Review of Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) by Grayson D — 13 Jul 2017

The only thing I don't like - which is a pretty major thing - is that there's too much technology in Spidey's suit, meaning he has to rely less on his own powers. But the movie makes the tech kind of indispensable, depending on it for its power/responsibility thing - all these new toys are suddenly put in Peter's hands, and how he uses them is important to his development as a character and a hero.

So, Tony Stark really stands in for Uncle Ben as the father figure. It's good we didn't get another UB death, partly because it's been done twice already and partly because May doesn't have to be grieving the whole time, but I'd still have preferred a relatively low-tech Spidey.

Tom Holland is the best Spider-Man actor yet. Tobey Maguire was my biggest problem with the Raimi ones, and Garfield was really only any good when compared to him. Holland kicks both their butts. In fact, this movie kinda made me see just how poor the 'Amazing' ones were overall (I mean, I already thought the second one sucked, but now even the first one seems lame).

Keaton is awesome as Birdm...I mean Batma...I mean Vulture, and his plot to steal Chitauri/Avengers technology works better than I'd expected it to. Nice to have a working-class baddie in the MCU.

The other young actors are all good, especially Zendaya. Angourie Rice doesn't have much to do as Betty Brandt, but I suspect that will change in future instalments. Marisa Tomei is great. Downey and Favreau are as good as ever.

Not sure Paltrow should have been billed that high, but she's OK. It looks and feels like an MCU movie, but also like a (good) teen movie. Not quite a match for Raimi's first two Spideys, but better than any since.