Topic: The Marvel Thread

@colonelkilgore Yep, watching from home would suit me too, especially after seeing videos of people whooping and cheering in the cinema 😂

@nessisonett Yep the brief window of me feeling comfortable going to the cinema has passed, for the time being anyway.

@Keith_Zissou as jealous as I am (of having seen the film that is… not having picked up the mange) I’m glad you enjoyed it that much bud.

@RogerRoger cheers buddy, we got a busy week or two coming up so we’ll try and catch it in the new year now I reckon.

Just came back from seeing Spider-Man too. I enjoyed it and that’s about all I’m willing to say for now (to keep the thread spoiler-free).

The specifically picked a seat on the side of the aisle so the closest person to me was several seats away in the row behind me, making it comfortable and rather safe conditions. I didn’t hear any coughing either. Might go see the Matrix next, although I hear it’s not so good, unfortunately.

@Keith_Zissou Just watched it as well. The best praise I can give it is that I had forgotten about Murdock with everything else on the screen!

@Keith_Zissou I braved the crowds and risked my life as well. I liked the movie too, although maybe slightly less than you it sounds. Although I did feel myself get misty eyed at one point, which doesn’t happen often for me.

But I can definitely see why there is split opinions on it, depending on the viewer. More on that later …

On the negatives, I thought some of the dialogue fell flat, at least for an MCU movie. It’s a high watermark but one of the strengths of the MCU movies is the quippy line delivery and the great on screen chemistry of all the characters. I felt that aspect was a little hit-or-miss. Some of the lines and jokes landed, but many didn’t quite hit. And (this is no spoiler for those who’ve seen Far From Home but…) — I really enjoyed the awkward teenage romantic tension in the last two Spidey films, especially in Far From Home with MJ. Their social clumsiness was really cute, but now that they are openly dating then their relationship is much less interesting. Ned also was cast aside a little from his previous role and I found him a highlight in the past, but underutilized in this one.

The same would apply to Happy and May, the way their relationship was just ended abruptly at the beginning was disappointing, since it was a nice gag all throughout the last film

But now as for why I think some reviews are less than enthusiastic — the elephant in the room is the absolute fan service of bringing back all the original Spidermen and villains from prior movies… If someone is watching this movie with no prior experience with the MacGuire and Garfield movies then half of the movie is lost on them. It is a little like Star Wars The Force Awakens, where it resonated best for those who loved A New Hope as a kid. For most of us who are enthusiasts of nerd culture and have seen the Maguire and Garfield films multiple times (and the Netflix Daredevil series as well as all the other MCU movies and now all the Disney+ shows given some references now of those are bleeding into the movies) we all are flush with giddiness at all the references and callbacks. But I think it’s a fine line they walk where the movies might start to isolate some of the casual audience who doesn’t know who all these characters and references are.

It sounds like I’m being hard on the film, and believe me I loved it. Immensely. But I’m also a bit concerned about the direction of things.

@Just2Milky @Voltan I had less restraint on the spoilers in my post above, but I was sure to tag them. 😅 It’s definitely a movie that really needs to be experienced spoiler-free. I went in blind and was frequently blown away.

I knew it this would be insanely popular, but some impressive numbers here.

@Th3solution I totally agree with all that. Still a good one though.

Btw, I'm safe from spoilers myself now but I'm scrolling Twitter and some people just don't care, huh? And I mean media people and such, not just random users. I'd avoid Twitter for now if you're planning to see it later, unless you can mute the topic or something.

I just got back from seeing No Way Home. That was insane.
First movie I’ve seen in the cinema since I don’t even know. Must have been well over a year.

The excitement was palpable so glad I didn’t go in spoiled…I heard the rumours but still… .
There was clapping, roars of cheers I honestly can’t remember the last movie that had that.
Deathly Hallows P2 was the closest I could compare it to, but even that probably doesn’t reach the heights of NWH.
Even my wife & mother liked it & they aren’t even big fans.

This movie was just a pure joy to watch. I don’t know how anyone could dislike it. I wouldn’t be surprised if this tops OG Tobey Spidey 1 & 2 as the best movie in peoples mind.

@Fight_Teza_Fight I just would be really annoyed about people cheering and clapping during the movie, I want to hear it! 😂

Just got back from the new Spider-Man movie. There was a lot of cheering in my theater as well.

