed in the background. It must be said that in The Amazing Spider-Man, its operation was far from being free from flaws, despite the undeniable talent of Rhys Ifans. To be able to enjoy it as it should, we will rather watch The King’s Man: First Mission, which should be released in a few days on our screens.

Finally, we will end with the music of Michael Giacchino who still gives us a show of strength with an epic and heady score. If Danny Elfman’s work on Sam Raimi’s trilogy is remembered, the composer’s score of the original music by Up there does not demerit. From the main theme to these different variations, the soundtrack of Spider-Man: No Way Home is electrifying. We have fun seeing how he seized the compositions of other films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, like the mythical theme of Doctor Strange. Listen carefully, the film’s references are also sound and musical.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is ultimately a true love letter to the character on glossy paper, who while she sometimes leans a little too much on the fan service, doesn’t forget to be pure entertainment. Rather controlled, this last part of the saga amply deserves its status as Marvel of the year. From directing to special effects, Jon Watts’ footage is a true sound and light show, which can rival the best year-end fireworks.

It is difficult to imagine Sony stopping in such a good way, especially at a time when the firm is developing its own cinematographic universe. However, it is to be expected that Peter Parker will only play a secondary role in future SPUMC films, as a third installment of Venom for example. Unless the success of this last part motivates the studios to start the production of a fourth Spiderman.

In any case, meet as soon as Wednesday 15 December in dark rooms to discover Spider-Man: No Way Home.

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