#jon watts

MIND YOU, Jon Watts redeemed the reputation of a character that was mostly ruined in the eyes of moviegoers by three movies marred with studio over-involvement and shoddy writing, filmed the biggest Spider-Man movie in the middle of COVID, managed to bring in Tobey and Andrew without falling into fan service, gave us our best Aunt May and MJ, actually made Peter feel like a teenager, AND released No Way Home as the pandemic was winding down which SAVED thousands of theaters from closure.

I loved Brand New Day, but that is its own trilogy with its own arch that’s not comparable to what Watts was doing with the Home Trilogy. He was setting the foundation for a character that is far and away the most recognizable and important character in the MCU at this point.

I am not okay. I need to yell about this for a second. The acting??? INCREDIBLE. The casting?? AWESOME.

So, no spoilers, but last night I saw BRAND NEW DAY in theaters; and I am happy to report, it is indeed peak. It is the most mature, down-to-earth, emotionally volitale peak that a Spider-Man film has been. I have nothing but love for the cast and crew who worked on this film, and I have nothing but love for Destin Daniel Cretton, who I am hoping will continue leading along this brand new trilogy. That being said, I wanted to take a moment to give flowers to the Home Trilogy director, Jon Watts, because without him --- we wouldn't have gotten Brand New Day as it was.

Jon set the foundations here, he was the one who helped Tom Holland find his stride over the years as Peter Parker --- and he helped tell a story all about Peter Parker, trying to find his place in a world filled with heroes, heroes he strived to be like --- heroes who all seemed so much stronger, wiser, and more capable to him. Tom Holland's Spider-Man is a very specific Spider-Man, he is the rookie, he is the little guy, and more specifically... He is the underdog. Over the course of his trilogy, he was massively underappreciated and underestimated by everyone, including himself.

Jon Watts' Spider-Man was a world full of comedic sensabilities and a real down to earth nature. It wasn't always glamerous. Often times it was straight up silly. Sometimes the situations Peter Parker found himself in were just straight up embarrassing, because at the end of the day, just because Peter is a full time superhero dosen't mean his life was always going to be glamerous. Ecspecially when you're a teenager. But still there was so much life to his world, even his most comedic side character's had their own stuff going on in the background while the main plot was taking forward. And I'm not afraid to say it, some of the best, most peak moments of Spider-Man cinema has come direcetly from this trilogy! Spider-Man, in his crappy, homemade costume, saving himself from the rubble. Peter, in that dope Steve Ditko-esq black and red costume, destroying Mysterio's bots and seeing through his last ditch attempt to kill him. And naturally, almost the entireity of No Way Home.

I could gush forever. I truly do feel like this is an adaption of Spider-Man that is underapprecaited -- just because these films were made under the guise of being high school comedies. There is so much more here under the surface. Tom Holland's Spider-Man brings so much energy and charasma to the character while still being such a incredible down to earth and well meaning person. Zendaya's MJ is such a dark and gothic take on her character, but even when she's at her most brazzen she is caring, kind and compassionate. And even when Ned is at his dorkiest, he is one of the most loyal friends that anybody could ever asked for. And all of these three actors have the most genuine chemistry, because they actually became friends from this movie!

These movies brought people together. People showed up for these movies. Brother, when COVID was raging through the world, and it felt like the world was ending --- Spider-Man came back, and No Way Home brought people back to the theaters! It brought the audience back to the movies, and it might have just helped save the theater industry from collapse. Now we are in the big 2026, and some of the best movies are finally hitting the theaters again!

And also... a Jon Watts Spider-Man villian has never missed. Even in No Way Home, when there are five friggin villians present, every single one of them got a highlight moment at least.

Now look, if these movies aren't for you, if the comedic, high school, juvinille nature of these movies, specifically the first two, just aren't for you?... Then I'm here to say, that's okay! Everyone has their tastes, their flavors, and we don't all have to like the same things. Too much CGI for you on the costume? I aggree, I'm glad they aren't doing that anymore, actually. You just a bigger fan of Tobey or Andrew? I get it! They are goated Spider-Men in their own right!... Our differences are what make us unique... But I will defend these movies to the end of time. Not just because they are "Spider-Man" movies, but because I think they are GREAT "Spider-Man" movies, with so much more love and reverence for the character that most people give credit for. And it's because of all the work the Home trilogy has done for these characters, for the world and character of Tom Holland's Spider-Man, we now have Brand New Day... Which was an insane theater experience, for me, personally, a true example of why I believe Spider-Man is the most human, the most compassionate and the most true-to-life superhero that there will ever be... And now I'm going to have four incredible goated movies of my favorite fictional character of all time.

🡒 🎥  SPIDERMAN - NO WAY HOME •  Jon Watts • End Credits, 2021.