Some thoughts on Spider-Man: No Way Home
Marvel Studios has made it easy to be excited about their new release, Spider-Man: No Way Home. Seeing major movie characters, fan favorites, and comic-book secrets on the big screen has been a long time coming. You could ask 500 people leaving the theatre if they loved the movie and 495 would say they did. And why shouldn’t they, everyone should be given the chance to feel like a kid again, especially just before Christmas. Though, considering the movies leading up to it, the higher production value, and the major qualms people have had before this recent release, there’s actually some major issues that most audience-members are more than willing to overlook.
The Good
First, there is a mountain of good that others have already commented on. One of those is the simple time difference between technologies in support of the actors. As Tom Holland explained on his interview for “Hot Ones,” “…it was amazing, seeing [Molina] have a bit more freedom on set, the way he could move without having to rely on other people…” You could tell, there was an infectious quality among the plethora of actors that helped extend the reach towards higher ground. Second, you just love to see your favorite characters and their iterations on screen; it’s a magic that will never be lost. Third, Marvel has figured out a successful cinematic formula that provides entertainment in every venture.
The Bad
For as much screen time as the villains had, they were pretty one-dimensional. Though they were presented interestingly, they all had a limited scope; they were guided by evil rather than the personalities they had in their respective films. Some of this could come from the fact that many of their climaxes had not happened when they were pulled cross-universe but that’s not enough to say that they don’t have feelings or that they aren’t incredibly brilliant; especially since most of them are experts in their fields. Much of the reasoning behind their actions came from some previous MacGuffin, or something beyond their own power and devices.
The Ugly
There is a larger need to keep secrets and withhold information, considering the internet and the many forums created to guess the contents of the film before they’re released. So, it makes sense that a trailer might be misleading or edited. Regardless, the final cut that was released seemed to focus on key images and scenes rather than creating a story of substance. It is almost as if the major selling points in the teasers were the outline for the final film, rather than creating a better story that allowed for the natural development of these characters and the films in the surrounding universe. While Marvel has released some great work, they have been creatively holding back, in fear that the majority won’t continue to accept their new work.
This is not an ode intended to rain on anyone’s parade. Rather, it is another request — in the line of many — to demand better of the producers and decision-heads. The credits are long for a reason. The many artists, creators, and visionaries working to complete this film deserve more attention. However, there also needs to be a better system of checks and balances. Nevertheless, we got another good show of Spider-Man and a little added closure for previous Spider-Men.
Work Cited
First We Feast. “Tom Holland Calls for a Doctor While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones.” YouTube, 9 Dec 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxGmGGmvFD8
