Spider-Man: No Way Home

[Tribal Warfare]

[Chiefspants]

I utterly loved it. It was like watching a childhood dream unfold right in front of me.

Spoiler!

Because it really was one. I remember my Mom buying my best friend and I lunchables before we saw Spider-Man 2 when we were 11 years old. I remember that SM2 gave me a childhood wonder as I experienced the highs of a superhero movie for the first time. It was always tough for me to see how Spider-Man 3 ended on a somewhat cliffhanger and it never felt like we got closure in that universe.

It was doubly difficult that out of all the extraneous crap Sony forced on Garfield’s spidey (imo the best actor for Spider-Man), the thing they nailed was the Gwen-Spidey storyline — but even that universe ended on a cliffhanger before they could explore it. To illustrate what was working against Garfield, Sony execs were seriously lobbying for an AUNT MAY spinoff at this time. It was just a saga that was doomed to fail.

The fact they fit in everything they did while nailing Goblin (Holy shit, Dafoe BROUGHT IT), Ock (loved that they had him turn once the chip was reinstalled). Hell, Ock's "you're all grown up" line felt directed at the audience. They also wrote Electro how he always should have been written - was incredible. Lizard and Sandman were ancillary - but that was okay - they were the vehicle that got the Spidey’s together. The fact they worked in Daredevil and the 6th of the sinister 6 was getting wasted at a bar in Mexico was also perfect (Venom would totally do that).

I cried at May’s death. My wife cried at Peter and MJ’s goodbye. Our theater lost their minds at the perfect parts. Seeing Tobey again was literally a childhood dream.

This movie had 15 years of built up catharsis it had to tend with — and oh my god did it ever deliver. It gave closure to the unanswered question of Tobey's Spidey and MJ - gave closure to a badly hurting and bitter Garfield Spidey (him saving MJ was perhaps my favorite moment) and delivered a master-stroke to Holland’s Spidey. His biggest criticisms had always been that he was Iron Man Jr., had no hidden identity, always depended on a mentor, did not have his Uncle Ben scene, and was never a neighborhood Spider-Man. This movie now can launch him to be the Spider-Man we were always hoping for in the previous sagas.

I never thought a Marvel outing could top Infinity War, but IW had nothing on the nostalgia I felt today. It was like watching a childhood dream. Even more so because I was watching beside my wife after we got our infant dropped off with my parents.

[ThaVirus]

Spoiler!

I forgot to mention it, but there were a couple low key scenes that really stood out:

1) The Spider Sense scene in Happy's apartment. They did a really great job of making it super tense as he feels something is wrong, but he's trying to figure out where the danger will come from while surrounded by five super villains.

2) The scene of Holland standing in the rain immediately after May's death, with JJJ talking about how anyone close to Spider-Man ends up dead.

There was a lot going on so I feel like those flee under the radar, but they were a couple moments that stood out to me.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Spoiler!

They took it back to formula it seems. It was likely getting too out of control to where they would have to out do the previous entry, which after this last movie the next movie would be hard to do. So they needed to bring it back down to scale, to a more Spiderman centric storyline that didn't involve so many characters. I really appreciate that, he's got no Uncle Ben and Aunt May now, but he's making his own suit, living in a terrible apartment, can startup at the Daily Bugle, using his own methods for a police scanner, and his suit seems to be alot brighter with the blue and red and a more traditional feel. I think the only thing they can go forward with is Kraven and Black Suit/Venom in his universe. Let Green Goblin sit for a bit, introduce Gwen Stacy and Harry/Norman Osborne and maybe even Miles Morales, but it's taking it back to the beginnings and I respect that so the second trilogy is less space and magic oriented, and more back to the basics of Spiderman lore. Hobgoblin would be interesting too, he's so similar to Green Goblin, but they've already done Green Goblin twice now. Due to leaked photos of Ned they suggested that Ned might become Hobgoblin by the end of No Way Home, I'd say leave those characters behind, there's no need to bring in Ned and Zendaya's MJ anymore, start fresh and explore more of the rogue's gallery. I think the best stretch of villains they could do from her on out is Kraven, Venom/Goblin, Carnage/Venom for the next trilogy with maybe a Jon Berenthal Punisher cameo for one of the movies. You know they'll bring in Miles Morales and Spider Gwen eventually, too much popularity in those two characters to just leave them in the Spiderverse movies and not bring them into the live action world.