It was alright. Like most of the Marvel-related output in the last ten years, Holland's run as Spider-Man has been very inoffensively entertaining. I really didn't like the direction this film took as it went on, though, as it seemed to trade the charming teenage drama and more grounded stakes of previous films for the sort of explosive and convoluted conceptual bloat that plagues a lot of the later MCU films. Which is a shame, because the first half hour or so is really, really good, and if the filmmakers had organically expanded from that starting point, it could have been amazing. Too few films play with situations related to a superhero who has been doxxed, as Spider-Man was at the end of Far From Home.

I think my biggest problem is that the film only even happens because Doctor Strange behaves with uncharacteristic carelessness. Not that he's unwilling to use magic in unscrupulous ways, but I was never fully convinced by how easily Parker convinces him to cast a spell that would have world-shaking consequences even if it hadn't backfired, and that really poisons his role in the film going forward. Looking back, I think everyone should be able to agree that it's for the best that Strange isn't the Sorcerer Supreme, as he clearly lacks judgment, and that lack of judgment is at least partially responsible for Peter Parker losing absolutely everything that was important to him in this film.

(props to them for not chickening out on that profound downer of an ending, though, which puts this above most cinematic blockbuster stuff all on its own)

It was still good fun, though, and I understand why some people will absolutely love it. Ultimately, however, I think Far From Home will likely remain my favorite of Holland's Spider-Man run, and a top five Marvel-related film for me overall.

@Th3solution ANH is my favorite Star Wars movie, and, if anything, those surface similarities with TFA really helped to sour me early on Disney's trilogy, because it paints an extremely unflattering contrast. TFA was a ANH with terrible characters, forgettable villains, and a bland script. Star Wars without the soul.

But then, I'm also one of those weird people who thinks TLJ is quite a bit better than many give it credit for. Terrible middle film in a trilogy, but still significantly better than the films it's sandwiched between.

I get what you mean, though. Like Spider-Man NWH and Ghostbuster Afterlife, it's yet another film in a long-running cinematic series that feels like it relies heavily on nostalgic fanservice to score an easy win with older fans.

Been a bit busy this last week so haven't been posting. I saw Spider Man on opening night because I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid spoilers!

Only one whoop/cheer moment in my cinema but it was fine, it didn't drown out any dialogue or anything.

I did look up some articles after watching it to see if there are any Easter eggs I may have missed but I pretty much got all the listed ones. I think one bit near the end will be a blu ray pause situation for most viewers anyway.

Unfortunately all the articles gave a spoiler warning for Spider Man but didn't give one for Hawkeye which they almost all spoil as well. So lame as I was planning to watch that show fully over Xmas. I still don't plan to read or hear anything more about Hawkeye until I watch it though so please don't tag me in anything spoilerific!

Anyway, good movie on first viewing. There's a lot more that could have been done but considering it is already 2.5 hours, it's probably better left as it is. Not sure how it will hold up on multiple viewings though but I doubt I'll ever think it's bad, maybe just less exciting.

I must say that this felt more like a marvel comic or a marvel cartoon than a marvel film. I won't say why I think that because it is a bit too spoilery but in so many ways it seemed to eschew the rules of the film industry and lean more toward a cartoon/comic sensibility.

@RogerRoger the MCU did have an inadvertent pause after Endgame/Far From Home! It was a bit of a mixed bag though. Black Widow was an easy sell in a hard situation, I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it more if the zeitgeist was still buzzing at the time of its release. The TV shows were perfectly timed for the 2 year cinema drought.

@Ralizah TLJ is my favourite of the sequel trilogy and possibly my second favourite star wars film after Rogue One... I know I must be a heathen 😅

@Keith_Zissou Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

@Ralizah I really agree with your analysis and I understand what you’re saying about your disappointment with SW: TFA. In a way the setting in which Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher return to the screen is quite unlike the way Garfield, Macguire, Dafoe, Molina, Foxx, and co. return. I think you’re right in the sense the TFA tried to intermix the classic heroes with villains and characters that were subpar and it cheapened the effect of being back the nostalgia. In SM: NWH the return of old characters was more in line with keeping them consistent with who they were in their original respective movies and just putting them into this new setting, as opposed to TFA where it was supposed to be years later and essentially all the classic heroes’ roles and personalities seemed to have changed (especially Luke) and it made for a jarring incongruence on top of the other bad characters like Kylo. With the SM characters, they mostly seemed to act and behave just like they did back then, except for maybe Jamie Fox’s character. The movie made a joke of his change in personality and appearance but I remember his character acting differently in his original film.

I did appreciate the fact that the movie doubles down on self-awareness and pokes fun at its own concepts and short-comings. For example the gag when Maguire is trying talk up Garfield and repeatedly telling him “You’re amazing…” Clearly a nod to not only the fact that Garfield is perceived as the weakest Spider-Man in the modern film and is frequently maligned by fans, but also a reference to his films actually being named “The Amazing Spider-Man”. It’s like the filmmakers had to choose which references to the old films would work and which they would have to be forced to just make fun of. The Garfield Spider-Man saving MJ in the manner he was not able to save Gwen was a great moment, for example. But the frequent use of the “With great power comes great responsibility…” quote by Aunt May as she is dying and again by Maguire was just borderline eye-rolling, especially when Into the Spider-Verse had already made fun of the line’s frequent use throughout the movies. I can see why they’d want to include the quote, as it has become the Spidey movies’ version of “May the Force be with you” but it still fell flat for me

But overall, I think you and I are of a similar mind in the movie and how it was a fun time, if not flawed. I also found Dr. Strange’s behavior kinda… strange 😅. And had a hard time coming to grips with his poor judgment and ineptitude.

@ralphdibny Glad you enjoyed it, as did I, and part of the fun was trying to find and identify Easter Eggs and nods to prior Spidey properties. I’ll need to check out some of the articles before I have a reviewing of the movie so I can pay attention or pause the show to pick up the less overt references.

I did wonder if F.E.A.S.T. was somehow in one of the movies and I missed it. I don’t think so. It’s a clear reference to the video game, or maybe the comics which I think had Aunt May and Miles volunteering there first… maybe? I haven’t read any of the comics so I could be wrong. If F.E.A.S.T. is a creation of the Sony produced video game, then this is a real boon for how culturally important they felt the game was. Also, the line “I was just hoping you were a black Spider-Man” (or some line to that effect) made by the Fox’s Electro character was surely a wink and a nod to the absence of Miles Morales in this smash up of different Spidermen. As a fan of Into the Spider-Verse and the games I picked up on that, whereas those who’ve not partaken in the Sony Spidey output may not see that reference.

Like you say, the movie could have gone even further with the concept, but at 2.5 hrs it probably a good thing they didn’t. Also, if they brought back too many characters it might just turn into one of those cheap reboots like Fuller House or The Brady Bunch Reunion Christmas Special 😂. But it would’ve been interesting to see Sally Field interact with Marissa Tomei or Kirsten Dunst mix with Zendaya. Or better yet, try to get Neil Patrick Harris’s Peter Parker from an animated point of view. As it turned out, they had some restraint and kept things consistent with the narrative.

@nessisonett Honestly not a fan either, but in this case I’ll allow it. Just pure hype.
@Ralizah I thought it started off slow, but just went strength to strength after. Literally once Dr Strange was out of the picture the movie picked up imo.

@RogerRoger a break could have been nice but I think the new "saga" is just missing a couple of the lightning in a bottle aspects that the Infinity Saga had. One is all of the heroes under one roof for the first time, the second is a clearly defined overarching villain (Kang strikes me as more Ultron than Thanos in his current guise).

That being said, I think Spider-Man: NWH shows that Disney/Sony are looking to pay off the smaller things in this phase. The challenge of creating a mixed media franchise is done and also streamlined. They can afford to let go a bit, play fast and loose with continuity and go in directions hitherto unseen. 😅

@Th3solution just make sure you watch Hawkeye before you go on those articles unless you have already!! I'm looking forward to watching it this weekend/bank holidays. Should be a good'un!

I honestly don't remember FEAST from anything other than the video game. Maybe it's in the comics, I'm not sure. I don't recall it in the 90s cartoon. I don't think it would be a spoiler to say this but I suspect any similarities to the video game are wholely intentional. Not because of its cultural significance but because of its monetary success. Sony as a parent company can be incredibly proud of what they've produced in conjunction with Marvel in recent years so it's no surprise for them to double down on their best output and cross pollinate the media.

I won't say whether it happened but before I watched it, I was hoping to see an animated Miles pop up. Just would have been cool even if it didn't gel with the live action!

@RogerRoger I didn't even know they'd announced a major crossover yet. Every show and film basically has crossovers now so I guess your talking about an Avengers level crossover.

That Secret Invasion programme could be it or maybe it could lead into an early Avengers style film, who knows!