One of the many posters for Spider-Man: Homecoming
Well before the wide release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, early preview reviews started rolling out and proclaiming the film to be fantastic. I was a little worried that much of the hype was overblown; that the reviewers were overlooking the movie’s flaws just because they were happy to have Spider-Man as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Granted, I had no reason to feel this way having not seen the movie, but that’s just the anxiety in me. After seeing Spider-Man: Homecoming, however, I realize just how silly this notion was.
For starters, Homecoming doesn’t get bogged down in an origin story. One of movie-goers’ biggest complaints is that the first film in every super hero series is an origin. Most often, it’s necessary to establish where the character comes from. Sometimes, a movie is directed well enough that the audience doesn’t realize they’re watching an origin. For Spider-Man: Homecoming, there’s a quick scene recapping Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) experiences in Berlin prior to his debut in Captain America: Civil War and how Tony Stark (do I even need to put “Robert Downey Jr.” here?) gave him his suit but that’s it. They make references to the spider that bit him but we never see it happen. Thankfully Marvel and Sony understood that audiences know how Peter became Spider-Man.
As a character, Spider-Man has always been about dichotomy, and Homecoming recognized that. Peter Parker is the timid, nerdy, powerless kid but he’s also the strong super hero who can do amazing things. In the movie, though, we see this power divide almost everywhere. Spider-Man wants t do more and help people on a grander scale but Tony Stark limits his abilities and keeps him grounded. Adrian Toomes, the villainous Vulture played by Michael Keaton, is a hard-working, blue-collar salvage worker whose life is threatened when a powerful government organization comes in and claims authority over his jobsite. We can understand his fear and need to do whatever he has to in order to provide for his family. (This was also a nice way to tie Homecoming into the MCU and the events that transpired in Avengers.)
Michael Keaton’s Vulture was damn-near perfect.
Spider-Man: Homecoming also places a lot of focus on Spidey’s supporting characters. Peter’s best friend, Ned (played by Jacob Batalon, who looks more like Ganke than Ned Leeds but I digress), gets almost as much screen time as Peter himself. School bully Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori) shows up often and is much more than a one-note trick than previous portrayed in the other movies. Even a character like Michelle has an abundance of screen time, but that’s to be expected when they put someone like Zendaya in that role.
Jacob Batalon as Ned in Spider-Man: Homecoming
All of this works to make Spider-Man: Homecoming feel like a true Spider-Man movie. Spider-Man has always been about the people around him. Seventy plus years of comics show us that Spider-Man became the hero he is because of his affection for his friends, and even his tormentors. Previous cinematic versions of Spidey never really got that ideal, or at least never expressed it as well as Homecoming did.
One of my biggest complaints about Homecoming is the way it handled Peter Parker. As the quiet, nerdy kid, Peter either gets picked on or ignored. He lives with his elderly Aunt May, who no doubt maintains her household while living on a fixed income. Peter feels that financial crisis and decides to help carry the burden. However, in Homecoming, Peter isn’t like that. Sure, he gets picked on by Flash Thompson, but overall he has a few close friendships. His peers find value in his intelligence and every time they’re disappointed by him it’s through his own actions. Even Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) is younger and prettier than her other incarnations (which the movie doesn’t hesitate to joke about), which allows her to continue to provide for herself and her teenage nephew. Peter’s life in Homecoming isn’t that bad.
Though they tried very hard to make her seem old.
Being Spider-Man, however, sure as hell seems like it. Homecoming manages to show audiences just how much it sucks to be Spider-Man. He gets yelled at by the public for making mistakes. His actions cause massive damage to the neighborhood he lives in. He puts his life on the line to take down a threat when no one else will listen to him. Why?
Clearly because “with great power comes great responsibility.” The beauty of Spider-Man: Homecoming is that we have a Spider-Man who understands Uncle Ben’s powerful message without having to beat audiences over the head with the phrase. Not once are those words uttered, but we see how much Peter values them. This all goes back to the lack of an origin story. Spider-Man knows when it’s time to do the right thing; whether it’s from the life lesson he learned off-screen from his Uncle Ben or from being mentored by Iron Man himself is irrelevant. It’s a notion that’s inherent in this version of Spider-Man.
