Spiderman Homecoming offers a fresh twist on a Marvel fan favorite

Movie Title:  Spider-Man: Homecoming

Grade: A-

Rating: PG-13,

In a Nutshell:  Another Spider-Man?  Really?  I rolled my eyes when I saw that yet one more Spider-Man origin movie was being made...6 movies in 15 years with 3 different lead actors.  BUT, this isn’t exactly an origin movie and it offers some fresh new takes on the story that you just might get a kick out of. 

Complete with a dental retainer, Spanish quiz, and best-friend secret handshake, Peter Parker is a goofy teenager who struggles with the “Training Wheel Protocol” as he learns how to become a true superhero and Avenger.  With plenty of action and humor, this is another effective arrow in Marvel’s growing cinematic quiver.

This new version of Spider-Man, directed by Jon Watts, really captures the innocence, naivete, and adolescence of everyday teenage life.  It offers an impressive balance between superhero and high schooler. One of the movie posters does a great job of illustrating that.

Uplifting theme:   

• “Times are changing.  It’s time we change too.” – Adrian Toomes  (This idea also explains the existence of this new Spider-man remake)
•  Take time to figure out who you are.
• Service, love, friendship, family.

Things I liked:

• Tom Holland has the 15 year old personality to offer a unique perspective on this young superhero, as well as the 6-pack abs to make you believe he can be a powerful Avenger.
• I love Michael Keaton in anything he does.  He had to get a kick out of playing this flying role as The Vulture, after winning awards for his quasi superhero character in Birdman.  They did a great job with creating a backstory and motivation for The Vulture.  He’s a scavenger, which is what vultures do.
• I loved all of the different features on Spiderman’s enhanced suit given to him by the tech genius Tony Stark.  “Enhanced Interrogation Protocol.”   Ha ha
• Spider drone.  I hate spiders, but that drone was pretty cool.
• Peter Parker says to his Spanish teacher, “Me gusta hacer la tarea.”  There aren’t any subtitles, so I thought you might like to know what he said.  “I like to do homework.”   Ha ha
• There’s a short clip from Marvel's Captain America: Civil War to remind you where we first saw this new Tom Holland version of Spider-man.
• The 3D really pays off during the Washington, DC scenes, as well as any time Peter Parker is scaling buildings.
• Is the US Academic Decathlon a real thing?  Yes, it is!  www.usad.org
• Check out the dramatic backsplash in Adrian Toomes’ kitchen.  It doesn’t have anything to do with the story; I just thought it was interesting.
• Cool cloaking feature on Tony Stark’s plane.
• I love that Marvel always includes a cameo performance by creator Stan Lee.  I get a kick out of seeing what oddball lines they choose to give him.  In this film, he says, “Don’t make me come down there, you punk!” ha ha   Speaking of Stan Lee, he has always said that people relate so much to Spiderman, because he’s just a normal kid with normal problems.  That’s exactly what makes this new version of Spiderman so likeable.
• Was the National Monument really built by slaves as Michelle suggests?  While there is no definite evidence that proves she's right, there are quite a few other national monuments and famous buildings in Washington, D.C. that were.  The guard at the monument gives a "so-so" hand gesture, which is actually a good answer to the question.
• Keep watching during the rolling credits for a little hint at the next film in the series.  Keep watching until the VERY end of all of the credits for a funny PSA announcement from Captain America.  I love that Marvel includes those funny clips at the end of their movies.  By the way, the entire movie is filled with funny PSA announcements by Captain America.  Love him.
• I love the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off  so I got a kick out of the scene when Peter Parker is running through a bunch of people’s yards and then you actually see that movie clip playing on someone’s TV inside their house. ha ha  I like that there are times when Spider-man doesn’t have any buildings to swing around on to travel.  What's a superhero to do?  Instead, he has to run!  Ha ha
• Tons of Easter Eggs for true comic book fans.
  
• Jacob Batalan makes for a great best friend and provides some great interaction and dialogue for Peter Parker.
• Cameo by Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts.

Things I didn’t like:

• The movie starts with a shaky cam technique which made me immediately worry that this was how the entire movie was going to be.  Thankfully, it only lasts a couple of minutes and exists to show you that Peter Park is just an awkward teenager who keeps a video diary and is eager to learn everything and prove himself.
• A lot of Spider-man’s powers come from Tony Stark’s high tech suit that was gifted to Peter Parker, and not his actual “spidey sense.”  Don't get me wrong, the new suit is awesome.
• What’s up with Aunt May’s high-waisted pants?  Is that back in fashion now?  Are they trying to make the hot actress, Marisa Tomei, look frumpy or something?
• There is a LOT of Audi product placement in this movie.

Funny lines:

• “Wow, their lair is in a gas station.  That’s so lame.” – Spider-man
• “Can’t bear to lose a student on a school field trip…not again.” – teacher
• “But we have a Spanish quiz.” – Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon)
• “Deactivating Instant Kill.” – “Suit Lady” (voiced by the lovely Jennifer Connelly)
• “That’s awesome!” –Peter Parker/Spider-man says this about a million times.  It’s endearing because it reminds you that he’s just a teenager and has that same awe of superheroes that we do.
• “I’m just going to be myself.” – Peter Parker

“Nobody wants that.” – Ned

“Can’t you just be a friendly, neighborhood Spiderman?” – Tony Stark/Iron Man  (the always entertaining Robert Downey Jr.)

