Spider-Man: No Way Home is now playing in several countries across the world, and there are only around 24 hours or so to go before the movie swings into U.S. theaters.
By now, we're sure you've read our review of the threequel (if not, you can find it by clicking here) and know that we loved what Jon Watts did with the Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios threequel. However, we thought you might appreciate a slightly more in-depth look at what's so amazing about Spider-Man: No Way Home...without getting into any of those pesky spoilers, of course!
It goes without saying that if you'd rather not know anything about this movie, you should probably stop reading now, but you won't much here that hasn't already been revealed in the trailers!
So, to find out what worked so well - and the one thing that didn't - simply click the "Next" button.
Did Work: A Different Side To Spider-Man
When Spider-Man was brought into the MCU, the plan was clearly to differentiate this Peter Parker from those that had preceded him. That involved a close friendship with Tony Stark and a series of technologically advanced costumes with everything from an A.I. to basically his own Iron Man armour. For many fans, that's really turned them off the MCU's take on the webbed wonder.
Keeping Spidey grounded in Queens and then taking him overseas was also refreshing, but felt a little surface level. Spider-Man: No Way Home, on the other hand, does show a different side to Peter and not just because he's the most famous person on the planet after his identity was revealed.
With a considerably more emotional, hard-hitting story, the threequel is able to better explore who this Peter is as a character and exactly what sort of superhero he intends to be moving on from high school. As Tom Holland has explained in interviews, circumstances push Spider-Man down a darker, more violent route at times, and this movie, in many ways, feels like a fresh start for the hero.
Did Work: Justifying The Return Of Those Villains
Heading into Spider-Man: No Way Home, we'd be lying to say that the return of these villains didn't concern us a little. Forgiving how coincidental it is that it's these particular bad guys who find their way into the MCU, could the movie really find a convincing explanation for what brings them into this shared world and actually make it work?
We're pleased to report that it not only justifies the inclusion of Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin, Electro, Sandman, and The Lizard, but actually builds on their respective story arcs. The advantage of picking up with these baddies from pretty much where we last saw them means the threequel expands on almost all of their characters - and what drives them - in new and surprising ways.
Without spoiling anything, we're sure you'll remember, for example, that Norman Osborn essentially had a split personality in 2002's Spider-Man. Well, expect to learn a whole lot more about that here.
Did Work: Fan-Service
You've all heard about those rumoured cameos by now, but you're in the wrong place if you're hoping to find confirmation here! However, rest assured that when it comes to fan-service in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it all works perfectly and never feels forced or something that's only there for the sake of it.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife, for example, was criticised for basically being a remake of the first movie that spent too much time trying to make longtime fans happy. Well, while this effort will leave you with a smile on your face (regardless of which Spider-Man franchise you grew up with), it always feels earned.
There were cheers on at least half a dozen occasions in the screening we attended, so that probably tells you everything you need to know about what to expect when you watch No Way Home.
Did Work: Peter Parker And Doctor Strange
When it was first revealed that Benedict Cumberbatch would play Doctor Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the Sorcerer Supreme was described as Peter Parker's "mentor." That didn't sit well with those fed up with the MCU's Spidey hunting for a new father figure, but their relationship here proves to be a highlight (and don't fret, Strange definitely isn't a traditional mentor to Peter).
Strange remains a character with a hard outer shell, and this team-up is arguably at its most exciting when it cracks a little and we see that he does, in fact, care for this teenager.
Their fight in the Mirror Dimension - a huge part of the movie's marketing campaign - is even better than you're probably expecting, and a true delight to behold on screen. While Strange is by no means here just to set the stage for his next movie, he needed this cameo role before that rolls around.
Did Work: Spider-Man: Far From Home Fallout
In Spider-Man: Far From Home's mid-credits scene, Mysterio - via TheDailyBugle.net's J. Jonah Jameson - revealed that it's Peter Parker beneath Spider-Man's mask. One of the most shocking moments in the MCU's history, we've been waiting more than two years to see what the fallout would be.
Spider-Man: No Way Home begins where that movie ended and deals with the fallout perfectly. The immediate aftermath shows a panicked Peter in classic Spidey style, and as comical as things often get, it's impossible not to sympathise with the hero as his entire life begins to fall to pieces around him.
It almost hurts to move past this, but it remains a thread throughout the entire movie that works really well. Peter is faced with the consequences of his actions in a meaningful way, and it's fascinating to see Marvel Studios properly explore what a secret identity means in a world that has very few of them.
Didn't Work: Sandman And The Lizard
To say these two characters "didn't work" in general terms would be unfair, so we need to get a little more specific. They do bring a lot to the movie, and certainly serve a purpose in action scenes. However, the visual effects aren't exactly flawless, and it's a little mind-blowing to think that The Lizard, for example, doesn't really look much better in 2021 than he did in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man.
For almost the entirety of the movie, Sandman is, uh, made of sand. The movie never specifically addresses that, but it feels like a missed opportunity to not have made use of a comic accurate Flint Marko.
Again, we're getting a tiny bit spoilery here, but Rhys Ifans and Thomas Haden Church obviously do lend their voices to their CG villains and it feels like COVID could be to blame for them not really doing much in their human guises (Spider-Man: No Way Home was shot in the midst of the pandemic). These two are undeniably entertaining, but we'd have liked to see them receive more screentime.
Did Work: Unbelievable Visuals
Prior to the junket for Spider-Man: No Way Home, critics were only shown the first 38 minutes of the movie. The reason? Supposedly, it just wasn't finished yet, and while we suspect the real reason was to protect spoilers, it's a relief to say that this blockbuster looks flawless for the most part.
Director Jon Watts has really come into his own as a director over the course of this trilogy, and he feels at his most confident here. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings delivered some jaw-dropping action scenes, but in terms of pure superhero vs. supervillain fights, there's no beating this movie. The battles between Peter and these villains are nothing short of insane.
Throw in the Mirror Dimension battle and Watts has taken that downright perfect illusion sequence from Spider-Man: Far From Home and blown it away a hundred times over with what you'll see here.
Did Work: Some Genuine Surprises
These days, it's hard to be surprised if you're a fan. Leaks and rumours have become commonplace, and Spider-Man: No Way Home has suffered from the former, in particular, since day one. Despite that, rest assured that even if you've read every plot leak, there are still some genuine surprises to be found.
Most are minor (a status quo shift for Doctor Strange, for example), but even after a supposed Chinese plot leak that broke down the movie moment by moment, the final scene has been mentioned nowhere. Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures definitely deserve some credit for that, and those of you who have avoided everything over the past few months...well, your minds will be blown.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is a movie with scenes that your brain won't believe your eyes are seeing.