Spidey casts web over audience tear ducts while finding ‘way’ to bank
Is Spider-Man: No Way Home an elongated and cluttered story, or a work of cinematic genius from director Jon Watts? The last two Tom Holland Spider-Man movies were a roadmap of backstory that ultimately led up to the events of the recent release, a common theme amongst Marvel movies and their storylines. What makes this one different lies in the nostalgia of old Marvel villains, overall visual effects, and the authentic ethos Peter brings when he chooses to help rather than hurt, which really makes this trilogy unique to the actor himself. Beyond leaving viewers shattered emotionally and visually, No Way Home also pushes the door wide open to the MCU multiverse and all that it offers to future incarnations..
No Way Home picks up right after its predecessor, Far From Home, with Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain) outing Spider-Man as Peter Parker (Tom Holland, Devil All the Time). The 25-year-old Holland plays the role of a high schooler with frightening accuracy, doing everything the cool way instead of following the right or easy course. With Peter’s life turned upside down, he and his girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya, Euphoria), and best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon, Night School), struggle to move onto their post-high school careers at MIT as controversy follows them at every turn. Zendaya and Batalon do a great job of showing true companionship throughout the movie, and the trilogy as a whole. Even outside of the film set, these three are great friends, and viewers can really see the chemistry in their performances.
After he and his friends are rejected from MIT, Peter goes straight to Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock), the pompous wizard of NYC, and asks him to erase the entire world’s memory of Peter Parker’s identity as Spider-Man. Peter unravels the threads of the multiverse by diluting Strange's spell with change after change, ultimately summoning every character aware of the true identity of Spider-Man, including villains of other branches of universes. This sends him on a journey to send everyone back to their universe in a unique and totally in-character fashion by the friendly, neighborhood Spider-man.
Guided by the vision of Watts, No Way Home puts a spin on the traditional crossover typically done by Marvel Studios and Sony. This release stands as one of the best Marvel movies yet, rivaling The Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, and Thor: Ragnarok. His work with the actors, designers, and visual effects crews created an astounding piece of work, taking the movie to the next level for a superhero film. For example, Watts’ take on the Spider-sense, the humanity of villains, and sense of humor are just a few examples that stand out. Watts’ builds on his previous work from the other two films in this Spider-man trilogy, adding more Easter eggs and small details such as license plates coded to specific issues of comics related to the movie or the substantial number of memes from other movies, all there for nerds everywhere to discover and enjoy. This also enhances the detail of the effects, acting, and story to really immerse the viewer into the entire MCU experience.
No Way Home proved one of the most influential films marking the end of the chaotic year of 2021. Buoyed by humorous actors, unique effects and filming, Watts includes enough fan-involved Easter eggs to keep the most engaged viewers on their toes. Besides this, the film also spreads a message that everyone has the potential to be good, despite their pasts, and emphasizes that true heroism lies in humanity and a desire to serve.Spider-Man: No Way Home will leave viewers jumping out of their seats one second and reaching for the tissues the next, with something new around every corner.
by Ethan Rutz and Len Kloss
Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue IV
January 31st, 2022