Entertainment

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” swung its way to the top of the charts

This article contains “Spider-Man: No Way Home” spoilers. 

After the events of “Spider-Man: Far From Home” lead to Mysterio revealing Spider-Man’s identity to be Peter Parker, Peter is left scrambling to keep his life from falling apart. 

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” was released in the U.S. on Dec. 17, 2021, and took Marvel fans on an emotional roller coaster.

Official film poster of Spider-Man posed center stage amidst a battle surrounded by the tentacles of Doctor Octavius Otto.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” has landed itself the number four ranking in the U.S. for box office earnings and has grossed $704,221,951.

When Peter’s identity is leaked to the world his family, friends and self are left to deal with the devastating consequences.

One of the first big spoilers is when Netflix’s “Daredevil” star Matt Murdoch graces the big screen to help Parker out of his legal issues.

This is the first time any of the Netflix series characters have been integrated into a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. Excitement and surprise could be heard throughout the theater as the scene unfolded.

When being associated with Spider-Man lands Peter and his friends without an acceptance into college, Parker makes it his mission to make things right for his girlfriend, MJ, and best friend, Ned.

Hopeless, Peter enlists the help of old battle buddy Dr. Strange to wipe the memory of his identity from the world. 

After Parker’s plan goes awry, he discovers not only did the spell Dr. Strange cast not work, it let in villains from other universes. 

The conversation between Peter and Dr. Strange is filled with humor and plenty of emotion as events unfold. 

Spider-Man has an intense battle on a New York bridge with two villains he has never met, but is certain they know him. 

Longtime Marvel fans will recognize Spider-Man’s new villains as Dr. Otto Octavius from the 2004 film “Spider-Man 2” and Green Goblin from the 2002 film “Spider-Man”.

As “Spider-Man: No Way Home” continues, fans are given the presence of more former villains such as Lizard from “The Amazing Spider-Man” and Electro from “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”.

Peter and his friends are tasked with capturing all the villains from other universes so Dr. Strange can send them back where they came from before more trouble ensues. 

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” begins taking a darker and much more emotional turn after the introduction of all the villains from alternate universes. 

Quite possibly the most emotional moment of the movie happens when Peter Parker watches his Aunt May pass away.

I found myself crying as I realized what was about to happen. I could feel all of the emotions actor Tom Holland put into his character Peter Parker as he listened to his aunt’s final words and held her as she passed. 

At this most vulnerable and dark moment in the movie, Spider-Man film admirers were given the biggest surprise of all.

As Peter’s friends are left waiting for him to call or come to them, Ned accidentally discovers he may be able to open a portal to Peter using a ring he snatched from Dr.Strange.

As the portal opens, MJ and Ned call out to Peter. 

However, they are left just as stunned as the moviegoers, when out from the portal walks a different Peter Parker.

The theater was filled with gasps and awe as the realization hit, the Peter we were looking at was not played by Tom Holland.

Rather Andrew Garfield, star of “The Amazing Spider-Man” revealed himself to Parker’s friends and the movie crowd. 

Andrew Garfield’s emotions, he oozed into his role, radiated the passion and love he has for his character off the screen and into my soul.

My favorite Andrew Garfield scene came in the final battle when he successfully leaps to save MJ before she falls to her death.

The scene mirrored the moment in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” when Spider-Man fails to save his love, Gwen Stacy, as she plummets to fatality.

The surprise was met once again when moments later another Peter Parker walked out of a portal as well.

 

I found the eight-year-old version of myself leaping out of my seat as I watched one of my first celebrity and superhero crushes appear on screen.

Official Movie poster featuring Spider-Man and Doctor Strange as the prepare for battle. They are surrounded by Doc Oc's tentacles and in the background you can see Green Goblin gliding through the sky.

Tobey Maguire’s presence on the big screen as he found Ned and MJ was met with cheers and applause throughout the crowd in the theater.

Spider-Man fans young and old alike got to see for the very first time some of the most well-known portrayals of the web-head on screen together.

The web-slinging trio had amazing chemistry as they portrayed their roles together for the first time.

I could sense the intense feeling of brotherhood from all three Spideys as the movie came to the final scenes.

All three Spider-Men worked together to not only send the villains home but give them a new chance at life by curing them of what made each one a villain in the first place.

The characters Green Goblin, Doc Ock and Electro especially were given spectacular and well thought out endings to their arcs as villains. 

I loved watching some of my favorite supervillains get redemption stories. The new beginning for each character had me reminiscing about the original films.

Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men helped Tom Holland’s Peter realize his Aunt May did not die in vain and kept him from reacting to her death in the same way they did to their greatest losses.

As the final battle was coming to an end Dr. Strange’s greatest fears were realized when a massive hole was ripped in the universe leading Peter to make his most difficult decision yet.

Parker had Strange cast a new spell making the whole world forget not only Spider-Man but Peter Parker himself.

Peter said his goodbyes to everyone knowing it would be his last moments with them and promised to make things better.

One of the greatest goodbyes was as Peter hugged his fellow Spider-Men before they faded away.

 “Spider-Man: No Way Home” did exceptionally well at making the addition of all the characters feel like they belonged. 

Although not all the characters were given an immense amount of screen time, with such a huge cast lineup, by the end of the movie I felt like I had a beautiful ending for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. I left with closure for both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s renditions as the web-slinger as well.

Overall, I found “Spider-Man: No Way Home” to be an exceedingly successfully done film. The emotions and nostalgia factor alone made sure I was completely enthralled the entire movie. 

 The film was one of redemption and second chances for villains and heroes alike, a tale I believe most any of us can relate to at least a few times in our lives.