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Spider-man: Homecoming

The first of a double header last weekend. This was fine, not outstanding, but better than the other Spider-man films. I reckon this is due to the fact that Marvel have been allowed to bring Peter Parker into their fiefdom though it's a bit of a double-edged sword. Tom Holland is pretty good as the new Spidey but the air is pregnant with the possible entrance of some Marvel icon. In fact, Tony Iron Stark bails out the hero a couple of times and there are one or two other neat cameos.

I quite liked the story line of the working stiff - Michael Keaton - getting stiffed, as it were, by the 'higher-ups' and then plotting to get something back. Understandable and nice of Marvel to attempt this foray into critiquing 'disaster capitalism' but ultimately, we all love Stark. Rich white guy - Huzzah! Working class white guy who turns into giant metal bird - Booo! It was a nice touch, though, to surround Spidey by non-white characters, especially as the love interest, Liz and assorted friends. The scenes with Peter getting used to the functions in his new suit (voiced by Jennifer Connelly) are light and fun and there are some other amusing scenes, especially with Stark in his mentor role. The action scenes, which aren't that frequent, are pretty tense and well-shot too.

Here's a small gripe. That's how I like my gripes, small and purple, if possible. Anyway, this film has similar issues to other Marvel scripts - that of highlighting winks to other pop culture refs where, actually, the characters most likely wouldn't have any idea what the fuck. In this film it's Spidey jumping through backyards (ala Ferris Bueller). So far, no worries. But they actually have Spidey run past a huge TV showing Ferris Bueller's Day Off and saying, "Great film." A film released in 1986, about 15 years before Spidey would have been born. Sure, he may have seen it, but let's assume he hasn't and just leave the references to the viewers who may spot them, and not illustrate the shit out of them. Thanks for humouring me.

And one more item to note. Was the obvious vacating of the Avengers Tower in New York a political nod? Best to not risk any comparison to another rich, white, powerful man with a giant phallic tower on the New York skyline. Overthinking?

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Gladiator II

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