Spider-Man: Far From Home

Bibliographic Information: 

• Title: Spider-Man: Far From Home  
• Director: Jon Watts  
• Film Studio: Columbia Pictures  
• Copyright Date: 2019  

Genre: Teen, Superhero, Fantasy, Adventure 

Awards or Honors: Won Summer Movie Teen Choice Awards. Tom Holland and Zendaya won actor awards  

Watch Level: PG 13  

Plot Summary: In the Sequel to Spider Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker is getting back to life at high school after helping to save the world with The Avengers against Thanos, who tried to destroy the universe. He and his classmates go on a school trip to Europe in Venice, Italy. A Water Elemental tries to destroy the city, but Peter, Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D and Quentin Beck, or Mysterio stop the Elemental. Peter tries to balance being a kid and having fun with others’ demands to be a superhero and save the world. Beck says he is from a different world, and the Elementals are here to destroy the world. However, it turns out he is a former Stark Industries employee who was fired and now leads other fired Stark Industries employees. The ‘Elementals” are projections. Tony Stark left control of dangerous artificial intelligence programs to Peter, and Beck wants them for himself. He tricks Peter into letting him take ownership of them and then tries to kill Peter while in Berlin. Peter finds Beck in London and engages in a final battle to stop him from using drones to attack the city. He stops him, and Beck dies, and Peter begins a relationship with MJ. The last scene shows Beck revealing Peter’s identity to the world and blaming him for London’s attacks.   

Author Background: Jon Watts is an American indie film producer born and raised in Fountain, Colorado. He studied film at New York University. He has also directed films like Clown and Cop Car. He was picked to direct and co-write the Spider-Man Homecoming movie in 2017. He directed this movie and is scheduled to be the director of Spider-Man 3. He has also directed commercials for Park Pictures. (Watts, 2020).    

Critical Evaluation: The movie is well-produced and features the best animation and action scenes available. Many of the scenes are in Europe and New York City, and the movie feels international as Peter Parker travels around the globe. The movie was expensive to make. The film features famous stars like Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Jake Gyllenhaal. They helped make the film fun and brought the characters to life. The film was a superhero movie, but it also touched on teenage issues of popularity, trying to fit in, crushes, romance, and growing up. The film also features light-hearted moments to go with the serious superhero themes.   

Creative Use Library Program: I would have this movie played for a summer movie night on a Friday. I would have popcorn and snacks available. I would also provide or tell the teens about where you can find more Spider-man comics and movies about him. The movie could be part of a Marvel superhero movie month.   

Book Talk: Peter is back at school after saving the world. A lot has happened to him with the Avengers, and while everyone is treating him like a superhero, he wants to be a normal kid. But on a school trip with his high school, trouble breaks out, and people need Spider-Man.   

Potential Challenge Issues: Potential challenge issues might be made for violence. However, it is a popular movie available anywhere. There are no challenge issues from the movie that I am aware of.   

Reason for Inclusion: I included this movie because it is a popular superhero film from Marvel Comics. Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes globally, and teens everywhere like him and grew up reading the comics or watching the movies. The movie has positive reviews and is current. It is also one of the superhero movies that still have themes of teenagers, coming of age, and being a kid. The protagonists are all high school kids, and kids will relate to issues Peter Parker faces. 

Jon Watts. (2020). Empire. Retrieved Nov. 15, 2020, from https://www.empireonline.com/people/jon-watts/

Spider-Man: Far from Home. (2020, May 7). YouTube. Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SSWPEgZ5WU