Okay, let's talk Spider-Man: No Way Home. Remember all the hype? The endless speculation? We were all obsessed. And honestly, it delivered...mostly.
The big question then, and still kind of now, is: Who was actually *in* that movie? Besides Tom Holland, obviously. Let's break it down, with a healthy dose of my questionable opinions.
The Obvious Suspects (and How We Knew It)
First, we have the villains. Alfred Molina's Doc Ock? Confirmed before the premiere. Green Goblin, played by the iconic Willem Dafoe? Leaked images were pretty convincing.
Electro (Jamie Foxx) and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) were pretty much a given after the trailers dropped. Even Lizard (Rhys Ifans) made a cameo. No surprises there.
The Spider-Verse Dream Team
Then came the rumors that sent the internet into overdrive: Tobey and Andrew. Were they REALLY going to show up? Thankfully, the answer was a resounding YES.
Seeing Tobey Maguire back in the suit? Pure nostalgia. Andrew Garfield finally getting his redemption? Chef's kiss. No complaints whatsoever.
Now For My Unpopular Opinions
Here's where things get spicy. Ready for my controversial take?
I think we all spent TOO much time focusing on the Spider-Men. Yes, their inclusion was awesome. But did it overshadow other aspects of the movie? Maybe a little.
Let's be honest, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) was basically a plot device. He caused the entire mess! He spent most of the movie fixing his blunder.
"With great power comes great irresponsibility, apparently." - Me, riffing on a classic line, about Doctor Strange.
And what about Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau)? He was awesome. He was Peter's cheerleader. He was the rock. He deserves more love!
Okay, another hot take: Aunt May's (Marisa Tomei) death? Heartbreaking, yes. But was it necessary? Debatable. It felt a bit...forced.
Were There Any Secret Cameos?
Some people hoped for crazy cameos. Deadpool? Venom again (beyond the post-credit scene)? Mysterio back from the "dead"?
Sadly, no. We got the core players. We got the multiverse mayhem. But no super secret surprises hiding in the background.
Maybe that's for the best. Too many cameos can feel gimmicky. No Way Home struck a good balance (even if I still think Happy was underrated).
The Real MVP: Peter Parker (All of Them)
Ultimately, No Way Home wasn't just about cameos and fan service. It was about Peter Parker. Three versions of him, learning from each other.
It was about sacrifice. About responsibility. About growing up. And that's what made it truly special.
So, while we can debate who *stole* the show, let's all agree that Peter Parker was the real hero of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Even if Doctor Strange caused the whole mess.
