Spider-Man: No Way Home SPOILERS Review

I've never been a big Spider-Man fan.  My fondest memories of the web slinger is the 1990's Saturday morning cartoon.  My brother and I would settle in for TV watching that included Spider-Man, Batman, and X-Men.  My brother Patrick however is a HUGE Spider-Man fan.  Everything I know about Spider-Man comes from me reading his comic book collection when he wasn't home.  Like most big brothers, he didn't like me getting into his things.  As a whole I like the Tobey Maguire trilogy, but never really warmed up to the Andrew Garfield films.  I have, however, enjoyed Tom Holland's portrayal of Peter Parker.  So heading into his third film I was curious what was going to happen in No Way Home, and who was going to show up.  The correct answer for both of those questions was EVERYTHING!

This film picks up right where Far From Home ended.  Peter's identity is exposed to the whole world, and those closest to him are being hurt because of it.  Peter turns to Doctor Stephen Strange to help him make the world forget he is Spider-Man.  But when the spell goes wrong it brings in everyone from the multiverse who knows Peter Parker is Spider-Man, which included villains (and heroes) from all the Spider-Man films Sony has released in the last 20 years. It all comes down to a climactic battle at the Statue of Liberty with three Spidermen versus the Sinister Five.  Yes, FIVE.  When they were all captured my first thought was, "there has to be one more to make it the Sinister Six."  But there wasn't.

First off, my problem with this film is the same reasons I, and many other, geeked out so hard while watching it.  It's filled with cameos from all the previous Spider-Man films; and then some.  It had great references and the money shot of all three Spidermen, in costume, ready to battle. But, earlier I hopped on YouTube to rewatch the Matt Murdock scene.  I remember freaking out when he appeared and I just kept thinking, "Charlie Cox's Daredevil is in the MCU." And in the 80 seconds or so he was in the film I didn't process any dialogue or anything else in that scene.  I was in a daze and missed everything else being said.  I just kept wondering when the next cameo was coming instead of focusing on this Peter's emotional journey.

But, despite two other Spidey's in the film, the heart of it was still Tom Holland's Spider-Man.  It was his hopefulness of not giving up on the villains.  Trying to not just send them back to their deaths, but to try and help them.  The end of the film ended with Peter making everyone forget not Spider-man, but Peter Parker; even his friends.  The last scene with Peter and MJ killed me Peter was about to tell MJ who he was till he noticed the bandage above her eye and believed the best way to keep her safe was for him not to be in her life. This reminds me of a comic book storyline called Brand New Day.  After Civil War everyone knew who Spider-Man was, and this led to Aunt May being shot.  So, Peter made a deal with Mephisto (yes, that Mephisto) that he would save May's life if Peter would give up is life with Mary Jane. Thus, causing everyone to forget he was Spider-Man, never meeting or marrying MJ, and him living the bachelor life with his buddy Harry Osborn in their New York apartment. That's what the end of the film felt like to me; that it's a brand-new day for Spider-Man.  Peter has his own New York apartment, struggling to get by, and most important; sewing his own costume.  This is the basics of who Spider-Man is to me, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Speaking of what's next, the mid-credit scene saw Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock getting the 411 on the MCU.  The bartender explaining it all is Ted Lasso's Cristo Fernandez. Football is life!!  Anyway, Eddie then gets zapped back to his reality thanks to Peter and the events of the film but leaves behind a piece of the symbiote.  And every comic book fan's immediate thought was not only "Black Costume Saga" but also, "Is the MCU gonna do their own Venom?"  Now, I'm still confused how Eddie ended up in the MCU.  We assume it's from the Strange spell, so then why would he get zapped to the MCU if he had no idea who Peter Parker was?  This feeds into the fan theory that Venom's hive mind with other symbiotes includes the one from Spider-Man 3, and Venom, not Eddie, knew Peter was Spider-Man, and why Eddie came to the MCU, and then returned to the Sonyverse. 

I believe No Way Home is love letter to everyone who has been watching Spider-Man films for the last 20 yrs.  It remembers the past but set up so much for the future of the character, and also raises so many questions like; did they bring Tom Hardy's Venom over just to leave the symbiote piece behind?  Does Zendaya's MJ ever get back with Peter or is this the actresses' way out of the franchise?  And what's up with Morbius?  We know he's in the same universe as Venom, but that Spider-Man mural is in the background in the trailer and so is Michael Keaton.  Also, Keaton's Vulture no longer knows who Spider-Man is according to the rules.  If Jon Watts and crew got a non-loving Spider-Man guy like me to get excited about the possibilities, I can't wait to see what he does with Fantastic Four!

Mad Max Hauls In the Action To the Screens

With all the mistakes and mishaps Mel Gibson has found himself in we all still remember the great movies he's been in, and the famous franchise he started before he became a household name.  However, because of his recent mistakes and mishaps, I can see why George Miller, director of the three previous Mad Max films, decided to do this one without him.  Instead, Miller has enlisted Class-A actor, Tom Hardy, as the new Road Warrior.

In this sequel/reboot Max is caught and being held captive by Immortan Joe, who thrives on holding onto what little water there is in a world full of desert.  Max breaks free with the help of Joe's turncoat lieutenant, Furiosa; played by Charlize Theron.  Max and Furiosa are looking to escape Joe's clutches with a group of girls who have been forced to be his "breeders."  But Joe's got a lot of men to command and there is a lot of nothing between Max and the "green land".  

I've seen all the previous Mad Max films, however it's been so many years I was coming into this film as fresh as any newbie to the franchise.  The term, "road warrior" definitely helps to describe this picture as about 80% of it is car chase/actions scenes.  The visualization of this movie was phenomenal.  The scope of the sets and stunts were quite extravagant.  I also loved how the shots during the day was very red and orange while at night it's was blue and purple. 

