Welcome Home Web-Head! "Spider-Man: Homecoming"

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr.

Directed by Jon Watts

The Story:

Peter Parker (Holland) is trying to adjust to life as Spider-Man all the while waiting for the next call-up to something big by Tony Stark (Downey Jr.). When he discovers that a new bad guy, the Vulture (Keaton) is up to something really big, Peter gets tired of being ignored while he tries to enlist help, so he tackles it on his own. Needless to say, his web-slinging and high school problems are going to cause more problems than your typical high schooler has to endure.

Welcome home to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Spidey!

The deal that allowed Marvel Studios to use Spider-Man pays off huuuuuuge for Sony as they craft the best Spider-Man film so far.

For those of you that loved the Raimi trilogy...or at least Part 2, you're welcome to think that's the best Spider-Man ever.

I never cared for Tobey in the role, nor Dunst as M.J.

I much preferred Garfield's take in the role, but those films weren't without their flaws.

Now along comes Homecoming.

Holland is quickly winning me over as Peter/Spidey.

It also helps that Keaton's Vulture is an impressive and logical foe to set this whole thing up, and he is great as the film's bad guy.

Are there flaws?

Probably.

Am I willing to overlook those?

Absolutely.

The biggest complaint I could see is the characterizations of most of Peter's supporting cast.

I simply remember: this is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not the comics.

Then yeah, I'm good.

What else can I say at this point?

1) The Spider-Man theme song makes an appearance.
2) Possibly the best ending of any Marvel movie.
3) There are indeed 2 scenes that appear after the credits.

I highly encourage you to stick around for both!

Congratulations to all involved, I'm now going to type what I thought unthinkable just 2 short months ago...

Sorry Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.... there's a new favorite movie of the year in town!

Good luck Thor: Ragnarok... you've got your work cut out for you.

Final Grade: A

Not Quite The Bite Of The First One..."Hotel Transylvania 2"

Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)

Rated PG

Starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Asher Blinkoff, Mel Brooks

Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky

The Story:

Now that Mavis (Gomez) and Johnathan (Samberg) are married and have a little boy (Blinkoff), Dracula (Sandler) is hoping that he will turn into a vampire before he's 5 so that they will continue to live at the castle with him. It's looking unlikely though, and Mavis is beginning to ponder a life outside of the castle walls.

If you saw the trailer where Dracula lets his grandson fall from the very tall tower, then you know exactly what you're getting from this movie. Dracula wants to make sure his grandson is partially vampire, though everyone else has written him off as just another human.

So part 2 is essentially two road trip movies rolled into one as Dracula and the gang take the boy out on adventures while the happy couple look to see if Mavis can handle life out among the normals.

I really enjoyed the first one.

I also enjoyed the second one, maybe just a little less.

The jokes and characterizations for the first film were all new, so it was all a great new sense of fun.

This time around, you already know roughly what's going to happen, and there isn't a whole lot of surprise.

But don't take that as a negative.  Most sequels don't live up to the original.

The best bits are The Invisible Man (Spade) finding true love, and the genius casting of Vlad (Brooks) for the finale.

If you enjoyed the first film with your family, then this will be a cozy family reunion for you.

Final Grade: B-

The Most Important Film of 2014... "The Interview"

The Interview (2014)

Rated R

Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Randall Park

Directed by Seth Rogen

The Story:

TV Host Dave Skylark (Franco) and his producer Aaron (Rogen) want to boost their ratings, and credibility when they learn that the President of North Korea (Park) is a fan of "Skylark Tonight". So they are granted an exclusive interview and head to Korea, but the CIA asks them for one tiny favor: please assassinate the President while you are there.

Not based on a true story.

But it unfolded into the strangest real-life story at the end of 2014 when Sony Pictures website was hacked, movies were released online and thousands of confidential studio emails and passwords, etc. were released in one of the biggest hacks the world has ever seen.

People blamed North Korea.

They denied responsibility, but did say that the subject matter of this film was inappropriate and if it were to be released, things could become...scary...on Christmas Day in theaters.

Sony blinked.

The movie was pulled and no harm was to be had.

Instead, a few movie theaters played it, and it was available on the online stores for download.

And now, it's available to stream on Netflix.

Part of me wonders if Rogen and Franco were behind the hack.

Any publicity for their film is a good thing, right?

As to the movie itself, buckle up and prepare for endless bathroom humor delivered effortlessly by Franco and Rogen.

The two make a great team, and the jokes are one after the other as they continue to throw it at the wall to see what sticks.

To be fair, there are about 5 really funny gags/jokes in the film.

There's a lot more that is groan inducing on top of it.

At 112 minutes, this comedy is a hair long.

And a little gruesome at the end with finger biting and machine gun frenzies abounding.

Plus, you'll never hear Katy Perry's "Firework" the same way again.
:)

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Once was plenty for me, thanks.