Yes No Maybe So? "Spider-Man: Homecoming"
Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 8:00AM By Nathaniel R
Spider-Man longs to be on top. But there are still more Batman movies.You might safely be asking 'why do we need a sixth Spider-Man movie in fifteen years?' The answer is of course 'We don't.' But an equally correct answer might be 'We don't... but Tom Holland! The correct comic pitch. Marvel Studios is finally involved... at least in some capacity. Etcetera'
If you answered the question the first way, chances are you're a "no" sight unseen. We would've been in that camp but for the fact that we kept campaigning for Tom Holland to get the part (his incredible work in The Impossible was enough) without actually believing that he would get the part. So now we must keep an open mind.
If you answered the hypothetical question the second way chances are you've probably already seen this new Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer. Either way we'll break it down together via our Yes No Maybe So survey...
Whatsup guys?
WAIT A MINUTE. You guys aren't the real Avengers. I can tell. Hulk gives it away."
YAAAS.
This great opening gag puts us in the perfect mindset for comic book fun. And Spidey, for all his teen angst should always be fun.
Yeah, sure.
New love interests that aren't Mary Jane or Gwen Stacy. Wise move. Pictured above is Laura Harrier as "Liz" but Zendaya probably has the key female role as "Michelle" and there's even a "Betty Brandt" in the movie, another Peter Parker love interest. When you're the sixth movie in 15 years you should rilllllllllly not repeat yourself with villains or girlfriends.
Yes.
Tom Holland has fine comic timing as Peter Parker and Marvel finally went multi-cultural with the high school which is long past due given that this story has always taken place in New York City. That's Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds who in the comics is usually a reporter for the Daily Bugle... but we assume this film is too early in the Spider-Man story to get to the Daily Bugle.
That's not a hug. I'm just grabbing the door for you.
Maybe So
Is Robert Downey Jr rich enough to buy Planet Earth yet? If you're exhausted by the Iron Man schtick this could go either way but it's definitely helpful for a bridge from Captain America: Civil War and to remind us that this Spidey is still learning how to do heroics. BUT THANK THE GODS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SIT THROUGH ANOTHER ORIGIN STORY. DEATH TO ORIGIN STORIES. GET TO ACTUAL ADVENTURES!
Yes
He's found out! The way that super tight outfit springs loose is quite a costume design flourish, isn't it. No, YOU'RE drooling over Tom Holland's body. (He will be 21 by the time this movie is in theaters so you're not going to hell). So it looks like Ned Leeds has a huge role in this movie.
Yes No AND Maybe So
Yes -- it's nice that we're getting a villain the movies haven't used with The Vulture. but No, another villain who is a scientific genius with a gadget superpowers (ala Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus)? Are there any evil people in the Marvel Universe that don't know how to construct super suits to rival Iron Mans? Also this image which is surely intended to be a big image in the trailer is a little flat because it feels like a Batman movie poster or like Ant Man riding a huge flying ant.
This is my chance to prove myself!
Yes.
We finally get the Spider-Man suit with the gliding webbed detail. Thanks Louise Frogley.
Yes.
Nice shot there, Salvatore Totino. Plus anything that reminds of the best action sequence in any Spider-Man movie (Spidey, Doc Octopus and the elevated train) is welcome.
Don't mess with me. Because I will kill you and everyone you love.
Y-E-S
Michael Keaton is creepy and there's a certain pop culture frisson in Batman himself returning to comic book franchises after Birdman by joining the dark side as another winged beast, The Vulture.
Also we're glad he doesn't look like how he looks in the comics even if we wish the new suit weren't so generic evil super villain armored suit. At least they kept the ruffle around his neck.
YAAS.
This looks sufficiently dramatic and like a frame from a comic book. Gorgeous how you can see the Statue of Liberty through the misty air.
Maybe So
I mean. I get why this little tag excites people. People sure do love Tony Stark but let's really hope that Peter Parker is allowed to carry this on his own and all of the Robert Downey Jr shots are basically the extent of his role.
In short it turns out we're a resounding yes even though we're ashamed that the studios keep getting away with rebooting this.
P.S. Not seen in this trailer and we hope they don't feel the need to show us everything before the movie is released next summer: Unless we blinked at the wrong place there's no sign of Peter Parker's high school nemesis Flash Thompson (who'll be played by Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori), no sign of Little Men breakout star Michael Barbieri who is playing a character named Jason, no sign of Shocker or The Tinkerer (two minor villains from Spider-Man comics who are reportedly in the movie)
Are you a Yes No or Maybe So? And if you're a Yes do you feel ashamed / easily manipulated that they're going to make yet more money off of you for a third version of Spidey in just 15 years? That's more than just one Spidey a generation. That's like three webslingers PER generation if this keeps up!
Reader Comments (18)
I wasn't much of a fan of the first two Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films, and I haven't seen the third. I also haven't seen the two with Andrew Garfield, because I objected to the origin story being done again. But this new one - Tom Holland is cute, and that, I'm ashamed to say, will get me in. He also looks fun in this. Just let the film have a good story...
noooo- [spidey suit falls off] -ohhhh...kay, maybe
Yeah, I'm a resounding yes too, based on this trailer. Side thing to note: If you've never seen Danny Phantom? That was basically my reaction to seeing Zendaya in the trailer. "Wait...they're really going there? Well, then. Probably good that that's among the sphere of influences going into these productions. Martin Mull as Mysterio, next time?"
