Spider-Man No Way Home Film Review

20 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Film Reviews

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Doctor Octopus, Doctor Strange, Electro, Green Goblin, Marvel, MCU, Multiverse, Sandman, Spider-Man, Spider-Man No Way Home, Spider-Man No Way Home Review, Spiderman No Way Home Review, The Lizard, Tom Holland

Spider-Man No Way Home

Review by Paul Bowler

The Multiverse explodes into the MCU in Spider-Man No Way Home as the webslingers world collides with the narrative of the Avengers movies and the plots of the five previous Spider-Man movies that starred Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Spider-Man No Way Home also contains more Easter eggs, secrets and cameos than any superhero film we’ve seen to date. Tom Holland’s third solo outing as Spider-Man also manages to side-step the curse of the over cluttered threquel to be an action packed, emotional roller coaster ride that more than lives up to the hype.

After a brief recap of Spider-Man being unmasked at the end of the previous film, Spider-Man No Way Home sees Holland’s young superhero struggling to protect Aunt May (Maria Tomie), his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), best pal Ned (Jacob Batalon) and Tony Stark’s former chauffeur Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) from the media swarm that has descended on his life thanks to J. Jonah Jamerson (JK Simmons) broadcasts claiming that Spider-Man murdered Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal).

To protect those he loves Peter seeks out Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) at his Sanctum Sanctorum to ask him to cast a spell that could make the world forget his secret identity. But when the magic goes awry the multiverse is breached, summoning every villain who knew his identity in the other dimensions and Spider-Man movies – Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe, Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Fox), Lizard (Rhys Ifans) and Sandman (Thomas Haden) – to converge on NCY in the MCU reality.

Director Jon Watts, who has been behind the camera since Holland began his solo adventures in Spider-Man Homecoming after his scene-stealing debut in Captain America Civil War, keeps the huge scope and scale of Spider-Man No Way Home on track along with returning screenwriters Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Highlights include a spellbinding chase between Spider-Man and Doctor Strange across the dimensions that echoes Christopher Nolan’s Inception, Spider-Man battles the rogues gallery of his deadliest foes, and there’s a thrilling showdown at the Statue of Liberty. But it is the films underlying themes of second chances what really drives the narrative of the movie the most as Peter Parker is put through the emotional wringer, the same is true for the multitude of returning villains as well, and even the core ethos of great power and responsibility that is the cornerstone of Spider-Man’s legacy gets powerfully reworked in the most unexpected way.

Tom Holland gives his best performance by far as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, the supporting cast are brilliant as well, and script is chock full of fun moments and clever call-backs to enjoy too. Oh and be sure to stay for those credits as well! To say any more about Spider-Man No Way Home would totally ruin the thrills and surprises it holds. I’d been really looking forward to seeing this film and I throughly enjoyed it. Suffice to say, if you’ve been a fan of the MCU and the many different eras of the Spider-Man films you are going to be totally blown away by the fan-pleasing moments this action-packed movie delivers!

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Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook

New Spider-Man No Way Home Trailer Confirms a Multi-verse of Villains!

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Trailers & Posters

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

Benedict Cumberbatch, Doc Ock, Doctor Strange, Electro, Green Goblin, Marvel, Multiverse, Sandman, Spider-Man, Spider-Man No Way Home, Spider-Man No Way Home trailer, Tom Holland

The new Spider-Man No Way Home trailer has finally arrived and it brings a multi-verse of villains along with it! The action-packed trailer delves even deeper into Spider-Man’s latest struggle as the multiverse begins to fracture and allow several classic Spidey villains from the multiverse to come pouring out through the cracks. Staring Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, this trailer suggests that Peter’s interruptions while the Sorcerer Supreme was conducting his memory-wiping spell led to the multiverse cracking open, and they seam to be at loggerheads as they try to deal with the ramifications of what they’ve unleashed.

Of course we already knew Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock would return, and it would seem he has the most prominent role to play in the new Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer. There’s also brief appearances from Electro (Jamie Foxx), Sandman, Lizard, and the Green Goblin!

Rumours abound about at who else might appear in Spider-Man No Way Home but this trailer doesn’t give anything more away on that front. Spider-Man No Way Home looks set to be an epic MCU movie event, and is certainly one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year. Spider-Man: No Way Home will be swinging into cinemas on December 15 in the UK and December 17 in the US!

