September 27, 2023 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

FILM REVIEW

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME

By Kathy Whitney Boole

FILM REVIEW
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Rated PG-13
148 Minutes
Released December 17th

Spider-Man: No Way Home is a movie for everyone. It may not be the same story for each individual, but you will see yourself and your struggles in it. That’s universal storytelling, like the myths, songs, fables and fairytales of all cultures. The name of the movie is apt. There is in reality never a “way home.” You can’t really ever return to where you were or who you were. But the good news is, you can take with you the identity you’ve built, to go on to become your best self,

Comic books usually take several issues to tell a story. These books are our modern mythology, and Stan Lee is our version of Homer. In the comic book realm, worlds and universes smash together, lives that are seemingly vastly different entwine, and we identify with all of it. You can become a child again, looking at your existence with a sense of wonder. And, there’s always a touch of humor beneath each character’s personality and predicament. Cinema is a wonderful medium to mirror comic books. If it’s not done right, it loses the imaginative energy of the books. This movie keeps that energy and expands on it.

This episode of the Spider-Man anthology myth also explores the philosophical and scientific dilemma of the possible existence of different planes of being. As in, what if these planes come together – the age-old contemplation of the possibility of time/space collision. The overall theme is one of accountability. The responsibility of being Spider-Man is a heavy “crown” to bear, as is the responsibility each of us has as a human being. Perhaps that’s really what comic books are about – looking at these otherworldly godlike beings and environments gives you fresh eyes on what it means to have the gift of life in our world, with all its hardships, dilemmas and joys.

Veteran casting director Sarah Finn has brought together a stellar cast. Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man” is easy to identify with. Zendaya as “MJ” is at once vulnerable, emotional and brave. Benedict Cumberbatch endows “Dr. Strange” with a disarmingly perplexed quality. Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Rhys Ifans and Thomas Haden Church visit Spider-Man’s world as superhuman entities. These actors make their godlike characters come to life with believability, each with their own frustrations to bear. Watch for some surprise appearances too.

The skill behind the making of this movie makes the experience of watching it as close to any Marvel Universe film to matching the wonder and explosive energy achieved by actually reading a comic book, with its powerful and stirring illustrations. It’s not simply about the cast. It’s as if the environment of the movie itself, with its many planes of the multiverse, is an actor in its own right. Director Jon Watts has made it all look easy because his filmmakers and editors have assembled the huge amount of visuals, music and sound cues seamlessly to flow with the thread of the story.

The special effects, sound and visual artists who worked on this movie are a “cast of thousands.” In fact, most of the audience at my screening gave up waiting for the surprise sneak-peek bonus scenes that appear during the encyclopedic amount of credits, one in the middle and one at the end. The bonus scenes are worth staying for though.

I recommend this movie. If IMAX is within your budget, it’s worth the extra payout for the technically enhanced view of this extraordinarily crafted film. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Spider-Man: No Way Home among Oscar nominations this year.

Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people.  She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com

in News
Related Posts

Hollywood Twist: Writers Guild Strikes Gold with Extraordinary Deal

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

WGA Members To Vote On Ratification of the Tentative Contract  By Dolores Quintana  After The Writers Guild of America (WGA)...

Film Review: Amerikatsi

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

FILM REVIEWAmerikatsiUnrated117 MinutesReleased September 8, 2023 A storyline predominantly based on voyeurism is not a new cinematic concept, and here...

Culver City’s Exchange Club’s 2023 Fiesta La Ballona Beer and Wine Garden Fundraiser Reaches New Heights

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

The Group Announces the Amount of Funds Raised At Fiesta La Ballona For Charity By Dolores Quintana The Exchange Club...

(Video) Total Wine & More Opens Culver City Location

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

With a wide selection of wine, beer, alcohol, snacks, and accessories, you can find almost anything you need. Total Wine...

Los Angeles Residents See No Relief in Sight For The Price of Gas

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

Disappointment at the Pump For Drivers In The City  By Dolores Quintana On Monday, the relentless upward trend of the...

Culver City Police Quickly Arrest Suspected Burglar After Traffic Violation

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

Traffic Stop Yields Evidence In Other Crime In West Los Angeles By Dolores Quintana According to a press release from...

Film Review: Bottoms

September 26, 2023

September 26, 2023

FILM REVIEWBOTTOMSRated R91 MinutesReleased August 25th Welcome to a new generation of breakout stars of American comedy who make the...

Mixed-Use West Edge Development Unveiled North of Expo/Bundy Station In Sawtelle

September 25, 2023

September 25, 2023

Development is a collaboration between Hines, Affinius Capital, and Philena Properties  By Dolores Quintana The once-familiar site of the Martin...

Writers Guild and AMPTP Reach Tentative Agreement After 146-Day Strike

September 25, 2023

September 25, 2023

Picketing Is Suspended For Now, Contract Language To Be Finalized By Dolores Quintana Around 7:30 p.m. tonight, the Writers Guild...

Rising Mortgage Rates and Low Inventory Continue to Impact California Home Sales

September 24, 2023

September 24, 2023

California’s Median Home Price Records Its Highest Year-Over-Year Gain in 15 Months By Dolores Quintana California home sales faced their...

Join Heal the Bay for the Official Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 23

September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023

Make a Difference in Your Community by Removing Trash From Our Coast By Dolores Quintana On Saturday, September 23, 2023,...

Fatal Collision Involving Auto and Motorcycle On September 20 in Palms

September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023

Tragic Incident Prompts Swift Response by Los Angeles Firefighters By Dolores Quintana A tragic auto versus motorcycle collision unfolded at...

COVIDTests.gov to Reopen for Free Testing Starting on September 25

September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023

HHS Invests $600 Million in Domestic COVID-19 Test Manufacturing By Dolores Quintana The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...

(Video) Citizen Public Market’s New Expanded Rooftop Bar Area

September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023

The rooftop bar’s size has been doubled and offers a relaxing and al fresco area for patrons to enjoy cocktails,...

Shake Shack Introduces Pilot Program with Eco-Friendly Oil

September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023

Zero Acre Farms to partner with Shake Shack in NYC  By Keemia Zhang Shake Shack has announced a partnership with...