No. Too much Robert Downey, Jr.. We already had an Amazing Spider-Man movie a few years ago. Also, we have a bit too many superheroes.
Matt St.Clair: First point: Maybe. Second point: What Amazing Spider-Man movies? I don't see any Amazing Spider-Man movies. Oh, do you mean in that cultural landfill next to Fant4stic? THEN I see some Amazing Spider-Man movies. Third point: Lighten up. The genre's not going away, so just champion what you think is good and slam the bad. Like you're supposed to do with every genre.
Mm. Not much hot aunt May in this.
I'll wait to see the trailer when I see ROGUE ONE next week, but I know I'm a yes already. They really lucked out on the Holland casting. He was literally the ONLY one on their casting longlist that would've made me want to watch this reboot.
That said, I loved the first two Tobey films and enjoyed the Andrew Garfield/Emma Stone parts in their films so while I'm sick like everyone of all the reboots, I'm keeping an open mind. Marvel IS involved now and the non-origin story are BIG pluses.
Where's one of the main reasons for watching this - "Marisa" said as Jack Palance at the 93 Oscars.
I loved the first 2 Tobey Maguire movies and I haven't seen a Spidey since. I'm a tentative YES because it's not an origin, and because he was charming in Civil War. But if it's too much Tony Stark I'll be annoyed.
I definitely want to see this as it does feel quite different from the other Spider-Man movies while also wanting to be a bit grounded. I hope it's a major improvement over the ones that Andrew Garfield did as the 2nd one was one of the worst films ever.
Any thoughts on my first comment? I know I shouldn't expect anything now, but it does dishearten me when I throw such ideas out and no one seems to react.
I'm another person who only saw the 1st two Tobey Macguire movies, and haven't seen one since. I thought Tobey was fine, and Sam Raimi good with his material.
I'm not interested in seeing this over and over again though.
I fell asleep in the first Iron Man both times I tried to watch it. Iron Man and his story.... Zzz. Oh god, is he here again? Make it stop.
Volvagia -- speaking for myself I tend to have trouble following what you're saying. It could just be because I dont have the right frames of cultural references... ? I always assume you're talking about certain comci books i haven't read or video games i haven't played or tv shows i didn't know existed. I literally had no idea what you were talking about especially once you got to Martin Mull and Mysterio (i know who both of them are... but can't connect them in my head ;)
deborah -- i'm really assuming this is all the tony stark scenes in the movie (as they're trying to sell it). If i'm wrong i'll be disappointed because it needs to be a spidey movie 100%. Not an avengers movies.
A definitive yes to any reboot by Marvel, regaining control of one of its characters. They own this game, for a reason.
Can't wait for Fantastic Four to be introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Infinity War. It's the only way Fox can ask for forgiveness for messing up twice, one of the best comic books ever done.
Hmmmm, I thought I was a no but based on the trailer and this info I'm a maybe. I mean, it's not an origin story which makes it much more appealing. And they cast an actor who at least somewhat resembles an actual teenager.
Nat: Martin Mull was the voice of the central villain (16/53 episodes) on Danny Phantom. And...he did a great job. As for "Why Mysterio?" Well, aside from none of these having done Mysterio yet (bonus), it's still Martin Mull in live-action. So, opaque fishbowl with mostly just his voice? That'd probably work. The big question is more, would he do it? He's more of a TV guy, after all, and this kind of film, even one that used more practical effects than CGI (because Mysterio), is still going to be a long expensive shoot.
Jesus Alonso: It hasn't been confirmed if that's happening yet (if Legion and Hellfire weren't part of a deal, or Marvel didn't buy out the FF's rights outright (see also: Ghost Rider), Fox has until, I think, 2021 to enter production on another try), but I'd so hope it is. Using Infinity War to do it? I got it: The FF are there because they're the shuttle pilots and mechanics and the cosmic rays are random floating waste by-product of the Infinity Gauntlet. Everyone else is wearing personalized Stark Armour that shields them from the effects. Done right, that's a minute or two, max, of a team film and we can move on to an FF solo adventure for their first movie. Maybe just an expansion of Fantastic Four #5? The Thing becomes Blackbeard! AWESOME! Classic Doctor Doom! Even More Awesome!
Maybe So:
The sense of wonderment is just gone. The previous Spider-Man teasers has a sense of showmanship.
-A car hurtling through a coffee shop in slow-motion (Spider-Man 2).
-A vertigo-inducing first person perspective over NYC (The Amazing Spider-Man).
-A helicopter suspended between the World Trade Centers (Spider-Man).
Cinematic spectacle has been traded in for generic brand consistency and novelty fanboy pandering.
I admit to a personal bias, in that I have enjoyed all of Downey's portrayals of Tony Stark in the Marvel movies, so his presence presents no downside for me. I will be there for sure.
And there is Marisa Tomei, after all...