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Spider-Man No Way Home Teaser Trailer Released!

24 Tuesday Aug 2021

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Trailers & Posters

≈ 24 Comments

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Doctor Octopus, Doctor Strange, Green Goblin, Marvel, Multiverse, Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Spider-Man No Way Home, Spider-Man No Way Home trailer, Tom Holland

So only a day after footage apparently leaked onto the internet, Sony have released the first teaser trailer for Spider-Man No Way Home. For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Super Hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man!

The trailer looks really exciting and really looking forward to Spider-Man No Way Home – fingers crossed it lives up to all the hype!

The film stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon with Marisa Tomei, and is directed by Jon Watts. Spider-Man No Way Home looks set to be the MCU event of 2021 and will be realised exclusively at cinemas December 17th!.

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Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Alone Against Eternity Review

28 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Marvel Comics

≈ 10 Comments

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Clea, Doctor Strange, Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Alone Against Eternity, Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Alone Against Eternity Review, Dormammu, Dr Strange, Dracula, Epic Collection, Eternity, Gene Colan, Jim Starlin, Marv Wolfman, Marvel Comics, Master of the Mystic Arts, P.Craig Russell, Quadriverse, Stephen Strange, Steve Englehart, Umar, Xander the Merciless

Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Alone Against Eternity

Review by Paul Bowler.

Marvel Comics Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Alone Against Eternity collects a magical mix of Bronze Age talent. In this trippy, spellbinding mid-’70’s voyage through the mystic arts, some of Doctor Strange’s most iconic adventures are brought to life by the wondrous talents of Steve Englehart, Marv Wolfman, Jim Starlin, Gene Colan and P.Craig Russell.

Steve Englehart and Gene Colan arguably crafted some of the most breathtaking and classic Doctor Strange storylines of all time. For when Dormammu and Umar and Eternity sweepingly declares that the very end of time itself is imminent. In order to save the world and reality as we know it Stephen Strange will have to confront the most uncanny threat of all – himself! This enchanting and mind-bending saga remains one of my favourite Doctor Strange, and its a delight to revisit it here in this collection.

Also here is the conclusion to Englehart’s run, the spine-chilling Dracula crossover, a trip to hell, and the Time Travelling Occult History of America. Then the brilliant Marv Wolfman and Jim Starlin enchants us with an outstanding confrontation between Doctor Strange and Xander the Merciless and Clea gone mad! With a reality twisting descent into the uncanny Quadriverse, we then reach an unparalleled reckoning as Stephen Strange confronts his status as the Sorcerer Supreme! As if all that wasn’t enough, there’s a gorgeously illustrated annual by co-writer / artist P.Craig Russell to enjoy as well!

With its mesmerising storylines and impressive artwork the Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Alone Against Eternity is a sumptuous mix of arcane wonder and bewitching spectacle on every level. Collecting Doctor Strange (1974) 6-28, Annual (1974) 1 and Tomb of Dracula (1975) 44, this Epic Doctor Strange volume of classic stories is sure to cast a spell over fans old and new alike.

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The Amazing Spider-Man #52 Review

12 Thursday Nov 2020

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Marvel Comics

≈ 7 Comments

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Doctor Strange, Harry Osborne, Kindred, Last Remains, Last Remains Part 3, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Nick Spencer, Norman Osborne, Patrick Gleason, Peter Parker, Sin Eater, Spider-Man, Spider-Man #52 Review, Spiderman #52 Review

The Amazing Spider-Man #52

Review by Paul Bowler.

The darkest, most macabre confrontation imaginable awaits Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man #52 as the wall crawler comes face-to-face with the new villain – Kindred! As Kindred reveals his true power to Spider-Man, horrors past and present are unleashed, and Spidey begins realise the terrible danger he’s in!

Having failed to secure the help of Doctor Strange last issue Spider-Man decided to take the fight directly to Kindred himself, but it’s a decision Peter might come to regret as their showdown unfolds. With a gathering of high profile skeletal remains for Kindred’s ghoulish tea party from hell, including George Stacy, Jean Dewolf, Marla Jamerson, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, and Ben Parker, writer Nick Spencer ramps up the horror quota of Kindred’s vendetta to the max in Spider-Man #52 to such a degree that its positively skin-crawling. The way Kindred taunts and goads Spidey before brutally pummelling him to a pulp is done with almost surgical precision, and its not long before our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man finds the tables have been horrifically turned on him.