There’s lots of things to enjoy about Spider-Man: Homecoming; all of the excellent performances of the cast, most notably by Holland and Keaton, the return of Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan in a true supporting role, and all of the small throwbacks and references the filmmakers added. Overall, what I liked about Homecoming is that this is the closest a movie version of Spider-Man has ever gotten to its comic book roots. The young Peter Parker/Spider-Man has a lot to learn, not just about being a hero but about life in general. They’re not fast forwarding through his growth but allowing audiences to experience it first-hand, which is the most exciting part of the story.
Grade: A
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The first trailer guarantees that Doctor Strange will be visually and cinematically unlike any other Marvel movie. You sense that Marvel Studios‘ latest will give basically Inception on steroids. While Strange‘s unique architecture was never in doubt, “will it have the typical Marvel charm?” was the question on everyone’s lips. Fortunately, likely thanks to renowned comedy writer Dan Harmon‘s rewrites, the most recent Marvel Cinematic Universe entry delivers in almost every regard.
We’ll definitely arrive at why I said “almost,” but first, many movie-only fans likely need some background. Doctor Strange follows the appropriately-named Dr. Steven Strange, a very stubborn, hot-shot neurosurgeon. He’s not a very likable or charming individual; traits that leading man Benedict Cumberbatch has fun with on-screen. However, as with most every origin story, his fortunes don’t last after a devastating car accident badly damages his skilled hands.
Cumberbatch’s Strange learning the tricks of the mystical trade from Ejiofor’s Mordo
Desperate to reattain his status for his damaged ego’s sake, he treks out to a temple in Nepal to learn the mystical arts. As expected, the pompous Strange laughs off the very idea of “magic,” but the Ancient One quickly resolves his skepticism, otherwise, there wouldn’t be much of a movie. As Strange hones his otherworldly skills, he discovers the massive responsibility his newfound friends carry on their shoulders. This leads Strange to an intriguing moral dilemma of choosing to fight for others or only himself.
As with all reviews, I aim to remain spoiler-free. Unfortunately, many things I adore from Doctor Strange involve spoilers, but I’ll tread carefully. Firstly, director Scott Derrickson and the writers utilize the cast to perfection. Cumberbatch carries the film effortlessly, but you also have supporting players turning in memorable performances. Understandable controversies aside, Tilda Swinton brings an elegance, mystique, and toughness as the Ancient One. Chiwetel Ejiofor surprises as Karl Mordo with a few impassioned speeches. Benedict Wong shines as the hilariously stone-faced (and coincidentally-named) Wong. Although not exploited to her full potential, Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer is a fantastic addition as well.
A still tease of the mind-bending foot chase
To accompany the acting gravitas, Derrickson constructs the most impressive, innovative visuals from any Marvel title on any medium. The thrilling opening sequence whets the appetite, and the movie efficiently builds upon that. We’re shown a psychedelic sequence that could be this generation’s 2001: A Space Odyssey stargate scene. As seen in the trailers, there’s also a mind-bending foot chase where buildings and roads are upside down or sideways or inside each other. With the mystical rules having been thoroughly explained throughout the film, these set pieces are immensely gratifying.
As for these aforementioned “rules” of Doctor Strange‘s universe, I truly appreciated how fresh Marvel’s introduction to magic felt. You’ll see lived-in dimensions, ancient artifacts with a rich history, and an expansive library. There may be times where the audience will want to ask the movie to “slow down.” The filmmaker throws a potential overload of information at you. However, hearing the Ancient One’s musings such as “not everything makes sense; not everything has to,” the film successfully reminds you to turn off your brain, forget about the science behind the magic, and enjoy the ride.
Now I disclose why I earlier claimed Doctor Strange to “almost” deliver in every regard. Unfortunately, the Marvel villain conundrum continues. Mads Mikkelsen plays Kaecilius, and turns in a portrayal that’s nothing or less than “fine.” The most frustrating part is his lack of clear motivations. He monologues to Strange about his devious intentions (which don’t really seem that devious), but the “why” is entirely avoided. There are effective efforts to tease future villains that do have more depth, but it’s at the sacrifice of the current villain’s arc.
Mads Mikkelsen as the disappointing villain, Kaecilius
Also, I’ve spotted a few articles mentioning how Marvel movies not named The Avengers have forgettable musical scores. After hearing the Michael Giacchino presided over the musical arrangement, I was ready to lay those sentiments to rest. I gained confidence after listening to the end credits music released a few weeks ago. Yet throughout the film, I didn’t even notice the music as anything more than ambient noise. Yes, you don’t want the melodies to distract from the motion picture, but the musician in me clamored for something of literal and figurative note.
