Josh's Media Reviews

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Why Marvel should move the Ultimate Spider-Man to the mainstream.

If you haven't heard, Ultimate Marvel is apparently ending! After a total of 24 issues and wondering how why they are ending does this mean no more Ultimate Spider-Man, which is by far the best Spider-Man since Amazing crap right now, and we all hate Paul. Marvel nowadays seems to hate on their fans and demonize us because we can't have nice things.

What we love about this Spider-Man is that he married, Peter Parker is finally grown up for real, and he's got a family. We have always wanted that, and Marvel didn't like it because they preferred Peter Parker to be single, a loser, and having Peter Pan Syndrome.

This sums up what a terrible job they have done with Spider-Man since Zeb Wells's run.

Also, the dialogue and how Peter Parker is written are so bad, and Mary Jane has just become awful, and doesn't even get me started on Paul. Everything has just been terrible, but Ultimate Spider-Man has been great. Mary Jane is better written, and she's not unlikable, especially compared to Jackpot and Venom.

This is the best Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson we've gotten in a while. It's sad how Nick Spencer was trying to retcon it, but Marvel stopped him.

Now, this is a long shot, and I don't think Marvel would do this, but I believe they should relocate the Ultimate Spider-Man and his family to the mainstream Earth-616.

The Parker family is amazing, and I don't want to see it go to waste or be forgotten. Here's how they could do it. A great example is what DC did with Superman.

When DC was working on Rebirth, they killed off the New 52 Superman, who was dying of a disease, and the Pre-52 Superman came into the New 52 universe and took over as the mainstream Superman. The reason for that was that DC saw how fans hated New 52 Superman. Well, it's split; most non-Superman fans liked New 52 because he was more relatable, and everyone loved his romance with Wonder Woman. However, many fans prefer the Pre-52 Superman because that's the Superman they missed, who was married to Lois Lane and had a son named Jon Kent. So they brought in pre-52 Lois and Jon Kent into the New 52, and it was good at the beginning but later sucked. Also, in New 52, Lois Lane became Superwoman and died in the first issue, making pre-52 the main Lois Lane.

However, DC saw that many fans wanted New 52 Superman back. So, they brought back the character, and by doing so, they merged both Pre-52 and New 52, as revealed by Mister Mxyzptlk, who states that they are actually two halves, with New being red and Pre being blue. In the end, the two characters merge into Superman, the only Superman. It did work, and they kept the canon of New 52, except they removed his romance with Wonder Woman, which sucks. However, it has worked out for all Superman fans, and this could be a solution to Spider-Man's problem.

For example, they could pull a merge where basically the Ultimate Spider-Man, along with his family, enter the mainstream. Both Peter Parkers merge into one character that retains the canon while incorporating some elements from the Ultimate canon.

Let's not forget that Miles Morales is going to be in the new Ultimate universe, and that could lead to something, but that's not what Marvel is doing. My prediction is that Miles will return to 616 and likely lead an attack on the Maker. I think 616 Peter will meet this Ultimate version, who is married to Mary Jane and has kids. I would love to see Ultimate Peter meet Paul because I think he would sucker punch him, and even Ultimate Mary Jane would look at 616 Mary Jane and say really, you chose this guy over Peter? That would be funny. If it were up to me, I would reveal that Paul is, in fact, a demon sent by Mephisto to prevent Peter and Mary Jane from getting together, as he doesn't want his deal to be broken. So basically, Mephisto was the real mastermind behind the whole Zeb Wells arc.

Mephisto gets involved, so both Spider-Men, along with the help of Venom, Black Cat, Miles Morales, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, and the Fantastic 4, battle him too. As well, we see Paul get his ass kicked, of course, by both Peters along with Mary Jane, aka Venom/Jackpot. However, I would kill off Earth 616 Mary Jane, who dies being killed by Mephisto as she sacrifices her life to save Peter and her children. She dies in Peter's arms, not before regretting how she treated him and wished she never made that deal. Peter kisses her, and Ultimate Spider-Man and his family as well the others are sad until Uncle Ben shows up and helps him. Aunt May sees Ben again as they all hug. She even tells Peter that she loves him and remembers he was Spider-Man and wishes he hadn't made that deal with Mephisto. She accepted her death as she wanted Peter to be happy and even admits she never should have convinced him to reveal his identity to the world during the Civil War. Peter realizes he never should have made that deal, and even Mary Jane said before she died that she regrets ever making the choice, as they both should have said no.

