You might look at the title and think: 'What?' So, here is the reasoning behind the title. Tom Holland is known for not trying to spoil things in movies but spoiling them anyway and in this review, I'm not going to try and spoil things but probably will end up doing so, hopefully, nothing major, just minor spoils. So not trying to spoil the film, but spoiling things in it anyway is pulling a Tom Holland. :P
I actually have a little bit of a reputation for spoiling movies myself, I spoiled Iron Man's death for about half of my friends by accident, but that's a story for another day.
So, Spider-Man Far From Home: Free of Spoilers-ish review!
The Story
Okay, so this technically isn't a spoiler because Tom Holland said something similar on the Graham Norton show. A vague outline of the story is Peter Parker wanting a break from being a superhero, but soon realizing, he can't take a break because you never know when the world will need to be saved. Because Peter has great power and (wait for it):
With great power, comes great responsibility
I think they go about the story pretty well because you really get that Peter has the same struggles as a typical teenage boy, i.e. being too shy to straight up ask the girl he likes out and just wanting to have fun with his friends.
I mean and as a teenager (myself included) we've probably all had some kind of responsibility which we see more like a chore than anything else and we run from it. Okay, it might not be as big as saving the world, but we've probably all tried to run from responsibilities so in my opinion, us running away from the small little responsibilities we have compared to Peter actually makes up feel sorry for and empathise with Peter. I think they were pretty smart about that.
As for the Peter and MJ love story, I think that played out pretty well. In fact, this is my favourite Spider-Man love story compared to the other movies. It was just so much more of a realistic love story which would involve teens. Both teens were shy and awkward and had quirky little perks about them. The love story didn't develop straight away, but it didn't just smack you in the face at the end of the movie. From the beginning of the movie, it was evident that Peter liked MJ but was just too shy to say it. As the movie goes on, their relationship slowly but surely develops and I love how Peter remembered little details about her. Way before the end of the movie these two was together and can I just say the ending scene was so adorable. I almost spoiled that for you but then I realised. Phew.
I'm not really say anything else about the story itself because I'm scared I'll end up rewriting the script or something.
Characters
1) Peter Parker
So, he was definitely extremely child-like in Civil War, Homecoming, he made a good point or two and a mature decision to help Tony Stark fight Thanos in Infinity War, but I think he came across as more child-like towards the end when you know, THAT happened. We didn't see too much of him in Endgame, he did his job helped out enough seemed somewhat childish but we didn't see enough of him to comment on his attitude as a whole.
At the beginning of this movie, Peter is childish in the sense he doesn't want to step up to his responsibility, and he is really naive and too trustworthy for his own good. But he grows as a character becomes more mature (but still childish in a fun way), and he realises no matter how good people seem you can't trust everyone at face value.
There is even one point in the movie where even though he's being beaten down he's still too trusting for his own good.
Again as a teen, I see a little bit of that too trusting naivety in myself and people I know, it actually reminded me of myself and a few people I know.
There's also a little hint of jealousy in Peter Parker concerning MJ, but make of that what you will, and let's just say he does something really careless, and stupid because his relationship with MJ was at stake. Classic Peter, but he's just a kid at the end of the day, I don't think I'd exactly be smooth with the whole "I might be the next Iron Man" kinda weight on my shoulders.
And also there's a sense of sweetness in Peter towards MJ, he tells her she looks nice a few times and doesn't make any cheap comments towards her, the kinda comments I hate like: "You look so hot" and "sexy", and I actually found that really nice and I think the guys and girls who make the cheap comments should take a leaf out of Peter's book.
As ever, Tom Holland delivered another brilliant performance as Peter. This movie changed like the wind in terms of emotions, and each time Tom Holland played a different emotion he made it believable, and much like in Homecoming he was a believable teenager, I know his youthful looks had a part to play in that, but I didn't think of him as a "manchild" or anything I just thought of him as a "teen" or a "child" and for someone who's just left school and went on a school residential myself earlier this year, I think he did a pretty good job of playing a kid on a school trip and I can imagine on my school trip if I kept on having to go to secret meetings and whatever, instead of just chilling out with my friends I would've been annoyed too.
Peter can come across as just a tad bit selfish in the sense the whole world is at stake and he's just bothered about going on his school trip but think if it was you. You're a teenager, you've just spent some time in the quantum realm which feels like it's been 5 minutes but in reality has been 5 years, someone really close to you has died in front of you, you haven't seen any of your friends or family, even though you've done it you have to redo the whole school year again- wouldn't you just want to focus on things which make you happy? Whether it be spending time your friends, or the person you like, wouldn't you just want to move on and put everything behind you? Unfortunately, the world isn't as simple as that and Peter soon comes to realise that.
Overall I really liked Peter in this movie. He learned a lot and showed a lot of himself, and overcame his fears and really grew as a character.