Luckily, none of these criticisms ruined how tremendous Doctor Strange was as a whole. I’ll never forget feeling that ultimate high after leaving the theater, having seen Marvel’s most inventive, creative entry yet. There are enough Easter eggs and name-drops peppered throughout to justify revisiting the movie often. As a bonus, this movie’s mid and end credits scenes possess heavy implications to Marvel’s future titles too. Most importantly, Strange has the familiar well-timed humor and joyous fun you’re looking for. The Doctor is in.
Grade: B+
A Quick Run Down of Free Comic Book Day
Crash Course in Villainy I
If you’ve paid attention to what Marvel’s been up to, you’ll notice the words “Phase 2” lurking over the collective films coming out from 2013-2015 which include Iron Man 3, Thor 2, Captain America 2, Avengers 2, Ant-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy. While this might be the first time we all squeal over impending sequels and trilogies, the fangirl within can’t help but look off into what the future might hold as this is the best time to be a comic geek. Hundreds of heroes are waiting in the wings with years of story telling just begging to be brought to the big screen. While I would personally LOVE a buddy cop type of flick with Nick Fury and Agent “Cheese” Coulson, I’m going to try to be realistic in my wish list below. These are in addition to whatever other installments of Thor, Captain America, and Avengers Marvel decides to have greenlit, so let’s take a look, shall we?
1. Doctor Strange
Destined to become the occult master Sorceror Supreme, Stephen wasn’t the same after the death of his younger sister, and although he accomplished much in the medical field, his talents and withdrawal from everyone made him arrogant. More family tragedy led to a smaller personal tragedy, but this one left him unable to utilize his considerable medical talents, talents that had given him a vast fortune. He turned to drinking and soon squandered his money in hopes of finding a way to re-enter medicine. Whispers of the Ancient One led him to Tibet and he began studying every bit of the occult he could. He eventually teams up with the Fantastic Four, Thor, and in time, became a valuable member of the Avengers. All that magic and tragedy brought to screen would be fascinating to watch and I can’t help but hope that this sad little doctor gets his chance to shine. The fan favorite casting choice for Stephen seems to be a man already well versed in playing a doctor, one Patrick Dempsey.
2. The Runaways
What about the children!? It’s a glaring oversight in comics everywhere. Yes, heroes save the day after pummeling villains, but don’t they ever reproduce? The Runaways revolves around the pre-teen/teen offspring of Los Angeles’ most ruthless gang, The Pride. Thinking their parents were just organizing a charity fundraiser, their way of life is shattered when they stumble upon their parents sacrificing innocents to further their evil. Each kid has powers or a talent that are wonderfully explored through vibrant writing and even more awesome art. As they try to atone for their parents’ evil doing, they come across some very familiar faces (Captain America, Cloak and Dagger to name a couple) and help out in the crossover events like Civil War and Secret Invasion. Development was already underway in early 2010 and when the last bit of news surfaced late last yeat, it was tentatively scheduled for 2015 after Marvel decided to focus on the Avengers. With magic users, aliens, and a badass bio-engineered velociraptor, I definitely think The Runaways could make a fantastic flick.
3. The Hulk
I feel like it is safe to say that everyone’s issues with Mark Ruffalo being cast as Bruce Banner were utterly destroyed upon watching The Avengers. An actor I felt was mediocre at best in rom-com after rom-com was not okay with me as scientist turned monster, Banner. Luckily, Ruffalo exceeded expectations from that first yell at Black Widow and I was convinced he was perfect. Now, it feels like he’ll be on the back burner for quite a while, assuming he only makes cameos in the already announced movies, before he has his very own film. I hated both the Norton and Bana iincarnations with a passion so even if Whedon isn’t helming it, I’ll be excited to see Ruffalo slip on the mo-cap outfit once more to provide us with the first fun Hulk I’ve seen since Ferrigno in the (hopefully) near future.