Interesting lines:

• “I’m just trying to be like you.” – Spider-Man

“I want you to be better.” – Tony Stark/Iron Man

• “The only way to really be cool is to obey the rules.” – Captain America

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity.
• Lots of violence and destruction.
• Ned tells a teacher he’s looking at porn.  It’s supposed to be funny.  It’s not.  The writers couldn’t think of anything clever for him to say?
• The movie takes its time to develop characters, so little kids might actually get bored. 

@trinaboice 

Amazing Spiderman 2 squeezes Maguire's 2 & 3 into one flick

Movie Title:     The Amazing Spider-Man 2
PG-13, 2 hours 22 minutes

Grade:  B

In a Nutshell:   

This new installment of the Spider-Man franchise successfully makes you feel like you’re reading the panels of a comic book, but also has the effect of a choppy story that is common within that genre.  The flick is full of acrobatic stunts, impressive car crashes, and electrifying villains that young kids will get a kick out of.  I saw a few little ones walk into the theater wearing their Spidey costumes.  Adorable.  Most teens and parents who still have the Toby Maguire DVD sitting in their cabinet at home are asking “Why are they doing a remake so soon?” 

Uplifting theme:   

• Peter Parker’s girlfriend, Gwen, gives the Valedictorian speech at her high school graduation that pretty much sums up the theme for the movie: “It’s easy to feel hopeful on a beautiful day like today, but there will be dark days ahead of us too.  There will be days when you feel all alone and that’s when hope is needed most.  No matter how bad it gets or how lost you feel, you must promise me that you will hold on to hope.  Keep it alive.  We have to be greater than what we suffer.  My wish for you is to become hope.  People need that.  And even if we fail, what better way is there to live?”

Things I liked:

• The beginning of the movie sheds more light on Peter Parker’s parents and their unique mission which caused them to leave their young son.
• The slow-motion sequences were really great.
• Where else can we see Jaime Foxx with bad comb-over?
• The audience I sat with thought it was hilarious when Spider-Man sticks to a vehicle while it drives down the road.  He says to Gwen on the phone “I got a little stuck in traffic.”
• I pretty much love Emma Stone in anything.  This is a much softer version of her sass.
• This installment in Spider-Man is stuffed with villains.  Some say too many.  I rather liked the fact that the formula wasn’t “fight bad guy-win-happy ending-the end.
• (No spoiler alert)  I loved the story line and ending with the brave little boy.

Things I didn’t like:

• While Garfield and Stone have some chemistry, there’s no magical kiss like the one Maguire/Dunst created in their famous upside-down scene.
• It’s hard for Spider-Man to be really amazing when we’ve seen so many truly awesome CGI movies lately….with and without Superheroes.
•  Is it just me or does it seem like all of the villains in movies lately aren’t really bad, but just misunderstood?
• Before the movie started at the Regal Theater I attended, a bizarre announcement played with Emma Stone and a drugged out looking Andrew Garfield with a fake British accent.  They were encouraging patrons to upgrade to a particular ticket after the movie with access to additional content.
• Spiderman’s clever banter with bad guys just isn’t very clever at all.
• Some of Spiderman’s webs magically hook onto thin air.  What the?
•  The story line turns Peter Parker’s girlfriend into a successful Valedictorian with a loving family, much different from the Kirsten Dunst's wounded character. 
• I love Paul Giamatti, so I thought he was seriously underutilized in this film.
• Peter and Aunt May (Sally Field) fight in almost every scene they're in.
• Why do evil scientists always speak with a German accent and laugh after every sentence?

Inspiring lines:

• “What makes life valuable is that it doesn’t last forever.  What makes it precious is that it ends.”  - Gwen’s graduation speech
• “Time is luck, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.   Make yours count for something.  Fight for what matters to you, no matter what. Because even if we fall short, what better way is there to live?” – Gwen’s graduation speech
• “You’re not a nobody.  You’re somebody.”   - Spiderman  
• “The world cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”   - Albert Einstein, as quoted by Norman Osborn

Funny lines:

• Max tells Spider-Man “I will be like a god to them.”  Spiderman quips “A god named Sparkles?”

Things to look for:

• I love it when Stan Lee makes his cameo performance in Marvel movies.  Look closely in the high school graduation scene.  Stan sees Peter Parker with his Spider-Man mask on and says “Hey, I think I know that guy!”
• Some of the high school students decorate their graduation caps with little toys or words.  My oldest son just graduated from college last weekend (proud mama!) and I didn’t see any of the students decorate their caps, but I thought it was a cute idea.
• Peter Parker’s ring tone on his cell phone.
• Peter Parker’s cute “Thrasher” t-shirt.
• Aidy Bryant from Saturday Night Live is wearing a Statue of Liberty costume and says to Spider-Man “Nice costume!”
• Don’t bother looking for a fun sneak peek at anything after the credits roll.  When the movie is over, it’s actually over. 

Tips for parents:   

• Kids can learn about battery power and electric charges…
• The profanity is lean with only a few “mild” bad words, but there is, of course, a lot of violence.  Young children with dreams of becoming the next Superhero may need to be counseled “Do not try this at home.”
• If you missed the first Andrew Garfield Spidey, you can get it here:

Want to see the Toby Maguire version? You can pick it up cheap right here: