@knifebeater: For me, it is more of unpleasant layout than number of cameras. Since they cannot fit zoom lens in the phone (although some others have managed, I think?), 3 cameras are workaround... wide, standard, zoom. But... that big square hump, and on top of it smaller lenses humps.
Even cheaper iPhone with 2 cameras still has that big square hump.
Probably OK for people who keep phone in some sort of case... but it is not pretty design, imho. For the asking price, phone should look beautiful from any angle. I guess there were reasons to make it like this - but pretty it aint.
Some characters do require specific ethnicity. I cannot imagine Luke Cage being an Irish... or Italian. But that is because his powers are just a part of his complexity, and equally big part comes from his building blocks - his childhood, neighborhood he grew in... the works. But I don't think this applies to MJ. She is defined by her character, not by her heritage.
Aunt May in "refreshed" for 21st century - she is younger, more dynamic, not fragile old lady she was in '70. But she is still loving aunt, widow of late Ben Parker, lady without her own kids who loves and cares for Peter just if he is her own child, if not more.
There are a lot of connections with old May. Yes she is younger, but this Peter is also younger that Romita/Andru Amazing Spider-man, so younger May fits in fine, imho.
Michelle can be great character in her own rights, but she hasn't got any connections with original MJ. Character is completely opposite. Where MJ was outgoing, super-social thrive-under-the-spotlight party loving girl who was, to my memory, never even shown going to school or having any school-related problems (and she definitely didn't go to school with Peter), this MJ is presented as nerdy/smart/brooding/socially awkward character. I actually do think that Zendaya would be amazing MJ, holding her ground against (my personal) perfect MJ, younger Superbad-era Emma Stone... have the screen-players given her MJ role to act upon. She is gorgeous head-turner - but as the role she is given is, she should just be equally amazing Michelle, and let's ignore MJ in this Spidey reboot completely.
I think for many older Spidey reader, MJ just has to radiate with... MJ-ism. Introducing new characters is fine, but let them be new characters. Don't burden them with weight of some other characters. Even her name isn't Mary Jane. Why of all the possibilities she had to be called MJ...? Peter and Michelle sounds great to me.
With all that said - I still didn't have time to see Far from Home. My opinion is based on Homecoming alone. I don't think it will change, because I don't have any problem with Michelle character - I just don't like that someone has found it necessary to make her new MJ. More and more she excels at being Michelle, less and less I will see a point of forcing MJ mantle on her.
@sunspotiens: Season 7 was rushed as well... lack of strongly structured material from the author was obvious, imho.
That said, we don't know everything what these guys had to deal with - budget, politics, actors some of which have gone from almost-anonymous to superstars during the runtime... it is easy to say both seasons 7 and 8 required more episodes, more money, more story... but was it really possible to achieve?
Still, they should stand behind their actions; great powers, great responsibilities. Take the credits where credits are due, accept responsibility for what was done poorly. No one is perfect, but we learn from mistake and do better next time. If not, we keep making same mistakes - probably not something these guys should indulge in.
@PrpleTrtleBuBum: Yeah, I was also thinking, smoking is bad - but mass-murdering other creatures in the game isn't walk in the park either.
I mean, OK - this is post-apocalyptic setup, growing tobacco probably isn't a thing. But insisting on something like this to make game more of a positive influence on younger gamers, while hoping for those younger gamers to play game they shouldn't be playing in a first place? That's a bit cheap, imho.
As Thanatos2k has mentioned, they could have done that in better way. Even a bit of humor, like previously smoking character reaches for the pocket to pull a cigar and then realizes, to his dismay, he hasn't got any left. And follows it with appropriate comment about alien invasion depriving him of smokes. To what other character replies with something "You should build them a monument, they've done you a favor".
First, thanks for younger fans' perspective - I'm not sarcastic, I really mean it.
I am well aware that a lot of things have changed. When I have started reading Spider-Man, even 8-bit home computers haven't appeared yet. No Internet. No mobile phones. No digital cameras. Single-digit number of TV channels, no cable or satellite. VHS and Walkman were only released. Completely different times!
Maybe that MJ wouldn't have same impact today, though one of good things with that MJ was that she has grown up well along the way... handled responsibility of knowing Peter's secret identity really well, proved that she is not just a shallow party girl, not just proto-Hilton/Kardashian type... regardless. If minds behind this reboot have decided that MJ needs complete personality refresh, why not refreshing this franchise with completely new love interest for Peter?
Same with Flash. Point of that Flash was to be unlikable. To help readers identify with Peter. This Flash, I don't know. Maybe he does hit different notes for younger generations, but for me, if he wasn't there as a comic relief, he would look like much bigger loser than Peter ever was, spider-bite or not... and as such, he would be more an object of pity than Peter's ultimate school nemesis. Even Peter doesn't seem to pay much attention to him.
So... why could they not just be Michelle and, I don't know - Thomas? Different universe, different protagonists. Just as original trilogy did well without Gwen Stacey - I'm choosing to ignore that Gwen from 3rd film - this series would do just fine without MJ. Michelle has potential as Michelle.
Also, consider that Peter hasn't really changed much from the original - he is, of course, 21st century version of Peter, but he is still recognizable, still goofy, wise-cracking, smart and responsible, good kid. He still has problems with girls, but can make his web shooters... he still has aunt who loves him dearly, and is still an orphan... true, he is building Lego Death Star and using modern tech not available to old Peter - computers, smartphones etc - but he is, in my mind, properly modernized original character.With a lot of anchors connecting him to original PP, but also new elements that put him in this time.
