Alright so I saw Spiderman BND this past Saturday August 1st 2026, and I really liked it... but certain things prevented me from loving it, I still prefer NWH, and while I tried to attempt to create a discussion, it was gonna be too many filtered text and such so let's move here: THAT Said... my two biggest problems are 1. I don't think Jean needed to be in this at all and the X-Men tie in just feels like Marvel trying to build up Phase 7 2. Jean is kind of hard to like: What I mean by that, is Sadie Sink's Jean Grey one, I did not emotionally connect with performance wise, and furthermore, her actions are really hard to get past. I am all for forgiving IRL people make bad choices, and mistakes, but there are just some things that make it hard to wanna root for them even when they change in media. 1. Jean basically tricking a lonely young adult into thinking his crush remembered him and going as far as to let him kiss her just to reveal "I'm mind control" - one that morally has complexities - I wouldn't call it sexual assault but then again I have to be honest I fell for it and didn't see the twist coming- on that level it was an amazing twist that actually got me. BUT... I still struggle to forgive Jean for exploiting a man's emotions for what purpose? "to punish"? Furthermore even when later Peter gives her over to Damage Control... Jean's mad at him which I get but like- he didn't know better, and the second he did he was sorry... THAT SAID I also felt the way they made the connection with Aunt May to be very clunky? I loved the dialogue, and thought that was emotional but how did that even work? Peter just let her hear the words said to him? Is that even genuine help? That'd be like a therapist giving you there last patients same help plan despite you being a different person then the past client. Also Jean's kinda no offense, I didn't like the performance and I don't know if I'd blame the actress, more the direction: My go to Phoenix is Sophie Turner which sure "was she a bad actress"? DP is a bad movie- but what I remember most, amongst the studio reshoots and junk is the performance: Sophie could very easily be the innocent scared girl that has this unmatchable power... and yet go into a vicious rage of emotions whenever the script needed- this Jean could to (Sadie Sinks) but I don't feel the vocal warmth of past performances. I think BND gets a lot right, I mean I love the direction for the most part, the cinematography, the music, the action, oh just gold!!! Though I admit once again, I think Scorpion would've been a more fulfilling villain because of his actual physiciality in combat (AKA Jean's mainly using mind magic and psychic shields) but also it'd close the Homecoming post credit scene. Where it felt like this film basically was like Eh. Forget the past trilogy set ups.