A review of the new movie “Spider-Man: Far From Home”
This is the second film dedicated to the third representation of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and we have the same director (Jon Watts) and the same leading actor (Tom Holland) as well as a host of other returning stars including Spidey’s Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and teenage love interest MJ (Zendaya). It is actually the 23rd movie in the MCU and plot-wise comes hard on the heels of “Avengers: Endgame”, so you should see “Endgame” first and, if (like me), you’ve been at all the other works in the blockbusting franchise, you’ll enjoy some allusions to earlier films.
Whereas “Endgame” was big and bombastic, “Far From Home” is in many respects a gentler work with Peter Parker very reluctant to assume his super-hero persona, wishing only for a change of scene and a chance to romance MJ on a school trip embracing some of my favourite European cities in each of which a bridge has a role: Venice (Rialto Bridge), Prague (Charles Bridge), and London (Tower Bridge).
His plans are thwarted by the appearance of huge and destructure creatures called the Elementals and their seeming nemesis, the enigmatic Quentin Beck/Mysterio (the fine Jake Gyllenhaal who gets the opportunity to express a range of emotions).
It’s all immense fun with some new language, including the blip (explanation of how we cope with the five year disappearance of half the world’s population in “Endgame”), a set of glasses called E.D.I.T.H. (a special kind of weapon), and Illusion Tech (a very special kind of weapon). Be sure to stay for the two clips near the beginning and at the very end of the credits.