Tag: TomHolland

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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When No Way Home came out in 2021, fans thought that this was the perfect ending for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. That is why it came as somewhat of a surprise when a fourth instalment was announced. Not that I was against it as I think his portrayal is the best. I just wasn’t sure how they would carry on the story in a way that made sense. Four eyes have passed since the spell that wiped all memories of Peter Parker from those who knew and loved him. Properly on his own for the first time in his life, he helps fight crime with the police. But when Peter is faced with his most powerful foe yet, he must grapple with who he wants to be and who he truly is.

I have been struggling to care about the various superhero films that have been coming out lately. There was a time when they were new and exciting, but now they have become all the same. I’ve stopped getting my hopes up because I simply don’t want to be disappointed. Marvel, in particular, has been very hit or miss since Avengers Endgame and sometimes I find myself wondering when it will all end. Luckily Brand New Day kind of reinvigorated my love for the franchise. It was so much better than I thought it was going to be!

Holland is in top form. We see a different side to Peter, a more emotional one that I don’t think we’ve been privy to yet. The isolation has clearly been weighing on him and I found myself awing out loud at literally every scene because I just wanted to give him a big hug. Those emotions mixed with the more intense Spider-Man that he grows into was interesting as well and I thought he was able to play both sides perfectly. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon reprised their roles as MJ and Ned. Of course while they no longer remember Peter, the relationships that form between the trio is just as genuine as they were before. Jon Bernthal joins in on the fun as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, and he was such a scene stealer. I was such a fan of his bromance with Peter; their banter and little digs were so funny. Other newcomers included Liza Colon-Zayas (of The Bear fame) who portrayed detective Jean DeWolff, Tramell Tillman as William Metzger, the head of the Department of Damage Control, and Sadie Sink in an undisclosed role that you’ll need to see to believe.

Something about this film just felt different. It was shot in a unique way that made the audience feel like we were in Peter’s mind. The close up shots and slow motion moments added an extra bit of depth that really took us behind the curtain. On the other hand, the action sequences were top notch – my favorite took place in the third act and it was when Peter was fighting against the Inner Demons. The special effects were cool especially with all the webs. It also had a crazy good soundtrack which comes as a surprise to nobody.

I didn’t know what to expect going into it, Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a total blast. I had such a fun time watching it in a packed room of people who all cheered and clapped throughout. This has given me hope for the future of the Marvel franchise and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Odyssey

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After the Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon) wants nothing more than to travel home to Ithaca and back to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and his son Thelmachus (Tom Holland). Throughout the course of his ten year voyage, Odysseus comes across many creatures that threaten his life. But with perseverance and the help of his men, he vows to never give up.

Coming off the heels of Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan shocked fans when he announced that his next feature film would be an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. Unlike anything he had done up until that point, it was a risk that audiences all over the world would wait in bated breath for. As the days counted down and the release drew closer and closer, the film grew into being one of, if not the most anticipated of the year. While the acclaimed director is not afraid to take risks, all eyes were still on him and he delivered yet another masterpiece.

I don’t think I have ever seen a film that featured so many major name in cinema. In addition to Damon, Hathaway and Holland, there was also Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Mia Goth, Himesh Patel, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong’o and Samantha Morton. Some of these casting choices may have been questionable at first; if a project has so many big names attached to it, the chances of it succeeding is not always a given. Although many of these actors only had limited screen time, every single one of them used what time they did have to their advantage and delivered phenomenal performances. Damon and Hathaway in particular were outstanding and I would be shocked if they didn’t receive Oscar nominations for their roles. I was also very impressed with Patel’s Eurylochus who was a true pillar for Damon’s Odysseus.

Truly a feast for the eyes, the cinematography and landscapes were elevated to a whole other level. Nolan is known for his on location shootings and this just made the story feel more real. Spanning across Morocco, Greece, Iceland and Scotland to name a few, each were expertly chosen and built upon to create some incredible sets. Combined with a masterful score from Ludwig Göransson that matched every scene and gave it a whole new meaning, every single one of my senses were heightened.

I had initially been worried that I wouldn’t understand the story and therefore not enjoy myself. One I realized what it was actually about, I was able to fully immerse myself. That being said, I did feel the run time and felt like it could have been a little bit shorter. I was also thrown off course with the use of modern American English. It was a choice I’m not sure I would have made.

The Odyssey is another Nolan epic. He took a big risk and it completely paid off. With its sprawling locations and brilliant performances, it just worked. I’m sure this will be another awards season darling and I am looking forward to seeing it all unfold.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Uncharted

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Based on the video game of the same name, Uncharted follows the story of Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) who is recruited by treasure hunter Victor Sullivan (Mark Walhberg) to search for Ferdinand Magellan’s fortune that was lost 500 years ago. Trekking across the globe performing various heists and attempting to outrun the bad guys, Nate and Sully find themselves in a race against time to uncover the gold.

First and foremost, let me disclose that I know nothing about the game. Going in somewhat blindly worked in my favor and made for a rather fun night out at the cinema.

Tom Holland once again shines as Nate Drake. He has really grown on me over the years and now I can’t help but look forward to everything he stars in. Another stand out for me was Sophia Ali as Chloe. Previously starring in Prime’s The Wilds, she was a strong female character who didn’t take no for an answer.

Unfortunately, I wish I could say the same for the others. Mark Walhberg seemed out of place here. I didn’t fully believe in his chemistry with Holland which was disappointing as it was integral to the story. The villains in Antonio Banderas and Tati Gabrille were one dimensional and underused. I wish we could have learned more about them both.

While there is nothing particularly special about Uncharted, it is a fun action adventure flick that delivers. It had great action sequences, fabulous locations, as well as major Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones and sometimes even Titanic vibes that I was all for.

Rating: ♥♥♥

Spider-Man: No Way Home

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Following the events of Far From Home, Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) identity as Spider-Man has been revealed to the world. Life as he knew it with his aunt May (Marisa Tomei), his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) is no more. When Peter sees the lives of the people he loves becoming impacted by his choices, he knows he needs to make things right. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) has the power to make everyone forget that he was ever Spider-Man. But when the spell goes wrong, the multiverse opens and with it comes many foes.

I feel like I am incredibly late in both watching and reviewing Spider-Man: No Way Home and let me tell you, it killed me. I was worried so much that I would be spoiled and my experience of watching would therefore be ruined. I am happy to report that that was not the case. And if I’m being entirely honest, the wait was actually worth it.

Without giving too much away, I have to say that everything about this movie exceeded my expectations. It was funny, it had many thrilling moments and some crazy action sequences all in true Marvel fashion. It seemed like the stakes were raised higher than ever before and I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

Spider-Man: No Way Home seemed like an ending of sorts, though I hope that isn’t true. I’ll be the first to admit that I was hesitant about Tom Holland at first, but he really impressed me with each and every instalment. Hopefully it won’t take too long until we see him and the rest of the gang back on our screens again.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