Spiderman Homecoming

Plot: As introduced in the last Avengers movie, Spiderman (Tom Holland) is in high school, and poking around Queens preventing local crime. He stumbles upon a gang who salvages "tech" from alien crash scenes, and rebuilds it into superweapons. The gang's leader, Adrian (Michael Keaton), builds mechanical wings, and becomes the chief villain. Meanwhile Peter Parker*, goes to an interschool academic competition and to the Homecoming dance with his crush Michelle (Zendaya). Spiderman fumbles with his crime fighting, but gets bailed out by Ironman (Robert Downey Jr). In the end, Spiderman rises to the occasion, and foils the bad guys. [imdb]    [photos]

*Peter Parker is Spiderman's secret identity.

Review: It is great the Spiderman is a kid again. I didn't like Spiderman being a grown-up, and too serious and too competent. It's easier to sympathize with Superheroes when they are normal, and easier to identify with villains that are stealing boxes of stuff instead of trying to destroy the world. The movie is called Homecoming, and indeed there is a Homecoming dance, but that doesn't figure into the plot. I'd have liked to see more high school soap opera. Maybe in the sequel

Tom Holland does a great job, whether it is being worried or plucky, I liked it. Robert Downey is always good including his familiar Ironman role. 

Cast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon

Directed by: Jon Watts

Written by: A Committee: 12 people have writing credits

The Music: Zesty orchestral music by Michael Giacchino; not too drum heavy. I liked the pop songs in the opening scenes; sadly those arn't on the soundtrack. 

The Visuals: Generally good special effects. The photography is straight-forward not artsy or stylish. 

Rating: 3.5 stars: Enjoyable; 

More: Director Watts wanted the school to look like modern day New York, not retro or suburban.

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