In 2019, I was one among the millions of Marvel fans who watched “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” With the film’s ominous cliff-hanger ending, fans left theaters with anticipation for the next film — fast forward to 2021, and the wait is finally over. On December 17th, the MCU released the third installment of the Spider-Man series, and it was 100% worth the wait. 

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” picks up right where “Spider-Man: Far From Home” left off: Peter Parker’s identity as Spider-Man is exposed, and the public is under the impression that Peter is a villian who murdered Mysterio, the real villain from the previous film. Within minutes, Peter becomes the world’s most infamous vigilante, and as a consequence, his life would never be the same. 

The Jon Watts film includes many returning cast members, starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, Zendaya as MJ, and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. Additionally, the movie features Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and villains from the multiple Spider-Verses, including the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), The Lizard (Rhys Ifans), and Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church). 

Pros

One of the biggest stand-outs in this film was the acting — it was simply phenomenal. The actors’ performances include a diverse set of interactions, ranging from joyful, hilarious exchanges to heart-breaking, riveting conversations. It was very clear that each actor’s character meant a lot to them, and I personally couldn’t imagine anyone else pulling off these roles nearly as well.

Overall, the acting and storyline work hand-in-hand perfectly to provide a good balance between humor, excitement, and vulnerability. 

Cons

However, I will mention that the plot can get confusing if viewers watch the film without watching the other Spiderman films from the different Spider-Verses. The movie does not explain the characters in detail, so without background knowledge, it might be harder to follow along.

The film is still understandable without knowledge of the Spider-Verses, but parts of the plot will make more sense if you have the necessary background knowledge. 

Verdict

Overall, this movie was brilliant. The film had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish — it’s funny, thoughtful, thrilling, emotional, and so much more. It’s the perfect movie to finish 2021 off with, and arguably one of Marvel’s best movies to date.