Spiderman: Far From Home (2019)

This year, where we are all quite used to the pandemic and staying home--has us watching the movies leading up to new movies in a series. The latest Spiderman was nominated for visual effects (and did not win) and so we went back to this movie, which we had somehow overlooked. I find the Marvel universe vaguely confusing at the best of times, and so for me, this was essential. Spiderman is still in high school and is on his senior trip to Eurpoe when the trip takes an unexpected turn when Nick Fury shows up in his hotel room to recruit him for a mission. The world is in danger as four massive elemental creatures -- each representing Earth, air, water and fire -- emerge from a hole torn in the universe. Parker soon finds himself donning the Spider-Man suit to help Fury and fellow superhero Mysterio stop the evil entities from wreaking havoc across the continent. The plot line is almost secondary to the non-stop action, although it is fun to see Jake Gylenhaal, who will forever be Donnie Darko for me, as a Marvel character.