Kindred has been plotting and scheming from the shadows for much of Spencer’s run, having first killed Mendel Stromm and then Mysterio, Kindred went on to resurrect Sin Eater to cleanse criminals of their sins — including Norman Osborne (the Green Goblin). Last Remains kicked off with Kindred sending these collective sins after Spider-Man’s Spider-Friends, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Woman, Spider-Girl, Miles Morales, and Madame Web, transforming them into twisted demonic version of themselves in order to unleash carnage on Peter and terrorise New York City. It is this demonic version of The Order of the Web that Kindred now uses against Spider-Man in this issue with almost frightening relish, and effetely forces him into a fateful no-win scenario.

Patrick Gleason’s artwork is a perfect fit for The Amazing Spider-Man. Employing a dynamic blend of overlapping page layouts and spectacular two-page spreads to convey the horror and intensity of Spidey’s face-off with Kindred, Gleason renders every moment of raw emotion, grisly horror and bone crunching action to perfection. Every scene is packed with detail and colourist Edgar Delgado enhances the action with a glorious use of vivid color, rich tones, and sinister shadows.

Everything builds towards a shock cliff-hanger which is brilliantly ambiguous and shockingly chilling. Grim thrills and intense action makes Amazing Spider-Man #52 riveting reading, Nick Spencer is firing on all cylinders here, and Patrick Gleason’s art continues to impress on every level. The creative team on this book are doing a fantastic job and Last Remains is easily one of the most darkly compelling Spider-Man storylines that I’ve enjoyed in a long while.

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Nick Spencer / Artist: Patrick Gleason

Colorist: Edgar Delgado / Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramanga

Cover: Patrick Gleason and Edgar Delgado

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New Avengers: Endgame Official Trailer!

14 Thursday Mar 2019

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Trailers & Posters

≈ 73 Comments

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Avengers 4, Avengers 4 trailer, Avengers Endgame, Avengers Endgame Official Trailer, Avengers Endgame Trailer, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Bradley Cooper, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Doctor Strange, Elizabeth Olsen, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hulk, Iron Man, Jeremy Renner, Josh Brolin, Jr., Karen Gillan, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Bethany, Pom Klementieff, Robert Downey, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Spider-Man, Thanos, The Avengers, Thor, Tom Holland

New Avengers: Endgame Official Trailer!

The new Avengers: Endgame official trailer has been released! This epic trailer givers us our first good look at what this major turning point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will have in store for us. Avengers: Endgame, Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, follows on from Avengers: Infinity War’s devestating cliff-hanger which saw fifty per cent of the MUC’s heroes turned to dust by Josh Brolin’s Thanos.. Now the saga reaches a shattering conclusion in Avengers: Endgame, and I can’t wait to see how everything is resolved after seeing this awesome looking trailer!

Whatever it takes. Check out the -new trailer for Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame!

Avengers: End Game　is set to land in UK cinemas on 26 April 2019

And there’s a great new poster as well!

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Avengers Endgame Trailer Released!

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Trailers & Posters

≈ 22 Comments

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Avengers Endgame Trailer Released!

Following the an epic decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to reach a major turning point with Avengers: Endgame! Yes, after weeks of rumours that a trailer for Avengers 4 was on the way, today is the day we’ve all been waiting for.. our first glimpse at the trailer and title for the fourth Avengers Movie: Avengers Endgame!

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Endgame looks set to resolve the Avengers: Infinity War’s shattering cliff-hanger that saw fifty per cent of the MUC’s heroes turned to dust by Josh Brolin’s Thanos..

The trailer for Avengers Endgame shows how Tony Stark is coping in the aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War – and we also get a few hints about what and who we will see in Avengers: Endgame…

Its great to finally have a look at what Avengers Endgame will be like, really excited for this movie! What did you all think of the trailer for Avengers Endgame?

Avengers: End Game　is set to land in UK cinemas on 26 April 2019.

And here’s the new Avengers Endgame poster!