MJ and Flash, simply, are not. There isn't anchor that connects them to the originals. They already are completely different personalities from originals whose names they carry - so why the names? Names don't make characters. Give them their own identity, they already are their own people. If you would read about them without knowing who they are, you'd never recognize them as MJ and FT. MJ isn't even Mary-Jane any longer, she is Michelle...
Let me summarize - I am not "complaining" that MJ and Flash (and Ned) are completely different from the originals - I am "complaining" that they still are MJ, Flash and Ned.
Just my opinion, of course. I have enjoyed Homecoming - probably my favorite Spider-man movie, save, maybe, for the first one in the original trilogy. Maybe. I have equally high expectations for Far from Home.
JK Simmons has been one of the best actor/character matching in any comics inspired live action... guy deserves his own movie! Or, at least, TV show :)
Actually, a comedy about Daily Bugle and JJJ could be quite entertaining. A mixture between shows such as The Office, Fawlty Towers, IT Crowd... with ever penny-wise JJJ trying to cut corners on all the expenses, while demanding first-class reporting on events observed in other Marvel TV and films... could be great mortar to tie the MCU in even stronger grip. And it shouldn't be too hard tossing in guest stars from other Marvel TV shows. I guess Tom's Spidey would be a bit too expensive for regular TV appearance, but... even if Tom is, CG/stuntman Spidey shouldn't be. And with full mask on his head, it could work just fine.
@PrpleTrtleBuBum: That is true, but I am thinking you can modernize character without changing the essence of him/her. Early MJ from Pete's original high school and college days was aspiring dancer, model, actress. She did grow up and mature through the years (and editions) but for most part she has remained that person at the core.
New MJ can be aspiring reality show celebrity, Instagram celebrity... you name it. But... keep her MJ. Back in the days of my youth, we bookworms liked idea that a gal like that MJ could fall for bookworm Peter. Peter Parker was the easiest-to-identify-with fictional character for then-targeted audience, at least among super heroes.
While I like Zendaya's performance as this grumpy smart rebellious teen she plays, I just can't see her as MJ. Regardless of the name, she IS the new character. Pretty much completely opposite of source MJ. I don't see the point of tying that name to that character. I guess this boils down to personal preference - I'd rather see franchise refreshed with completely new characters, than recycling original characters in unrecognizable forms. If Peter's roommate in Homecoming and Away from Home is supposed to be original Ned Leeds - well that is all fine and dandy, but original Ned (who was Peter's friend and colleague reporter at Daily Bugle) has eventually become Hobgoblin. I don't think that this Ned will have any connection with original Ned's story - why, then, the name. He is just... not... that Ned.
@jerusaelem: Scrawny eastern guy that for some reason has western name once carried by high-school football star poster boy IS already brand new character. Name doesn't change that. It is shallow thinking that name defines character - unless you are completely unfamiliar with the source.
Flash was Peter's bully before the spider accident. And after (though less successful), speaking of which. The whole point was to make him unlikable guy, and the original design did that well. A lot of American kids reading comics back in the days were bullied by likes of Flash, and I am pretty sure he was designed to help young "geeky" readers identify with Peter easier.
Yes I did grow on gold and silver era comics. Ditko, Romita, Andu, Kane... era Spider-Man. I guess for you people some/many of the things we people hold dear are meaningless - to each their own.
Free advise from someone older - work on your manners, it will help you later in your adult life.
I do think that this version of Spider-Man is a bit under-powered. And a bit too young. As such, it does feel strange if veterans like Nick look at him as the next Avengers-in-one wonder.
That said, I never liked Ditko's Peter/Spidey. High school, super-geeky, barely stronger than ordinary thug. For me Spidey really took off when Romita and Andu took over, and at that time, Peter was older and more serious, and Spidey was more powerful, faster and more agile, his spider-sense was more prominent and important... and, while he did depend on web shooters, spider-tracers and some other minor gadgets, he would mostly depend on his powers alone.
Thus this whole new AI enriched suit doesn't really work for me. Eventually, not even Cap has received tech costume... or Natasha... or Clint... why does Spidey need it? Besides, who is going to maintain it now that Tony is gone?
The other thing I don't like is characters alteration for the sake of, I don't know. Being politically correct? Being original at any cost? Flash Thompson is blond athletic almost-white-supremacist type of high-school sport hero/bully and it just doesn't work in form of this guy they have tossed in. Not that the guy is not good actor, but Flash he aint. He could have been completely new character, same as with Peter's room-mate.
And then, MJ. First of, she is famous for being cheerful bubbly party-girl, if sometimes (in early stage) appearing a bit shallow. Someone integrated into consumerism of modern society - someone dreaming to be singer, actress, model. I could understand if they have modernized her to be someone who wants to be new reality celebrity, in line with modern (as pitiful as they are) trends... This grumpy rebellious couldn't-care-less-how-I-look teen just is NOT MJ. and again, they could have made her original character, and decide to introduce (or not) proper MJ later on... but don't ruin original characters!
I think there is trap in changing originals, because it blurs line in the sand that should not be negotiated. Before we know, there is going to be Petra Parker. And T'Challa is going to be adopted orphan from Sweden (before it turns out that he is hidden younger brother of Loki, son of the frost giants). Steve Rogers will become Hawaiian with Japanese origins, who wanted to serve in the US army to prove his patriotism, against his origins, after Pearl Harbor attack.
Not to be taken wrong - I did enjoy Homecoming, and I think Tom is the best Peter so far. I just wish they kept a bit closer to the originals. I don't mind meaningful changes - new aunt May, for example, does add to the dynamics and is more fitting aunt for young version of Peter, imho. But she is still caring, motherly aunt May.
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