The internet has no shortage of spoiler talk since the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Most of the chatter has centered around the end-credits scenes in the film. More importantly, the only one that really matters, the mid-credits scene.
(((MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD)))
The did-credits scene is an important scene to the film, because it finally shows a Marvel villain that is multi-layered. Adrian Toomes/Vulture (Michael Keaton) has a chance to reveal Spider-Man’s identity to another inmate, The Scorpion. Tommes doesn’t ultimately give up the heroes identity, and shows that there are some things the villain cherishes. In the film, Peter saves him dn his daughter, leading to Toomes paying Peter back for his deed, although Parker will never know.
Homecoming director Jon Watts tells EW that it was moments like these that made him want to do this film:
“He gets a moment of redemption and he gets to protect Peter, even though Peter would never know. It’s his way of saying thank you. You couldn’t just rely on the tropes of the villain being a murderer and killing a bunch of people. He had to be redeemable in some capacity in the end and that he believes everything he said, especially about his family.
So it was a really fine walk to create a villain that still has that moment of redemption in the end. Those scenes with [Toomes] and Peter in the house, where he’s driving Peter to the dance — that right there is the reason for doing the movie. That, more than anything else, is what I was looking forward to, and I got to have a lot of fun shooting that stuff.”
This is something different for Marvel. The focus has begun to shift towards writing better villains, rather than just glazing over their characterization. Spider-Man: Homecoming wasn’t just good because Marvel did a Spidey film. It was wonderful because the villain and the hero show growth throughout the film. There are some shining moments in this film, that easily make Homecoming one of the best movies this year.
You don’t have to take my word for it, but this movie is great. It is not just for adults, because Spidey is a hero that even kids can relate to. The direction in this films spot on, except for one big editing flaw. Watts also stated that there is room for The Vulture to return in the future: “Toomes definitely could come back.”
