Charmingly Refreshing, Yet Played Safe

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2017)

The newest adaption/reboot of Marvel's Spiderman is a breath of fresh air for those still suffocating underneath the horror which was "Amazing Spiderman 2". Director Jon Watts skillfully creates a world where Peter Parker struggles to finesse his abilities while juggling school and relationships. Actor Tom Holland is a believable teenager (being 20 during filming) and instead of skateboarding his angst away *Cough Amazing Spiderman* he is the nerdy, awkward, gawky kid we expect. There is no sequence where we sigh and watch politely as Uncle Ben is murdered or Aunt May offers sage advice. Rather, We're thrust into the midst of Peter having his powers. Tony Stark is in the movie in exactly the right dose to keep the focus on Parker. Michael Keaton's depiction of the Vulture is a coin toss: Either you agree with his motivation, or you find it unconvincing that he would see turning to crime as the only option. Their fight sequences mercifully don't involve destroying entire cities and killing thousands of citizens, but at the same time it feels a bit TOO low-key and leaves you wanting more. There are tons of Easter- eggs for the inner nerd in you spread throughout the movie. All in all, it's a fresh take on a familiar character and I'm excited to see where this goes...