 However, with that much action it leaves little room for plot and character development, which this film lacked a bit.  Hardy did an ok job as the lead, but it wasn't one of his better performances compared to movies like Locke and Warrior.  A step up from Hardy was Theron, who is just as good as she always is.  However, I'll give the best performance in this film to Nicholas Hoult.  The X-Men alumni transformed himself physically to where he was almost unrecognizable.  His arch seemed the most complete in this film and was quite satisfying.

It was quite entertaining to see this big spectacle of sand, and given the success of it's first weekend I can imagine they'll be a sequel.  I thought the film was quite interesting, but just needed a little more plot too it.  Seeing Mad Max in the theater was well worth it for the large amount of action.  So while I'm not drooling for more, I'd be interested to see what adventure Hardy gets into next if perhaps Mr. Gibson can make a small cameo.

RATING:  B-

   

Re-Casting X-Men

In a few days audiences around the world will be watching X-Men: Days of Future Past in hopes that it reinvigorates the X-Men franchise.  DOFP is a collaboration with the cast from previous X-Men films that started the series, and actors of the more recent X-Men: First Class.  Director Bryan Singer says this film will right the wrongs in the franchise(mainly those created in X3) and Singer has already signed on to direct the sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse.  Hugh Jackman believes Apocalypse will be his last X-Men film before he hands off the role of Wolverine to someone else after almost twenty years of playing the character!

Since I'm such a big X-Men fan I've also been a huge advocate against some the original X-Men (female) casting choices.  However, the First Class crew was great and the younger X-members like Iceman, Rogue, and Kitty are good enough actors to play their parts at least a few more times.  But if Jackman is out for this next era of X-Men films I say the entire original team should be re-cast.  And I've assembled a squad that would be great together!

SCOTT PORTER AS SCOTT SUMMERS/CYCLOPS

I was a fan of James Marsden as Cyclops and I hope the rumors of him making an appearance in Days of Future Past are true.  Cyclops came off horribly in previous X-Men films, basically just there as "the jealous boyfriend" when Slim is so much more.  Just ask any X-Men comic book reader.  Cyclops is the X-Men!

If another actor has to step in and fill Marsden's shoes I feel that Scott Porter is one who can fill them nicely.  He's got the good guy role down with parts in Friday Night Lights and Speed Racer.  He can play a leader, and has the All-American look to him. I believes he'd mesh well the the other actors I've chosen and would look pretty cool with a red visor.

EMILY BLUNT AS JEAN GREY/MARVEL GIRL/THE PHOENIX

In an X-Men movie I think the casting of Jean Grey is waaaaay more important than the casting of Cyclops or even Wolverine.  She's the object of both their affection.  An actress who plays Jean has to make it seem like she'd be good with either of the those two heroes.  Famke Janssen was a HORRIBLE casting in my opinion.  She had no quality that said, "the girl next door," which is what Jean Grey is.

It's all in Emily Blunt's face.  She has a sweet face, but also probably has a scowl that could destroy an entire solar system!  Her role in The Adjustment Bureau made me believe she can act, and her role in The Five-Year Engagement made me believe she can be likable. I'm curious to see how her new film, Edge of Tomorrow, will be.  But it's got Tom Cruise in it and looks like a rip-off of Source Code so I'm gonna skip it; no offense Ms. Blunt. 

TOM HARDY AS LOGAN/WOLVERINE

Hugh Jackman first popped onto the screen as Wolverine in 2000.  Days of Future Past will be Jackman's seventh time playing the character in fourteen years!  It's a cinematic record, and hard to imagine anyone else playing the role.  

I think Jackman as Wolverine was one of the best superhero/comic book castings ever!  The only tiny issue I had was Jackman's height.  He is 6 '1 while Logan is barely 5 '8.  Tom Hardy is 5 '9.  This is closer to Wolverine's actual height.  Hardy is now one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood with his roles in films like Warrior and The Dark Knight Rises.  There is no denying his talent and toughness.  I would give this casting six claws up!

YAYA ALAFIA AS ORORO MONROE/STORM

When I first heard Days of Future Past was in production my hope was that Hallie Berry was not going to reprise her role as Storm.  There were reports of her disagreements with Bryan Singer on the first few X-Men films and her demand for a bigger part in X3 or she wouldn't be in the film.  I think her role as Storm has been one of the worst in superhero/comic book films!  Storm is one of the strongest female characters in fiction.  At one point she defeated Cyclops in battle for leadership of the X-Men.  And Berry can't even hold down a decent African accent for one film.

My first thought in Storm's re-casting was the Oscar winning actress, Lupita Nyong'o.  However, once I thought of the other re-casts I chose I didn't think Lupita fit with the other actors.  Yaya Alafia has had a lot of small roles in good films like The Kids Are Alright and The Butler.  She's no doubt got the look to play Storm, and from her small roles has proven she's got the talent.  I think it's time to let this actress light up.

ALEXANDER SKARSGARD AS VICTOR CREDD/SABERTOOTH

I thought Liev Schreiber played Sabertooth quite well in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  However, it was a horrible film that no one should ever watch....ever. Meanwhile, Tyler Mane in the original X-Men movie came off more as just an enforcer with no brains.  If the two performances were combined it would make a character that I believe would rival Magneto as a villian, or even Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight!

Alexander Skarsgard is most known for his role as Eric in HBO's True Blood, and it's that character that makes me believe he can do a very good Sabertooth.  He may have to beef up a little but when I imagine him and Tom Hardy not only facing off, but trading dialogue, it makes me a little excited.  I think Skarsgard would make Sabertooth actually memorable for once.