By Nathaniel R
Spider-Man longs to be on top. But there are still more Batman movies.You might safely be asking 'why do we need a sixth Spider-Man movie in fifteen years?' The answer is of course 'We don't.' But an equally correct answer might be 'We don't... but Tom Holland! The correct comic pitch. Marvel Studios is finally involved... at least in some capacity. Etcetera'
If you answered the question the first way, chances are you're a "no" sight unseen. We would've been in that camp but for the fact that we kept campaigning for Tom Holland to get the part (his incredible work in The Impossible was enough) without actually believing that he would get the part. So now we must keep an open mind.
If you answered the hypothetical question the second way chances are you've probably already seen this new Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer. Either way we'll break it down together via our Yes No Maybe So survey...
Whatsup guys?
WAIT A MINUTE. You guys aren't the real Avengers. I can tell. Hulk gives it away."
YAAAS.
This great opening gag puts us in the perfect mindset for comic book fun. And Spidey, for all his teen angst should always be fun.
Yeah, sure.
New love interests that aren't Mary Jane or Gwen Stacy. Wise move. Pictured above is Laura Harrier as "Liz" but Zendaya probably has the key female role as "Michelle" and there's even a "Betty Brandt" in the movie, another Peter Parker love interest. When you're the sixth movie in 15 years you should rilllllllllly not repeat yourself with villains or girlfriends.
Yes.
Tom Holland has fine comic timing as Peter Parker and Marvel finally went multi-cultural with the high school which is long past due given that this story has always taken place in New York City. That's Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds who in the comics is usually a reporter for the Daily Bugle... but we assume this film is too early in the Spider-Man story to get to the Daily Bugle.
That's not a hug. I'm just grabbing the door for you.
Maybe So
Is Robert Downey Jr rich enough to buy Planet Earth yet? If you're exhausted by the Iron Man schtick this could go either way but it's definitely helpful for a bridge from Captain America: Civil War and to remind us that this Spidey is still learning how to do heroics. BUT THANK THE GODS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SIT THROUGH ANOTHER ORIGIN STORY. DEATH TO ORIGIN STORIES. GET TO ACTUAL ADVENTURES!
Yes
He's found out! The way that super tight outfit springs loose is quite a costume design flourish, isn't it. No, YOU'RE drooling over Tom Holland's body. (He will be 21 by the time this movie is in theaters so you're not going to hell). So it looks like Ned Leeds has a huge role in this movie.
Yes No AND Maybe So
Yes -- it's nice that we're getting a villain the movies haven't used with The Vulture. but No, another villain who is a scientific genius with a gadget superpowers (ala Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus)? Are there any evil people in the Marvel Universe that don't know how to construct super suits to rival Iron Mans? Also this image which is surely intended to be a big image in the trailer is a little flat because it feels like a Batman movie poster or like Ant Man riding a huge flying ant.
This is my chance to prove myself!
Yes.
We finally get the Spider-Man suit with the gliding webbed detail. Thanks Louise Frogley.
Yes.
Nice shot there, Salvatore Totino. Plus anything that reminds of the best action sequence in any Spider-Man movie (Spidey, Doc Octopus and the elevated train) is welcome.
Don't mess with me. Because I will kill you and everyone you love.
Y-E-S
Michael Keaton is creepy and there's a certain pop culture frisson in Batman himself returning to comic book franchises after Birdman by joining the dark side as another winged beast, The Vulture.
Also we're glad he doesn't look like how he looks in the comics even if we wish the new suit weren't so generic evil super villain armored suit. At least they kept the ruffle around his neck.
YAAS.
This looks sufficiently dramatic and like a frame from a comic book. Gorgeous how you can see the Statue of Liberty through the misty air.
Maybe So
I mean. I get why this little tag excites people. People sure do love Tony Stark but let's really hope that Peter Parker is allowed to carry this on his own and all of the Robert Downey Jr shots are basically the extent of his role.
In short it turns out we're a resounding yes even though we're ashamed that the studios keep getting away with rebooting this.
P.S. Not seen in this trailer and we hope they don't feel the need to show us everything before the movie is released next summer: Unless we blinked at the wrong place there's no sign of Peter Parker's high school nemesis Flash Thompson (who'll be played by Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori), no sign of Little Men breakout star Michael Barbieri who is playing a character named Jason, no sign of Shocker or The Tinkerer (two minor villains from Spider-Man comics who are reportedly in the movie)
Are you a Yes No or Maybe So? And if you're a Yes do you feel ashamed / easily manipulated that they're going to make yet more money off of you for a third version of Spidey in just 15 years? That's more than just one Spidey a generation. That's like three webslingers PER generation if this keeps up!