Spider-Man: No Way Home is an American superhero action film directed by Jon Watts. The movie follows Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland) as he accidentally opens a multiverse while asking Doctor Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) for help fixing his life after Mysterio (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) reveals his identity. Villains from other Spider-Man universes appear, leading to epic and violent battles, emotional reunions with other Spider-Men, and a heartfelt sacrifice to save everyone.
The action sequence between (Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland) and (Doctor Octopus/Doc Ock, played by Alfred Molina) happens on a busy bridge. Peter is trying to convince a college admissions officer to help him when Doc Ock, from another universe, suddenly attacks, mistaking Peter for the Spider-Man he knows, using his mechanical arms, Doc Ock causes chaos, throwing cars and endangering people. Peter quickly suits up, swinging and dodging to protect everyone while trying to counter Doc Ock’s attacks. The setting plays a vital role, featuring urban architecture, vehicular chaos, and environmental destruction, amplifying the conflict’s stakes and urgency.
The mise-en-scene highlights the distinct physicality and technology of both characters Doctor Octopus’s mechanical tentacles dominate the frame with their aggressive, snakelike movements, while Spider-Man’s agile body and sleek suit convey contrast through colour, texture, and motion. The sequence frequently employs low-angle shots to emphasise Doc Ock’s imposing figure and power, while Spider-Man is often framed dynamically, showcasing his quick reflexes and acrobatic skills.
The editing is fast-paced, with numerous quick cuts likely exceeding about 30 edits in a one-minute segment to heighten the intensity and reflect the rapid movements of both characters. The point of view shifts between wide shots that emphasise the scale of destruction, medium shots that focus on the characters’ interaction, and close-ups of their expressions. The camera follows their movements in a fluid and natural way, though some disorienting shifts remind the viewer of the camera’s presence.
The violence is stylised rather than graphic, designed to entertain rather than shock. The fight choreography, combined with visual effects, leans heavily on spectacle. The characters’ gender and race align with broader Hollywood norms, with the male hero and villain sharing a similar ethnic background (white), which may reflect cultural and industry biases in casting and narrative structures. Spider-Man’s youthful energy contrasts with Doctor Octopus’s calculated, older demeanour, reinforcing traditional archetypes of hero and villain.
Scholars such as David Bordwell have discussed how intensified continuity, a hallmark of contemporary action cinema, emphasises paid cuts, close framings, and elaborate camera movements to keep viewers engaged and create a sense of hyperreal immediacy (Bordwell, 2002). This editing style can blur the boundaries between the viewer’s awareness of reality and the constructed nature of the sequence.
Lisa Purse offers another critical perspective in her work Contemporary Action Cinema, which examines how action films foreground physicality and motion as central aspects of character and narrative development (Purse, 2011). In Spider-Man’s fluidity and Doctor Octopus’s rigid mechanics. The scene’s relentless pacing and visual effects reflect the genre’s reliance on digital technology to create a larger-than-life spectacle.
According to Box Office Mojo, spider-Man: No Way Home was a commercial juggernaut, grossing over $1.9 billion worldwide. Its success can be attributed to its status as a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU0 instalment, its use of nostalgic characters from earlier Spider-Man films, and its innovative narrative blending multiverse concepts.
Scholars and psychologists have debated the depiction of violence in action films. While stylised violence like that in Spider-Man: No Way Home is likely to encourage real-life aggression, some studies suggest that repeated exposure to such content desensitises viewers to violence or skews their perceptions of conflict resolution (Anderson et al., 2003). On the other hand, films like these often inspire audiences positively, fostering escapism and promoting values like heroism and resilience.
In conclusion, Spider-Man: No Way Home is a great mix of action, emotion, and nostalgia. Beyond the explosions and fast-paced edits, this scene shows why action movies are so popular they let us escape into stories about bravery, struggles, and victories. The way the scene is shot and edited makes us feel like we’re right there with Spider-Man, fighting to protect the people around him. At the same time, action scenes like this can make us think about how much we rely on violence for entertainment. While they’re thrilling to watch, they might also influence younger viewers who see these characters as heroes.
Bibliography
Anderson, Craig A., Leonard Berkowitz, Edward Donnerstein, L. R. Huesmann, James D. Johnson, Daniel Linz, Neil M. Malamuth, and Ellen Wartella. “The Influence of Media Violence on Youth.” Psychological Science in the Public Interest, (2003). Accessed November 24, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-1006.2003.pspi_1433.x.
Bordwell, David. “Intensified Continuity Visual Style in Contemporary American Film.” Film Quarterly 55, no. 3 (2002): 16-28. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1525/fq.2002.55.3.16.
Purse, Lisa. Contemporary action cinema. Edinburgh University Press, 2011. “Contemporary Action Cinema,” Google Books, n.d., https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=cc9vAAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT6&dq=lisa+purse+contemporary+action+cinema&ots=me7YrEJIKi&sig=dhy_5Yh1HqbeLnnapAhnLwN5Okk&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=lisa%20purse%20contemporary%20action%20cinema&f=false.
Cali Nessman
I found this essay, “Action and Emotion in Spiderman: No Way Home” to be descriptive and informative. I agree with the assessment. I think Nicole did an excellent job describing the scene using visual elements and incorporating features of mise-en-scène to enhance the description. Nicole identified characteristics of the two opposing characters in the scene, describing physical features as well as suit/costume differences. Nicole was able to describe the scene’s editing style, saying it is “fast-paced with numerous quick cuts” to heighten intensity and demonstrate the character’s physical abilities (Chudi, 2024). I believe Nicole was able to naturally incorporate scholarly sources into her essay to enhance the points made and include additional information for depth. I would have liked to see a quote incorporated into the analysis to provide more direct examples of how the scholar’s ideas relate to the movie. I appreciated the source about psychological research about the impact of violence in action films and the influence on viewers. I thought this was a good choice of a scholarly source that added perspective and reflection on the film critiqued in the essay. The image chosen thoughtfully illustrated Nicole’s description. The image shows physical violence and demonstrates the physical environment of the scene. In the essay, Nicole mentions the urban features that increase the conflict’s state of emergency. The image also illustrates the physical features of the superhero and supervillain, showcasing their capabilities and unnatural features that increase the level of intensity. Overall, the essay was very well completed with good use of sources and editing jargon learned in VISA 1500.
From Cali