Spider-Man: Homecoming: 8 Things It Must Learn From The Sam Raimi Originals

Something that's very central to Raimi's Spider-Man films (especially number two) is how tough it is actually being Spider-Man. We see it affect Peter's relationships from every angle, from struggling to protect Aunt May to rejecting the woman he loves at the close of the first film when he refuses to admit who he really is. And that all comes from the dual identity.

One of the most profound instances of character development in Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy takes place in that second film, when Peter loses his mask while trying to save a train full of people. Rather than bailing to guard his identity, Peter keeps fighting, almost sacrificing his life in the process, with the emotion of the scene heightened by the train inhabitant's vow to keep his identity hidden.

With Homecoming putting Peter back in a high school setting, this issue of identity is arguably more important than ever. Since the press conference at the close of the Iron Man, identity hasn't played much of a role in the MCU: there's no threat brought about by people knowing who any of the various heroes truly are. Narratively, nobody actually cares. For a young high school student, however, Peter's secret needs to matter, like it does in the Raimi version.