Just your friendly neighborhood ranking of one of cinema’s most enduring franchises.
Worse than bad, it’s inessential.
Intended as a dark-dramatic sequel, it plays more now like a prequel to several unmade spinoffs.
Tobey Maguire in ‘Spider-Man 2’; Miles Morales (voice: Shameik Moore) in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’; Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’.Credit:Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection (3)
But there’s a lush quality toAmazing 2.
But Raimi’s visual imagination reaches a new peak with Sandman (Thomas Haden Church).
For no obvious reason, Raimi fits in a few dance numbers.
Andrew Garfield in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’.Everett Collection
Kevin Jacobsen
6.Spider-Man: Homecoming(2017)
And isHomecominga real movie?
What is a movie anymore?
This last bit is either what youloveaboutHomecomingor the most annoying part of the movie.
Andrew Garfield in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’.Everett Collection
(The last and worst action scene literally takes place on a plane carrying detritus from 2012’sThe Avengers.)
But the cast of characters at Spidey’s high school is an all-time ensemble.
The stage is set for a brilliant sequel!
Tobey Maguire in ‘Spider-Man 3’.Everett Collection
The more things change… D.F.
terrible Green Goblin outfits, butSpider-Manboils over with genre-launching ambition.
(Late in this first film, Peter finds himself at twodifferentpoints of a romantic triangle.)
Zendaya and Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’.JoJo Whilden/Columbia Pictures/Marvel/Courtesy Everett Collection
But he gets a great exit.
And don’t underrate how perfectly this first film captures something about Spider-Man’s central tragedy.
The sheer muchness means some key characters get short-shrift.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’.Columbia Pictures
A film likeLoganearns raves for its heavy-man profundity (with megaviolence!
), while a lighthearted romp likeHomecominggets extra credit for turning everything into a cameo-comedian laugh line.
Mary Jane gets engaged to an astronaut, and she leaves him at the altar.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’.Matt Kennedy/Sony Pictures Releasing/Marvel Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection
Spider-Man/Miles Morales in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’.Sony Pictures Releasing/Marvel Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection
Tobey Maguire in ‘Spider-Man’.Everett Collection
Spider-Man/Miles Morales in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’.Sony Pictures Animation
Tobey Maguire in ‘Spider-Man 2’.Everett Collection