Oh and nothing to do with Peter as a character BUT I thought I'd just add, when we went to the cinema today, I was wearing a NASA jumper and in the movie, Peter was wearing a NASA t-shirt! My best friend said to me "you should have seen your face" when I saw that. Looks like we both have good dress sense. :P
MJ aka Michelle Jones
One of my most favourite parts of the movie! Seriously! MJ is my favourite Spider-Man love interest as of now. I had a feeling I'd love Zendaya as MJ and she proved me right.
Firstly, I know I've said it once, twice, many times, but I'll say it again because it's true, the most realistic Spider-Man movie love interest I've ever seen.
MJ in the original Spider-Man Trilogy was the worst, most useless, part of the Trilogy. All she did was giggle, scream, complain, whine, do nothing to help herself, she didn't really help anyone else either, cheat on Harry with Spider-Man complete stranger who she just met a couple of times, she didn't know who he really was, then cheat on that other guy she was with, in the second one, on her wedding day with Peter, and cheat on Peter with Harry Osborn in the third one. And the acting like the sweet innocent girl who wouldn't even say 'boo' to a ghost? Please.
Zendaya's MJ, was smart she helped Peter figure things out, she figured out Peter was Spider-Man when disaster struck she didn't stand there and scream, she ran and hid smart move. When something was about to attack MJ came up from behind and attacked it with a mace, not only saving herself but her friends too. Even when seeing Peter at one point in the movie she brought a mace just in case anything happened. She didn't rely on Peter to just swoop in and save her she relied on herself. She even showed she was knowledgable on some other things and was witty at times.
She lied about one thing, her feelings for Peter because she said she hadn't had the best luck when it comes to getting close to people.
Zendaya's MJ had a personality, a sense of humour, a sense of bravery about her, she was mostly honest, said things how they were, was really smart in more way than one, and did things to help herself, and others her looks were just a bonus and I liked that they didn't cake her with makeup, because in reality a lot of girls who are of that age in real life don't wear as much makeup as the movies really suggest. And she was a character which many young girls in high/secondary school could identify with and see some elements of themselves in.
I feel like Kristen Dunst's MJ was only there to give male viewers an image of an "idealistic" "perfect" girl. She didn't have much personality about her, the only thing she really has over Zendaya was she looks like MJ in the comics and Zendaya doesn't.
I loved the way Zendaya plays this MJ, when she lies to Peter you can tell she's lying and she's trying to hide something, again the emotion in her character was evident when she had different feelings and I know Zendaya has played an American high school student before, but not one like this. Even though people doubted her, she delivered and I loved her.
I can't wait to see Zendaya as MJ in the future!
Mysterio
Jake Gyllenhaal was epic as Mysterio for starters!
Mysterio definitely brought a shock to people in some instances, when I say people I mean me and my best friend because all the other 5 people in the cinema seemed emotionless. It was obvious at certain points in the movie, Mysterio was made to get different reactions out of people and I don't think I've ever had so many different reactions to just one character like I have Mysterio.
His backstory is also really interesting and it makes you feel kind of bad for him as someone else involved in his life was kind of harsh on him, which was in my eyes really unfair on him.
Nick Fury
As always, Samuel L. Jackson adds an element of comedy to the movie, with those memorable one-liners which make you laugh and simultaneously think: "Oof that was harsh."
I feel like Tony Stark acted more as a father figure to Peter, whereas Nick Fury just seemed to be more of a mentor. Nothing against that, just my opinion. I just feel at times Peter and Tony had a way more personal relationship (father-son kind of thing) than Peter and Nick. But I suppose that does have time to develop, or maybe Peter has been through enough to now not need a figure like that in his life, maybe after having been through everything he went through in this movie, he'll be strong enough to not need to be mentored. Who knows?
I feel like Nick Fury gave Peter the kind of tough love he needed to understand that:
With great power comes great responsibility
And when Peter pulled through in the end, he got the praise from Nick Fury he deserved.
Other Characters
Ned - I just love how he roots for Peter constantly and always has his back. I wonder what it would be like if Ned met Harry Osborn when MJ figured out Peter was Spider-Man and she told Ned she figured it out, Ned seemed a teensy bit jealous because he was all "Well I've known for longer, but whatever, it's not a competition". I found that pretty cute, maybe Ned felt less special to Peter because now he's not the only kid in the class who knows, or maybe he feels like Peter and MJ are going to spend more time together and he'll be left in the lurch? I know it's a small thing, but I just thought it was cute, and put an even larger emphasis on their friendship if that makes sense. We all need a friend like Ned in our lives seriously I have my Ned my best friend who I went to go see this movie with today. :P
Betty - Okay so, Betty and Ned get into a relationship. The trailer already showed that so don't shout at me for spoilers. You know those really cheesy romantic couples? That was Betty and Ned they were literally sat next to each other on the bus texting how much they missed each other. Usually, that kinda stuff annoys me, but it was obvious that relationship was slipped in for comedy plus I kinda expected it as Ned and Betty dated in the comics. Betty was also a friend of MJ's, by the looks of things but I don't think I can really say a lot about Betty, there's still plenty of room for her to develop as a character.