4. Cloak and Dagger
This duo has been in talks for a TV show and movie for so long, it’s just like COME ON, ALREADY! They’re a team not many are aware of and their origin is the perfect stuff of superhero story sure to stay with you. Rich girl Tandy and poor boy Tyrone met in New York City as runaways, each leaving a life of hardship and became fast friends. Hold your horses though as this isn’t a tale about a guy being friendzoned! Tyrone and Tandy’s mutant genes activate after a brush with a synthetic heroin drug being tested on them against their will and formed a tight bond of dark and light, becoming Cloak and Dagger. I can see this property being turned into a TV show as the war on drugs that is a prime driving force behind their stories as definitely something that could have a positive influence on kids and adults alike. As far as who I’d like to be cast in it….well, I don’t have an answer for you. I think the actors would need to be young-ish and internet searches have shown Hayden Panettiere as top choice for Tandy, but I don’t quite feel like she’s right, but what do I know!? I’m just a girl on the internet.
5. Iron Fist
Danny Rand is one of my all time favorite characters in t he Marvel Universe as he’s one of those “believable” characters that have a superpower that isn’t really a superpower (or is it?). Already an accomplished martial artist, Danny was lucky enough to plunge his fists into the heart of a dying dragon and was infused with its mega energy which, paired with his ability to channel his chi to boost up his sense to extraordinary levels, makes him quite formidable to go up against. His origin story is a sad one, but I think those Asian influences would work beautifully in a feature length film, and not just because I want to see a dragon and general kickass-ery. Okay, fine, you caught me in a lie, but this could be an amazing action type film with fights everywhere so someone like actor/pro fighter Scott Adkins would be perfect to deliver those blows in real time against unsuspecting goons. Yes, this has the highest potential to be cheesy as hell, but it also provides the perfect opportunity to introduce:
6. Luke Cage
An experimental procedure gone wrong left Carl Lucas with skin impervious to harm and enhanced his muscles, strength, and durability, something that boosted his street fighting to a fearful force to be reckoned with. After becoming a “hero for hire”, he teamed up with Iron Fist for a while and went up against Doctor Doom in one of his first fights before finally teaming up with the Avengers. This is particularly interesting as Doctor Doom is included in some movie rights that just made its way back to Marvel. The fans with the internet at their fingertips all seem to yearn for Mekhi Phifer to don that yellow shirt!
7. Black Panther
He’s been hinted at in Iron Man. He has had a movie in the works since 1992. In case you can’t do math, that’s TWENTY years ago. As recently as July 9, 2012, rumors are still rampant, with the latest being Raw Leiba cast as Black Panther nemesis, Erik Killmonger. I feel like it’s safe to say that Black Panther is the most certain out of every property on this list to hit the big screen. As for T’Challa himself, King of Wakanda, I would LOOOOOOOOOOVE an established actor like Djimon Hounsou to portray him, but the biggest outcry I fear would be over his age, to which I say: “SHUT UP.”
8. Namor
Namor is probably one of the least known heroes on this list, so think of him like the Marvel version of Aquaman, except…much more arrogant and willing to sleep with any lady of the Marvelverse. He’s arrogant royalty at its best and routinely strikes first and asks questions later. With villains like Tiger Shark (who Vin Diesel could play WONDERFULLY) and Attuma (here, I’d cast Tom Hardy), Namor could potentially be a LOt of action-filled fun. When I started to think about who would play the leading man, I came up blank several times. I thought over the usual dark haired actors who are popular and dismissed each one. Who could possibly pull off the haughtiness, that sneer of entitlement? Then, as I was watching previews on a movie I rented, I saw Johnathan Rhys Meyers. He’s played an asshole more often than not so it’d be a believable role, but he’d have to buff up significantly, a feat many actors have accomplished. All that aside, I think Namor is the least likely on this list.
9. Daredevil
I don’t like Ben Affleck. I didn’t like the Daredevil movie. I feel that maybe if Marvel is behind this hero and gives him proper movie justice, maybe I’ll be more into Daredevil as all I’ve read is 7 issues of Kevin Smith’s run, which I liked, but haven’t continued. I only ask that maybe Sean Astin be cast as Foggy.
10. Fantastic Four
I know these rights haven’t quite reverted back to Marvel (or have they?), but please, PLEASE can I get a real movie and not this two movie travesty that had a swirling cloud of doom for Galactus?! They got it right with Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm, but holy cow was Jessica Alba sorely miscast. Again, I’m not the biggest F4 fan out there, but I enjoy their rogue gallery so it would be great to have those show up in a potential trilogie.
Well, you’ve seen my list, so what’s yours?
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