Spider-Man: Far from Home

This feel-good adventure movie is elevated to the four-star level by multiple aspects and their fresh interaction – frequent moving around nice European locations, more space for Jon Favreau and his nice performance in the mentor role, frequent references to Tony Stark and Mysterio’s impressive technological games, paralleling the very charm of film illusion. And the well-depicted inner struggle of Spider-Man with his own responsibility and the inevitable expectations he has for himself. (27/08/2019)

One of the most original Marvel films in recent times. It doesn’t rely solely on flashy action but also incorporates a solid dose of humor and entertaining moments featuring the main characters. It’s hard to compare it with Raimi’s original Spider-Man, as it presents a completely different style. I remember initially finding Tom Holland unappealing, as I wasn't keen on his teenage behavior. However, over time, I grew to like him more and more, and by the second film, he had somewhat won me over. He seems truly born for the role of the quirky young Spider-Man. The sequel offers an intriguing story where the focus is more on Peter Parker’s character rather than his superhero side. Surprisingly, I found this more grounded part of the film engaging, but of course, the tension also builds, and you'll encounter plenty of exciting action sequences with impressive special effects. The villains, known as the Elementals, immediately captured my attention with their depiction. Jake Gyllenhaal, with the erratic nature of his character, carried the film. It’s a bit of a shame that comic book fans know the true nature of his character, but I admit that some viewers, like myself, were genuinely surprised by the plot twist midway through the film. The first sequence with Mysterio and his illusions is extremely original, filled with fresh ideas and even a hint of horror (the graveyard scene). The ending was slightly less impressive, but still well-executed (though it couldn’t quite surpass the first scene). The post-credits scene set up anticipation for the next installment. If the series maintains this high standard, we have much to look forward to. Although I didn’t expect it, Spider-Man 2 outshone Avengers: Endgame. I give it 88%. (16/07/2019)

Lies, tricks and acrobatics. The second Spide-Man movie is a successful follow-up to the first one, as well as to Avengers: Endgame, although the storytelling is a little heavy-handed. Compromises are made in the quest for originality. The juxtaposition of the school trip and destructive fights is inconsistent. There is a reason for this, but it spoils the viewer’s enjoyment a little. The romantic interest works at 100% and Holland and Zendaya lend the required chemistry and a certain cuteness to the story of the loser/nerd in the love story. The storyline with Mysterio has one massive weak point in that people who have read the comic book know it already, but the screenwriters don't take that into account. Even so, Gyllenhaal delivers an interestingly double-faceted performance, accentuated especially in the second half. The illusionary scene is  an unbelievable shower of ideas, the action in the climax is a fan’s dream come true and the setting in Prague/Liberec of course pleases us Czechs. Even so, the first movie impressed me a little more. The post-credits scenes are really worth it this time. (05/07/2019)

I enjoyed the first Spider-Man, and I recently watched it a second time. Tom Holland is great, Michael Keaton creates an interesting villain and the whole thing moved along nicely. In Far From Home, though, things are a little shakier. Holland keeps trying and the action is good to watch, but the whole thing feels kind of pointless. Whether it's the rather off-kilter antagonist with strange motivations and Bond villain appearances, the excessive running time, or the fact that Parker's classmates get a too much space and they're not particularly interesting. Oh, and it's also too long. There's action, there's humour, there's some suspense or romance (Spidey's strongest in that, ironically), but there's nothing outright exceptional, breathtaking or extra interesting. Spidey's second solo effort often feels tedious and tired. It's as if this is the fifth film where they didn’t quite know what to do next, so they send the hero to Europe. It's still okay, it's just hard to find anything "wow". But Holland is likable, Zendaya as a plucky high school femme fatale is too, and the burning Liberec city hall made me happy as a local. On the other hand, I don't think I'll give it a second viewing. (13/07/2019)

The creators of the Marvel Universe finally decided to visit our little country as well, as they discovered that Europe presents an interesting market. I’m glad that they chose Prague and Liberec as some of the filming locations. My relationship to Spiderman is such that I grew up with the first movie trilogy, mostly ignored the movies with Andrew Garfield, and he regained my attention with Tom Holland. As I enjoyed the previous instalment, I had one more reason to look forward to this one. And I wasn’t disappointed. There was a lot of fun, a sufficient number of nostalgic moments, and I greatly enjoyed the shots of the ravaged Old Time Square (or Liberec Square). It all has pleasant young adult vibes that are a good fit for the new Spiderman, filling a certain gap in the Marvel Universe these days. (23/07/2019)