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Avengers Infinity War Film Review

02 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by Paul Bowler in All, Film Reviews

≈ 48 Comments

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Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Infinity War Film Review, Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Panther, Bradley Cooper, Captain America, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Doctor Strange, Gamora, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hulk, Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity Stones, Iron Man, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, loki, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Spider-Man, Thanos, The Avengers, The Vision, Thor, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Holland, Wakanda, Wanda Maximoff

Avengers Infinity War Film Review

Review by Paul Bowler

Get set for Marvel Studios’ Avengers Infinity War to rock the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its very core as the Avengers and their superhero allies confront the deadly power of Thanos, played with gravely voiced menace by Josh Brolin. Earth’s mightiest heroes must prepare to sacrifice everything in order to prevent Thanos from gathering the Infinity Stones into a gauntlet that could enable him to destroy the universe!

Quintessentially the culmination of everything the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been building towards since its inception way back in 2008 with Iron Man, it now falls to the nineteenth film in Marvel‘s box-office hit-machine franchise to bring this ten year journey across the MCU full circle with Avengers Infinity War.

Although our heroes were left fractured by the events of 2016’s Captain America Civil War, it’s not long before they reunite in the face of the threat posed by Thanos and the mad Titan’s nefarious scheme to wipe out half the universe.

With returning favourites including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans) leading the charge into battle along with Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Vision (Paul Bettany), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olse), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and War Machine (Donn Cheadle), there’s also the welcome addition of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and the Guardians of the Galaxy into the mix, along with numerous other characters from the MCU also joining the ranks of the films heroic ensemble cast in the battle against Thanos!

Right from the jaw-dropping opening, it quickly becomes apparent that not everyone will survive either. The two and a half hour running time boasts spectacular action and drama, with its narrative interwoven across four major plot threads, spanning locations across the entire MCU; this epic crossover event is ably handled by the directing duo of the Russo brothers and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFreely.

For a film so packed with plotlines and characters the Russo brothers still manage give everyone a moment in the spotlight – however fleeting – and still keep everything and everyone on track. Thanos cuts a swathe of devastation in his quest to acquire all six Infinity Stones, but it quickly becomes a very personal battle for the Avengers because one of the stones is embedded in the Vision’s forehead, making the androids impending plight especially heartrending for his love interest Wanda Maxim off – in scenes movingly played by Elizabeth Olse and Paul Bettany. Chris Evans continues to impress as Captain America, times have been tough for Cap in recent films but the camaraderie between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes / White Wolf (Sebastian Stan) shines though here, as does Roger’s great respect for Wakandan king T’Challa / Black Panther. The spiky banter between Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man / Tony Stark and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is another highlight, and Tom Holland’s wisecracking Spider-Man is always fun to have around. Chris Hemsworth also gets some great scenes as the vanquished Thor who teams-up with Guardians of the Galaxy Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) in the fight to stop Thanos.

Avengers Infinity War crams a hell of a lot in but it never feels bloated or gets bogged down in needless exposition. The majority of the characters are well served by the script, key emotional beats really hit the mark, and there are plenty of fun one-liners to enjoy. Infinity War also goes out of its way to firmly establish the giant purple alien Thanos as the ultimate Big-Bad of the Marvel Universe, and the CGI wizardry together with Josk Brolin’s brilliant performance mesh seamlessly to bring us one of the most richly compelling villains to have ever graced the MCU. Although his motivations in Avengers Infinity War diverge slightly from his comic book counterpart, Thanos still remains a towering presence throughout the film, there’s also great pathos to his scenes with Zoe Saldana as his adopted daughter Gamora, and his fearsome lieutenants The Children of Thanos (known as the Black Order in the comics) are an imposing – if rather one-dimensional – addition to the villain’s forces.

Avengers Infinity War is a veritable fangasim of comic book action, packed with mind-boggling special effects and huge action set pieces that dazzle amidst every twist and turn of the plot as events inexorably rumble towards the epic final battle, and its subsequent game-changing conclusion. Once the dust settles the excitement, gut wrenching loss, and unexpected surprises in Avengers Infinity War will leave you reeling as to where the Marvel Cinematic Universe goes from here. Avengers Infinity War doesn’t pull any punches, however with the stakes raised so high in this move it makes you wonder how much of it is set in stone – especially with the continuation already due in next year’s fourth Avengers film – but one things for sure Avengers Infinity War is without doubt one of the most ambitious and breath taking superhero movies ever!