My thoughts on Spider-Man's newest movie

It all started in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War”.  An entire blog could be written on just that movie and its story, but for purposes of today’s subject matter, it is enough to state that this film introduced a new era: Tom Holland had taken on the newest incarnation of Spider-Man.  I was impressed with the Spidey scenes in that film, even if they were brief.  The next year, the first Holland-led Spider-Man film – “Spider-Man: Homecoming” – was released.  This one was a home run.  I enjoyed the plot, the villain (Michael Keaton was great as Adrian Toomes/Vulture), and Holland was excellent.

However, my enthusiasm waned considerably after seeing the sequel.  The 2019 film “Spider-Man: Far from Home”, had very little I enjoyed (although Jake Gyllenhaal was a bright spot).  To this day, I still can’t quite put into words why this flick irks me so much.  But the movie hurt my heart in a visceral way.  After this, I wasn’t keen on seeing the next installment in the movie series: “Spider-Man: No Way Home”.  That is, until I saw a plot synopsis online.  Then I understood the hype, and was anxious to see it. 

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” was released back in December, and while I didn’t get the chance to watch it until just recently, it was worth the wait.  This movie is just sensational.  It is the best superhero movies I’ve seen in years, and certainly the best Spider-Man movie I’ve seen since “Spider-Man 2” back in 2004.

You might be asking yourself, “So what?  So you saw your 1,000th superhero thing?  What difference does it make?”  I have two items, I’m calling them takeaways, that I want to bring up.  I will mention the first today, but I’m going to leave the second one for next time. 

Takeaway number one: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in many ways, is the origin story for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.  Even though this Peter Parker/Spider-Man knew loss, he had never learned the famous Spider-Man credo: “With great power, comes great responsibility.”  But did he ever learn it in this film!  I dare not reveal how he learns this maxim, but it is a fresh, powerful, and gripping take on the famous Spider-Man life lesson. 

Furthermore, at one point, Peter was acting out of character.  He was angry and vengeful after a personal loss.  He wanted to take matters into his own hands, and obtain revenge (it’s harder than I thought to lay all this out without revealing spoilers).  But in one of my favorite moments of the film, one of Peter’s allies heroically swoops in and stops him from making a big mistake he would have regretted.

This is a Biblical idea.  In Romans we read, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink”” (Romans 12:19-20).  Once again, without going into specifics, I was impressed by the kindness and care that Spider-Man gave to everyone in this film, ultimately that includes his enemies.

In conclusion, I love “Spider-Man: No Way Home”.  While I stand by what I stated back in March about 2004’s “Spider-Man 2” being the best superhero movie ever made, “No Way Home” is now in my top five list of best superhero films.  This flick has the action and the humor that you’d expect from a Marvel movie.  But what makes it truly fantastic is it inspires the viewer to live a life of virtue and heroism, no matter the personal cost (because there was a cost for Peter; something I will touch on next time).  Only the great superhero films leave you feeling inspired.

Kevin

Mother's Day thoughts - 2022

Back in 2014, I had the privilege of attending a Christian writer’s conference.  This event was incredible.  One of the workshops was entitled “Positive Impact from Negative Experiences”.  It was all about how God can use painful circumstances for His glory and the good of His children.  I was so inspired by the notion that day that I got a CD copy of this talk so I could refer back to it again.  Recently, this CD caught my eye, and I listened to it again.   

At one point, the facilitator gave a quote from an author named Ruth Vaughn.  She said, “God can make creative use out of your misery.”  Little did I know in 2014 that I would soon be facing my own misery.  The next year, 2015, my dad would pass away in a death that no one would have ever seen coming.  But Vaughn was right: God in sovereignty, has made creative use out of that miserable situation in my life in ways that I couldn’t possibly begin to enumerate today.

It’s Mother’s Day.  And because of what I’ve been through, I feel compelled to share this with you: honor both your mother and father while you can.  No one lives on this planet forever.  Life is a fleeting gift.  It is, as James describes it, “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).  We should always take the opportunity to let our parents – and all of our friends and loved ones for that matter – how much we love them.

Someone wants to object, “But my parents don’t deserve to be honored.”  I get it.  I know a parent can shirk their responsibility, and be a source of hurt, not help and love.  I’m sorry about that.  I wish it wasn’t the case, and I’ll talk more about the pain associated with a day like this in a moment.  But a parent’s bad example doesn’t change the fact that one of the Ten Commandments is to honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12).  It may not be easy, but speaking words of blessing, rather than cursing, is the right thing to do.  Furthermore, consider that verse in Romans 2 that states that it is God’s kindness that leads to repentance.  Perhaps your act of obedience, your act of Christ-like kindness, could lead them to forgiveness and repentance.

I would be remiss if I didn’t briefly speak about my own mother.  My mom, Rose Mary, deserves honor and respect (and so does my dad, by the way.  I miss him terribly.  But I plan to speak more about him next month on Father’s Day).  Of course, no parent is perfect, but Mom is such a blessing.  Her love for me and belief in me raises my spirits up to the highest of heights.  A few years back, I got her a plaque that had Wonder Woman’s emblem on it, and the inscription that reads, “A true Wonder Woman”.  It’s a good comparison in many ways.

To conclude, Mother’s Day can be a difficult day.  At church today, I teared up a few times.  I know that there were various stories of grief, heartache, and misery that the men and women all around me in that service could tell.  I know that’s true for you reading this as well.  It’s a special day, but it’s mingled with pain.  I think it was God’s Spirit that reminded me of Psalm 56:8; it states that the Lord records all of our tears in His book. 

Kevin