SPOILERS AHEAD: I was a little concerned when I started to hear how much they were going to pack into this movie. Spider-Man has worked best when there has been a lot of attention paid to Peter Parker, which has always made him one of the best heroes in comic book history. Maybe the best. Peter has real-life obstacles to his goals, and he can’t buy or power his way out of them.
Three Spider-Men??? Five villains??? Most all of us vividly remember Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3.
I think they really made this work effectively because Peter Parker stayed the focal point most all of the way through. And there were three moments in particular that stood out to me (and many others) that were handled especially well.
One: Stephen Strange reappears during the end fight and sees the villains being cured by the Spider Triad. As a physician, this had to hit home. He was very ready to just send them packing to their home universes, likely to die. And here is a kid fighting to save their lives, despite the enormous risk.
Two: Andrew Garfield saves MJ. Wow…chills, I have to admit, even though it seems very predictable. When he realizes he saved her, he tears up and that moment is 100% earned. We feel for him, we empathize even though it is a circumstance most of us thankfully have never experienced.
Three: Tom Holland exits the donut shop at the end without giving the speech. Peter is hyped to begin re-connecting with MJ and Ned, has written notes in his pocket when he arrives at MJ’s donut shop. He stops when he realizes that she and Ned did get into M.I.T., and sees the scar healing up on her forehead. The essential nature of true love is unselfishness. Love is putting the needs of another above your need for them. He exits without revealing himself even though he had promised earlier he would. MJ and Ned are in a good place now, and safe. No villains tracking them down. Peter decides (at least for now) that is the most important thing, even though it has to tear at his heart to walk out that door.
If I have one criticism, it is that the three Peters together scenes are milked a little more than I felt they needed. At the same time, it is also the hook of the movie for many fans, so I can’t fault it too much.
There’s a lot of speculation of what comes next, and I agree with many other watchers that I don’t think we’ll see Tobey Maguire again unless it is a small cameo. The kudos for Andrew Garfield are well-deserved and if we actually wind up seeing him in his own movie at some point, I am 100% onboard. He may be a little too “cool” compared to the other two playing Peter Parker, but his enthusiasm comes through onscreen and he did get the short end of the stick with TASM punting on finishing the trilogy.
Finally, a tip of the cap to Willem Dafoe. Green Goblin was designed to be Marvel’s Joker, and we see that here better than in any other prior movie. Dafoe is actively trying to push Tom Holland over the edge to brutality, and doesn’t pussyfoot around doing it. Scary, psychotic portrayal.
