Film review – Spider-Man: No Way Home

Starring Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zendaya

Directed by Jon Watts

Certificate 12A

By @RogerCrow

Has it really been almost 20 years since Tobey Maguire starred in the first of many blockbuster movies based on Marvel Comics’ enduring wallcrawler? 

Afraid so, and while that inaugural film was terrific, the follow-up was even better, a peerless sequel which still stands as the best of the bunch. 

A shame the third flick was such a car crash, suffering from too many disjointed moments and that cringeworthy strutting Parker routine. 

After a break, Andrew Garfield stepped into Peter Parker’s boots as you know who. The first of his two films featured a stand-out scene involving cranes, and a rubbish villain in The Lizard. And after that sucker punch ending of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Garfield was benched in favour of a younger model. 

Many of those early Spider-Man epics featured loose threads which left fans hungry for more. The demise of key antagonists felt like they should be readdressed at some point. 

But superhero franchises using different actors as iconic protagonists rarely do that thing which Doctor Who has achieved over the years: have alternate versions of the time-travelling hero comparing notes with himself while tackling a threat. 

Thankfully the presence of Doctor Strange means anything is possible in this version of the Spiderverse. 

The plot picks up after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Framed by Mysterio, and outed as Peter Parker, the teen is on the run from the authorities while dealing with the breakneck break up of Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) and Aunt May (Marisa Tomei). 

The first act, like many of the previous Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, feels like it was edited by someone with ADHD. There’s little chance to catch your breath before we unpack bite-sized chunks of exposition and Spidey whisks girlfriend MJ (the sublime Zendaya) to safety. 

All of this looks phenomenal at York Cineworld’s IMAX screen. Those vast New York cityscapes are pin-sharp, and there’s a real sense of immersion as our friendly neighbourhood teenager clashes with bad guys and attempts to get his fellow students into their college of choice. Bad press thanks to J Jonah Jameson’s online scandal channel has made that almost impossible. 

(So good to see JK Simmons back as an iconic character so watchable, I’d happily watch him just berating people for 90 minutes). 

There are moments I want to just freeze the frame and soak up that epic scope, especially when Strange clashes with Spidey in that eye-popping scene involving folding cityscapes. IMAX doesn’t always work for some films, especially a movie like The Suicide Squad, when the image seemed unintentionally grainy. In SMNWH, it’s every bit as good as I’d hoped. And then some. 

There is so much going on in the latest MCU epic that I’m glad there is time to catch your breath in the second act. And the ongoing irritant of hero clothes and masks appearing out of thin air thanks to nano tech is thankfully dialled down after a breathtaking first act showdown. 

If you’re a fan of Marvel’s TV shows, it’s great to see a cameo from a masked favourite. And for those who followed Spidey’s movie adventures since 2002, there’s a feast of Spider-Man: No Way Home in-jokes, subtle references to the Spiderverse, and a few tear-jerking moments that provide the necessary dramatic heft for the often gravity-defying hero. 

Although impressive, that epic smackdown was a bit by the numbers. Falling heroes? Check. Industrial backdrop? Check. Things happening with whip-fast speed? Check. But if a formula ain’t broke, why fix it? 

On the plus side, Michael Giacchino does a fabulous job with his often rousing score, especially that emotional track at the finale. 

Talking of which, the Capraesque elements are beautifully handled, not least because Holland and Zendaya are such an adorable screen couple. Jacob Batalon (surely a Pointless answer) is also back as Pete’s BFF Ned, and after a cameo in Shang-Chi, Marvel regular Benedict Wong pops up as deadpan sorcerer, Wong. 

Benedict Cumberbatch once more gives a superb turn as Strange, and soon there will be a sense of things going full circle as original Spider-Man trilogy helmer Sam Raimi directs the cocky sorcerer’s interlinked sequel. That hits cinemas in a few months. 

Though it needed 10 minutes trimming from the end, this is still superb entertainment. Okay, it’s not perfect. I’d like to have seen a cameo from TV Spidey Nicholas Hammond for those who used to love the 1970s/1980s series and TV movies which graced UK cinemas back in the day. Though cameos from the women in Spidey’s lives are thin on the ground, one standout stunt offers a sense of redemption from an earlier movie. 

I’d recommend either seeing director Jon Watts’ latest offering in IMAX; Screen X (when certain scenes are projected onto three screens to fine effect), or a good old standard screen, as long as it’s not just on your phone or tablet in a few months. The extra investment is worth every penny. 

When it comes to swooping, soaring, touching, heart-lifting and heart-breaking spectacle, this is splendid stuff. Stan Lee would have been proud. 

Oh, and if hidden gems are your thing, as is often the way with MCU movies, there’s a couple of credit cookies, which are marred a little by the house lights coming up too early. 

