Top 10 Things Spider-Man: Homecoming Got Right

While it’s true that the Marvel movies aren’t particularly dark, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” embraced a comedic tone that was totally unique. This movie remained hilarious throughout, whether the humor was coming from goofy slapstick, funny Spider-Man-based moments, or 80s movie references. It was a comedy through-and-through, and it was an enormously refreshing change of tone for those of us who are beginning to feel a little burnt out on the whole superhero thing.

Two things make this aspect of the movie so interesting. For one, the integration means that we’re finally allowed to feel as if Spider-Man is a part of this huge cinematic world that Marvel has created. Various characters, like Captain America, pop up for quick little cameos, and, obviously, Peter interacts with Tony Stark on a semi-regular basis. But what also makes this so great is that it isn’t distracting. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is still very much a Spider-Man movie. The integration makes it feel like a part of a much larger world, yet it still adheres to its own stand-alone story. It’s a win-win for fans.

There’s no denying that “Spider-Man: Homecoming” nailed the feel and tone of the comics. “Spider-Man” was never about saving the planet from world-ending alien invaders. Instead, the movie keeps to the tone of the comic by following an ambitious yet outmatched young man as he tries to stop a criminal from selling dangerous weapons. That’s it. No invading alien race, no convoluted schemes to turn people into lizards. It stuck to what makes “Spider-Man” such a unique character, and it avoided the extravagant excess that plagues modern superhero movies. While the stakes are low when compared to the kind of thing you’d see in “The Avengers, the stakes are high for Peter, and that’s what makes it a compelling story.

An underappreciated aspect of filmmaking is costume design, and may we just say, this movie’s costume game was on point! Spider-Man’s costume perfectly captured the fun and innocent feel that the movie was going for, despite it not being as detailed as Raimi’s rendition. Peter’s amateur costume was also remarkable, as it truly looked like something a high school kid would create while still adhering to Spider-Man’s aesthetics. But it’s The Vulture’s costume which steals the show here. Not only does The Vulture suit itself look suitably high-tech, but Adrian Toomes’ jacket is a wonderful piece of costume design which gives the character a distinct physical presence.

When everyone heard that Marvel Studios was going to have a crack at their own interpretation of a “Spider-Man” movie, we were thrilled and scared in equal measure. Thrilled because Marvel’s track record has been excellent, and we all knew that their “Spider-Man” would be no exception, and scared because we all thought that we’d have to sit through ANOTHER re-telling of Spidey’s origin story. The first “Spider-Man” was released in 2002, and “The Amazing Spider-Man” was only ten years after that. Luckily, Marvel completely did away the all too familiar beats. It was a great move, and it proved that Marvel knows exactly how to hit the needs of their audience. We swear if we had to see another Uncle Ben death scene…

As we mentioned earlier, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is a completely self-contained story, which is a refreshing change of pace from the usual cliffhanger-obsessed, universe-sharing superhero movies of late. There ARE references to the other movies, like Toomes cleaning up the Battle of New York from The Avengers and snagging the alien weapons, but for the most part, the movie is a stand-alone Spider-Man story, complete with character arcs and a fitting conclusion. Hell, the only cliffhanger we get is Aunt May walking in on Spider-Man, but even that was played for laughs. It’s nice to see a superhero movie that isn’t bogged down by having to set-up a big crossover.

A superhero movie would not be complete without an epic score. Composer Michael Giacchino started relatively small, scoring hit television shows like “Alias” and “Lost” before becoming one of Hollywood’s go-to action movie composers. He has composed movies like “Star Trek,” “Super 8,” and “Doctor Strange,” and his score for “Spider-Man” is just as great as it was for those films. His reworked “Spider-Man” theme is a suitably cinematic take on the classic piece, and pieces like Fly-by-Night Operation are both beautifully old school and heart-pumping. We can’t wait to see what this man does next.

Kudos to the casting director, because these kids, and especially Tom Holland, were truly amazing. While a lot of people have a soft spot for Tobey Maguire, others think that he wasn’t young and awkward enough. Andrew Garfield fine, but wasn’t given much to work with. Holland absolutely nails everything that makes Spider-Man so endearing and relatable. He’s suitably young, so we believe that he could be a high school student, he’s clumsy and awkward, both as a teenager and as Spider-Man, and he convincingly captures Peter’s personal struggles. He completely embodies the character.

Every superhero movie needs a good villain, and The Vulture is arguably Spider-Man’s - and potentially Marvel’s - greatest on-screen villain yet. Not because he’s a massive threat, but because he’s surprisingly complex. Superhero villains are typically portrayed as being maniacal and egotistical world-destroyers, yet here is a man who is simply selling guns to provide for his family. While he’s still a criminal, we understand his motivations, and we see that he has a personal life outside of being the story’s villain. Michael Keaton perfectly portrays the complex nature of The Vulture, as he allows us to feel both fear and sympathy towards his character.

“Ultimate Spider-Man” was an updated and modernized series of Spider-Man comic books which began in 2000 by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley. Like the movie, it was a reboot of the classic comic series, but that’s not the only thing these two stories have in common. Holland told IGN that he used “Ultimate Spider-Man” as a major influence for his portrayal of the character, and it shows. The series’ influence helps give the movie a modern feel, which is a big reason it feels so fresh and distinct from the Spider-Man films that have come before. THIS is Spider-Man for the new generation.