The only thing that pissed me off about this movie was that they wasted Tom Hardy completely and there's no reason that a small bit of the symbiote would stay behind while the rest got sent back with Tom Hardy. Tom Hardy didn't even know who Spiderman was so there was no reason why he was teleported to this universe, similar to Electro seeing as he was hoping Garfield was black under the mask. I don't know what they do with Tom Hardy's Venom now, after Carnage, where do you go? It's just a shame because it went nowhere, was just a vehicle to get the symbiote in Tom Holland's universe, and they could've just brought the Symbiote to earth in another way that didn't bring Hardy into the picture. Also, Hardy just sat there, talked to a bartender for his entire time in Holland's universe? LOL just kinda dumb and they didn't think it out very well.

Spoiler!

Yeah, I think they did a good enough job with Ock, Green Goblin, Sandman and Electro now to move on from them.

I'd still like to see a proper Venom and Carnage. Kingpin and Tombstone with Daredevil confirmed in universe seem like a natural progression. Kraven could be badass. Rhino, Morbius, Vulture reprisal, and Scorpion could be brought in if they decide to go a Sinister Six route.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Spoiler!

I forgot to mention it, but there were a couple low key scenes that really stood out:

1) The Spider Sense scene in Happy's apartment. They did a really great job of making it super tense as he feels something is wrong, but he's trying to figure out where the danger will come from while surrounded by five super villains.

2) The scene of Holland standing in the rain immediately after May's death, with JJJ talking about how anyone close to Spider-Man ends up dead.

There was a lot going on so I feel like those flee under the radar, but they were a couple moments that stood out to me.

Spoiler!

That scene was great. It really built up the terror that Dafoe was able to to continue by being Dafoe. Dafoe's time was more limited than most villains would have - so each scene with him needed to deliver -- and that spidey sense moment absolutely delivered. Holland in the rain felt very inspired by Blade Runner 2049, which I also adored immensely

[Rams Fan]

Spoiler!

My one gripe is they completely undid Doc Ock’s story arc. He had redeemed himself in SM2 and died a hero. He would still have to die based on the events of SM2.

[ThaVirus]

Spoiler!

I believe Ock said he Spider-Man was trying to shut down his machine, they fought, he had Spidey in his grasp, and then he was transported to Holland's universe.

It's possible that it is the exact same Ock from Spider-Man 2, who was brought to this universe right after Ock and Spidey's first encounter (after the inhibitor chip was fried but before he redeemed himself).

It's also possible that this Ock was not the exact same one we saw in Spider-Man 2. With infinite universes, it's likely that this was some incarnation of the one we saw, but just slightly different.

That was my interpretation anyway. Slight differences in Electro and Sandman seem to support that theory.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Spoiler!

I believe Ock said he Spider-Man was trying to shut down his machine, they fought, he had Spidey in his grasp, and then he was transported to Holland's universe.

It's possible that it is the exact same Ock from Spider-Man 2, who was brought to this universe right after Ock and Spidey's first encounter (after the inhibitor chip was fried but before he redeemed himself).

It's also possible that this Ock was not the exact same one we saw in Spider-Man 2. With infinite universes, it's likely that this was some incarnation of the one we saw, but just slightly different.

That was my interpretation anyway. Slight differences in Electro and Sandman seem to support that theory.

Spoiler!

That’s fair and an interpretation. I just view it to be the same from SM2.

There weren’t any differences from ASM Electro to this one in terms of origin. His appearance changed because of the universe. Sand Man and Lizard didn’t change either.

[Sassy Squatch]

Interesting.

Spoiler!

Sounds like Garfield will actually be quite involved in the future with his own projects as Spider Man. Speculation that he'd be Sony exclusive, potentially the same universe as Hardy's Venom, Morbus, etc. Holland would still be the MCU Spider Man.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Interesting.

Spoiler!

Sounds like Garfield will actually be quite involved in the future with his own projects as Spider Man. Speculation that he'd be Sony exclusive, potentially the same universe as Hardy's Venom, Morbus, etc. Holland would still be the MCU Spider Man.

Spoiler!

Sounds like Disney is also wanting to keep them on board for potential Secret Wars involvement

[Deberg_1990]

There’s a rumor floating around that Nicholas Hammond was in the scene at the end in the coffee shop. Heh, pretty cool if true.

[Sassy Squatch]

Can't wait until we have J.R. voicing over Goblin beating the shit out of Holland. Dude nailed him with a power bomb and a pop up spinebuster.

[Mile High Mania]

We saw it last night... overally, we really enjoyed it. If you haven't seen the previous SM movies with the other leads and you're not into the Marvel shows on Netflix, then some of this will not make sense.

Spoiler!

I do like that Hawkeye has introduced Kingpen while SM introduced Matt Murdoch

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Spoiler!