Just stay for the first one, a minute or so into the closing titles as the final Easter egg right at the end is just a glorified trailer which you can watch online. 

Cast 8

Direction 8

Script 8

IMAX 9

Score 8

Rewatchability 9

* Roger saw Spider-Man: No Way Home at Cineworld York.

An Interview with Faye Brookes

Actress Faye Brookes took time out between shows at Hull New Theatre to talk to Roger Crow about the joy of pantomime; stage smash Chicago; her time on Coronation Street, and her dream project.

Hi Faye. Tell us about the panto at Hull New Theatre. What was it about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that took your fancy?

I think we’ve all truly missed a bit of festive fun, and what was so lovely… I’d signed up to do Chicago during the previous lockdown. I was fortunate enough to be doing Dancing on Ice at the time when I found out about that job, and I didn’t realise there was a small gap in my schedule that allowed me to go and do a Christmas panto. And there’s nothing that gets you more in the Christmas spirit. So I was thrilled to be doing Snow White this year.

What was the first panto you saw as a kid?

There were so many. It was a tradition. We’d always go Boxing Day; we’d always have leftovers from Christmas Day; we’d get dressed up, and we’d always go and watch the matinee or the evening performance. I just remember several princesses that I saw, and I loved that as a little girl – watching the princesses on stage, and now I am that princess, and I can see the Snow Whites dressed up on the front row, and it just brings a real nostalgia to the role. 

Photo. Ant Robling

Did those early pantos as a kid give you a taste for theatre?

I always wanted to be an actress. I watched films, and live theatre and everything on TV, and even just animation… I loved everything, and I truly knew there was something out there for me. Now I’m doing it all.

It must have been great to play Kate Connor on Coronation Street. Any plans to return? 

The door’s still left open, so I’m not going to hold my breath, but I hope one day that I get to return to the cobbles. It’s unfortunate that now my (Street) family is quite thin on the ground (laughs). My dad recently passing, but my sister’s still there, and I’ve still got cousins. 

We’re a big family the Connors, and I think they’ll always come back with a vengeance, so hopefully there’s still room for my little role to make an appearance one day, but for now I’m kind of loving being back on stage. 

You must love the adrenaline rush of live theatre…

That’s my bread and butter, theatre; I was trained to do musical theatre, and I have always pursued that. It’s where I saw myself, and I just got really, really lucky, and was able to further my skills by going into TV, and what an iconic place to be, which was Weatherfield. 

What are the less obvious differences between theatre and making a TV show like Corrie?

As much as I love theatre, it’s a whole different ballgame with TV, and what comes with that is also fame, and a very hectic schedule; the demands are a lot higher and there’s a lot more pressure, because you end up being thrown into social media from all different angles. And at the same time you don’t really get the pat on the back that I think everybody thinks you get. You film everything two and a half months in advance anyway, and you don’t really get to reap the rewards as they say. You’re then onto the next storyline, or you’re being thrown a different storyline that you need to sink your teeth into, so I think you’re just always on the go. There’s no kind of time to breathe, and I do need to be that person that sits back and takes in what’s happening. I just like the fact I’m very present right now. 

What was your favourite Corrie storyline?

There was no particular favourite because they were all brilliant. I was lucky to have worked with the writers I got given, and the directors especially. I have to say that Rana’s exit was the biggest challenge for myself, because emotionally it was difficult. 

If anyone’s lost a loved one, it’s probably the hardest thing you can ever do, and we wanted to capture the essence of Kate and Rana’s storyline, which was obviously very touching and groundbreaking for Coronation Street. We filmed over numerous months and I just remember being on the set when she (Rana) was underneath the (collapsed factory) roof, and we walked on set together and I said: ”It’s like a film set!”

What have you got planned for the New Year?

I’m doing nothing for new year. I’m staying at home with my dogs and just chilling out. I fly to Dubai with Chicago on the 3^rd (January), and I think we’re there for 10 days, so we do a week of shows in Dubai, which is completely out of the blue, and lucky for us to experience Chicago in another country.

What’s a typical working day?

After finishing two shows yesterday, today I had my booster jab at 8.20am; went to the gym; had a shower; did one show; now I’m doing the interview with you; then I’ll do another show; do some Christmas shopping, and hopefully get a minute where I can do some meditation or just have some peace and quiet with a cup of tea. Then I’ll sleep. 

Finally, do you have a dream project?

Broadway. Yes please. I’m putting it out there. 

Break a leg with all the projects, stay safe, and have a great Christmas.

Thanks. Merry Christmas! 

* Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs can be seen at Hull New Theatre until January 2^nd, 2022.

Sneak peek at Roger Christian interview

Infinity magazine – January 2022

If you’re a fan of Alien and already read the first part of my interview with genius art director and film maker Roger Christian, then here’s a look at the second part. We talk Alien, obviously, and his cult film Black Angel.