Spider-Man: Homecoming Blu-Ray Review (Target Edition)
A couple of weeks back, one of this summer’s Hollywood Blockbuster movies and the most recent expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Spider-Man: Homecoming, was released on home media. A joint venture between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, Spider-Man: Homecoming cemented what was started in Captain America: Civil War… that Spider-Man has become a fixture in the MCU.
When the movie was released, I knew that I wanted to own it on Blu-ray, and since my parents only own a DVD player, a combo pack was the best option. Most combo packs came with a digital download of the movie. Not a must for me, but rather a nice extra. What drew me to the Target exclusive pack was the Bonus Disc of features. The pack also came with an exclusive 10 pg mini comic book. More on the extras later.
Movie Review
Okay, this part will be brief because I am mainly wanting to review this Target edition of the combo pack. Additionally, most of you reading this probably have seen the movie. However, for those who haven’t, here is a little bit of background on Spider-Man’s relationship to the MCU, and then a brief intro to the movie.
Prior to Spider-Man: Homecoming, because of film rights, Sony Pictures had the rights to Spider-Man (they technically still do, but I feel the lines are very gray these days). Sony attempted twice to bring forward a successful Spider-Man franchise. First, there was that Toby McGuire trilogy, which started off good, but then collapsed after the third film. Next, came the reboot starring Andrew Garfield, which stopped after only two movies. Luckily, because the character’s movie franchise with Sony was seemingly dead in the water, Marvel was able to add Spider-Man to their MCU. Not only did this please fans, but it also gave new and invigorating life to the character and the franchise, who throughout the comic books fought alongside of the members of The Avengers, even becoming part of the team at one point.
I had a chance to see the movie in theaters and it is by far the best Spider-Man film I have seen to date. It was different, it was edgy, it had that MCU feel to it. What it did not do was retell the origin story of Spider-Man, something that was hashed out too much with the previous two incarnations by Sony. We know the story: boy gets bitten by radioactive spider and develops powers… after death of uncle he decides to become a vigilante/ superhero. That did not need to be shoved down out throats one more time, and I am glad that the team behind this movie left it out.
Instead, the movie starts off showing some of the events in Captain America: Civil War through the eyes (or cell phone camera) of high schooler Peter Parker (played now by Tom Holland), aka Spider-Man. In a great montage of video clips (a diary if you will), we see a bit of backstory on Spider-Man’s role in that movie and how he came to be there. We then follow Peter back to NYC as he tries to protect the citizens of the city, all the while hoping to hear the phone ring that The Avengers need his help once more.
One night, Spider-Man stumbles across a group of bank robbers who are brandishing a highly advanced piece of weaponry. As he investigates, he discovers a underground network of illegal arms being distributed by Adrain Toomes, a disgruntled former salvager using Chitauri technology leftover from the Battle of New York, as depicted in the first Avengers movie. The Avengers, and the government, shut him down and out of job, so Toomes creates a mechanical flying suit in order to steal more of this technology to build weapons. The suit resembles that of a large winger bird… a vulture move precise. The rest of the movie involves Spider-Man taking down The Vulture and his gang, which includes The Shocker and The Tinkerer, and making sure the city is safe once more. Of course, it isn’t that simple… but these type of movies usually aren’t. Want to know more? Watch the movie.
Target Packaging
Instead of the normal combo pack packaging, this Target edition of Spider-Man: Homecoming looks like a highschooler’s notebook. Looking closer, you realize that it’s Peter’s scribbles on the pages around the packaging, and that the images look to be stickers. It is a pretty fun look, and it stands out on the retail shelf.
Then we have the three discs, all which have a distinct look. The Blu-ray and DVD copies of the movie have positive/ negativ images of the Spider-Man logo, and the Bonus Disc shows the same logo spray painted on a school locker.
The Blu-ray Disc Extras
Like with almost every home media release, there are special features, which include deleted scenes, gag reels/ outtakes, behind the scenes, etc. I enjoyed watching all of them, but none stuck out with me as being amazing. I did appreciate the segment on Tom Holland and how he does a lot of his own stunts. I feel that it’s a rare thing these days to hear an actor or actress doing that, and being allowed to.
The Bonus Disc Extras
Or, should I say extra…. as in one. The featurette, a 20 minutes piece on villains in the Spiderverse, was good. I am not dismissing it, because I always enjoy seeing Kevin Smith and Stan Lee geeking out over superheroes and villains. However, the fact that there was only 20 minutes of footage on the extra disc and nothing else? It was a bit disappointing.
The Comic Book
It was not the reason why I got this edition, but I know people who got this edition expressly for the comic book. A very short story involving Spider-Man thwarting the plans of the Shocker, it was a quick read. Was it bad? No. Was it good? Also no.
Overall, was the Target edition of Spider-Man: Homecoming worth it? Because it was on sale on the first week, I only spent a few dollars more than the regular combo pack. So, yes, in this instance it was worth it, but only because it was on sale. If you are trying to save your money, feel free to pick up the regular Blu-ray combo pack… or even the DVD by itself. The extras here are not a reason to get this pack.