They took it back to formula it seems. It was likely getting too out of control to where they would have to out do the previous entry, which after this last movie the next movie would be hard to do. So they needed to bring it back down to scale, to a more Spiderman centric storyline that didn't involve so many characters. I really appreciate that, he's got no Uncle Ben and Aunt May now, but he's making his own suit, living in a terrible apartment, can startup at the Daily Bugle, using his own methods for a police scanner, and his suit seems to be alot brighter with the blue and red and a more traditional feel. I think the only thing they can go forward with is Kraven and Black Suit/Venom in his universe. Let Green Goblin sit for a bit, introduce Gwen Stacy and Harry/Norman Osborne and maybe even Miles Morales, but it's taking it back to the beginnings and I respect that so the second trilogy is less space and magic oriented, and more back to the basics of Spiderman lore. Hobgoblin would be interesting too, he's so similar to Green Goblin, but they've already done Green Goblin twice now. Due to leaked photos of Ned they suggested that Ned might become Hobgoblin by the end of No Way Home, I'd say leave those characters behind, there's no need to bring in Ned and Zendaya's MJ anymore, start fresh and explore more of the rogue's gallery. I think the best stretch of villains they could do from her on out is Kraven, Venom/Goblin, Carnage/Venom for the next trilogy with maybe a Jon Berenthal Punisher cameo for one of the movies. You know they'll bring in Miles Morales and Spider Gwen eventually, too much popularity in those two characters to just leave them in the Spiderverse movies and not bring them into the live action world.

The only thing that pissed me off about this movie was that they wasted Tom Hardy completely and there's no reason that a small bit of the symbiote would stay behind while the rest got sent back with Tom Hardy. Tom Hardy didn't even know who Spiderman was so there was no reason why he was teleported to this universe, similar to Electro seeing as he was hoping Garfield was black under the mask. I don't know what they do with Tom Hardy's Venom now, after Carnage, where do you go? It's just a shame because it went nowhere, was just a vehicle to get the symbiote in Tom Holland's universe, and they could've just brought the Symbiote to earth in another way that didn't bring Hardy into the picture. Also, Hardy just sat there, talked to a bartender for his entire time in Holland's universe? LOL just kinda dumb and they didn't think it out very well.

Spoiler!

Frank Castle, because of Matt Murdock's appearance

[Wallcrawler]

Spoiler!

Garfield's team has expressed interest in reprising his role as Spider Man in the other universe. Sony would be fools not to capitalize on this.

Get a competent writer/director this time, and for me, that's far more exciting to me than another Tom Holland MCU film where they're just now looking like they want to do actual Spider Man and not Iron Man Jr.

I've seen 3 Spider Boy films and honestly as promising as the direction they look to be taking is, I'm just tired of Holland. He's been in 6 MCU films, with another 3 slated. That's a lot for someone not named Hugh Jackman or Robert Downey Jr.

Seeing Garfield as Spider Man again reinforced that he was my favorite of the 3. His Peter Parker was a little bit on the too cool side, but his Spider Man was always how I imagined him sounding when reading the comics.

I'd LOVE to see him back even if it's just for one more proper send-off standalone film.

Maybe use Garfield as the Spider Man for Morbius and the other Sonyverse films.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

Spoiler!

Garfield's team has expressed interest in reprising his role as Spider Man in the other universe. Sony would be fools not to capitalize on this.

Get a competent writer/director this time, and for me, that's far more exciting to me than another Tom Holland MCU film where they're just now looking like they want to do actual Spider Man and not Iron Man Jr.

I've seen 3 Spider Boy films and honestly as promising as the direction they look to be taking is, I'm just tired of Holland. He's been in 6 MCU films, with another 3 slated. That's a lot for someone not named Hugh Jackman or Robert Downey Jr.

Seeing Garfield as Spider Man again reinforced that he was my favorite of the 3. His Peter Parker was a little bit on the too cool side, but his Spider Man was always how I imagined him sounding when reading the comics.

I'd LOVE to see him back even if it's just for one more proper send-off standalone film.

Maybe use Garfield as the Spider Man for Morbius and the other Sonyverse films.

Spoiler!

Garfield reminds me of Patrick Stewart/Picard in that he has definitely shown so far in his career to have the best acting chops but it’s similar to how didn't get his due with some fans in the 90's due to reverence for the OG (Shatner/Maguire) and poor scripts (in the first two seasons of TNG, anyway) I hope Garfield absolutely gets another go at the character, whether that be in Secret Wars or in a Sony project. My worry is that I don't exactly have a lot of trust in Hardy's creative team to do any justice to Spidey at all. Feels like it'd feel a lot like the Webb films, actually.