Brad - I'm not gonna lie, when I saw this dude in the trailer I thought he was gonna be Harry Osborn but no, he was a dude called Brad. UGH. This kid was so horrible! Annoying! He did something really shameful to Peter, really it was awful, but let's just say when he called Peter out for being (quote him) "shady" MJ handled it pretty well. Gotta give it to Remi Hii, the guy who played him though, he did a pretty good job of making me hate him, in the cinema my best friend even whispered to me: "That kid's a d-head" Only she said what "d" stands for and I agreed.
Flash - So I know Flash is usually a bully, and in here we did get that bully aspect of him slightly. It wasn't a physical kind of bully, but more of an "I think I'm smart, and I think you're stupid so I'm gonna us my apparent intellect to bully you" kinda thing. But Flash in a sense was actually a huge help to Spider-Man in a way (again trying to spoil things) and turns out he's a huge Spider-Man Fan (no, he ain't me) himself and as he was fanboying over Spider-Man he referred to Peter as a d-word. Which was funny. They kinda did the whole "rich-kid on social media" thing with him, which worked pretty well, and though I know those things are kinda annoying it came across as comical. Tony Revolori, again, was able to deliver the comedy pretty well, the intellect bully side just came across as someone who was annoying and arrogant- what most intellect bullies are so again, he played the role well.
This picture is not from far from home^^
Mr. Dell and Mr. Harrington - These two didn't really play a large or serious role in the movie, they were there purely for comedy but honestly, it really worked. One of them moaning about their wife, the other didn't know what was going on half the time. They actually reminded me of some of my teachers in the past. These two actors Martin Starr and J.B. Smoove worked "Smoovely" together, (get it? Okay I'll stop.) I think they were a good pair of actors who worked together, more for the comedy aspect of things, I don't know why but the two just seemed to go well together.
Visual FX
The visual FX were stunning, honestly I and my best friend could not stop being in awe in how amazing they were we just appreciated them so much.
I know at the end of Homecoming, when Spider-Man fought Vulture it just seemed like a boring CGI fest or whatever you wanna call it, but I seriously think in this movie they upped their game with the visual FX.
If we saw it in 3D it would have been amazing, but 2D tickets are cheaper, and we didn't want to break the bank or our piggy banks so...
Extra Classmates
Have you ever watched a movie or TV show where the majority of the extras are just one race? I mean in a lot of places these days that's just not how it is.
I loved the fact that even the extra classmates were of various ethnic backgrounds because it just makes it seem more real and kind of reminded me of my old secondary school.
Post-Credit Scenes
If I tell you what they were exactly I'd be spoiling the movie for you massively and you'd hate me so I'm not gonna tell you that.
What I will say is when the credits roll, don't just up and leave the cinema stay till the very end because, trust me, the post-credit scenes will shake you to the core, I swear a mini-earthquake will happen inside of you, just stay until the very very end.
All I'm gonna say is there has to be a follow on movie from this one, I'm guessing summer 2021 because Homecoming came out in 2017 and it's been 2 years.
Was It Worth My Money?
Yes! The story was great, the actors played it out so well, visual FX STUNNING, and even the little details such as casting extras from a variety of ethnic backgrounds made it totally worth it.
To be honest, I think this was better than Homecoming, and not once whilst I or my best friend who was watching the film feel dead or bored we loved every minute of it, we were laughing a lot, we pulled the "oh my-" face a lot, we got triggered a lot, we even felt sad whilst watching some scenes.
It's definitely worth your money and was certainly worth ours because there were about 7 people in our cinema because we went when all the kids were at school, and other people were at work. So there were no screaming children, and we basically got the cinema to ourselves.
Also, my best friend and I were also the people to leave, and we were so happy she recorded me singing the Spider-Man theme song. xD
And can I just say? I predicted one major turning point in the movie! And when I predicted my friends were like noooo, and my brother was like noooo, and when I watched it I was right! I figured it out! I knew it! I knew that would happen because that's what happened in the comics I read from school, and that's what happened in a cartoon I'd watched! I knew it was right, they were wrong and I bragged to them when I got home, like 'ha, remember when I was saying ____________________________" and you told me I was wrong? Well, turns out I was right! My spidey senses didn't fail me!
Okay, brag over, hope you enjoyed this MyTake. I'm sorry I'm not like a top critic or anything and points in this MyTake do seem a little vague, I know but it's so hard not to spoil anything, and remember this is from a 16-year-old girl's perspective not some next level movie critic. Anyway, hope you enjoyed :)
PS: Did I pull a Tom Holland?
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