Like, the film Aunt May dies and Peter accepts it.

Now, of course, since they defeat Mephisto, the deal is broken; everyone will remember that Peter Parker is Spider-Man and Aunt May dies in front of everyone, but Peter accepts it and tells her he loves her. Nevertheless, Ultimate Peter has a plan and shows everyone in his costume, along with 616 Peter as Peter Parker. He tells everyone that Peter Parker was posing for him. He was against the Registration Act from the beginning. He even shows off his beard, and this makes everyone realize that Peter Parker was never Spider-Man, as the real Spider-Man would not reveal his identity to the world. Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic would back this up and that Peter was never Spider-Man but posing as the real Spider-Man. The real Spider-Man was a double agent working for Cap during the Civil War. Which Cap himself confirms too.

However, because the ultimate universe is no more, Franklin Richards appears and tells them they can't live in the same universe. To solve this, the he offers to merge both Peter Parkers into one. He revealed that when the deal was made by Mephisto, it actually brought both Peters into different realities. One, Peter and Mary Jane are married and have a family and one where they weren't married. So he tells him he will fix this and restore the actual Spider-Man. Both Peters accept

and 616 Peter and Ultimate Peter merged into one Spider-Man.

Thus, Peter Parker is reborn with both memories of Earth-616 and Earth-6160. Therefore, we still have continuity, and Ultimate Spider-Man remains canon, having finally married Mary Jane and become a father. One More Day never happened, and Peter and MJ still remain married after the Civil War and Back in Black, and they had their two children before the events of the Civil War. Additionally, Aunt May would be retired, having passed away, and Uncle Ben from the Ultimate Universe is now alive in this universe.

Thus, we do a proper relaunch of Spider-Man, where he has now grown up and married, and it's a new chapter. However, I know the current editors at Marvel would say no, but they need to accept fans want this.

This would be a good compromise for those who prefer a single Spider-Man.

Miles needs to be the relatable one for Spider-Man fans who prefer him young and single. Not Peter Parker.

Just read Miles Morales or relaunch the Scarlet Spider series with Kaine. Miles would be more relevant to fans who prefer a young single Spider-Man, and you could see Miles being a mentor to Richie Parker, who is the Venom of the Ultimate Universe.

Miles should be the Spider-Man who's young and someone a younger generation can look up to and admire. We want Peter Parker to grow up because we are fed up with the Peter Pan syndrome they are perpetuating, which is making us dislike the character.

It would be cool to see Richie stand out as Spider-Boy, and maybe Mayday gets her moment to and becomes Spider-Girl.

Still, this is what Marvel should do if they are ending the Ultimate Universe. Please don't get rid of this Spider-Man; keep him around or put him in the Earth 616; either he takes over or pulls a pre/new 52 Superman arc.

That's why I think Marvel should keep Ultimate Spider-Man going, as they are planning to end the Ultimate lineup, and we don't want that.

Marvel really needs to stop blaming and attacking us fans for wanting to see the characters we have loved receive better stories and be treated right. Sadly, I doubt they will do what I wrote but still anything is possible.

Let me know what you think.

Monday, 23 June 2025

Pocahontas Review Celebrating 30 years of this film.

My review of Pocahontas.

Celebrating 30 years of this classic film, which is now very problematic.

Here is my review of Pocahontas, a film from my childhood that I liked. I loved the songs, and the animation was great. Nowadays, this film is considered problematic because it's historically inaccurate. The real story of Pocahontas is far more tragic. John Smith and her were never lovers. She was actually ten years old, and he was twenty-seven.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EPY1CKFecs&ab_channel=Dropout

Here is a link to the real story of Pocahontas.

Now, the film itself is primarily about Pocahontas, a girl who seeks to discover what life has to offer her, and it focuses on John Smith, who travels to the New World with a British group of settlers in search of gold. However, there is no gold it's full of corn.

It's a sweet love story but sadly it never happened in real life.

The film boasts impressive animation, and its voice cast is also exceptional, to be honest. Irene Bedard voiced Pocahontas, and she did a great job; I hope she's doing better now. I've heard some sad stories about her. Mel Gibson does the voice of John Smith, and he's excellent. Additionally, he stated that he made this movie for his kids. The late David Ogden Stiers does the voice of Raddclife, and Raddclife was just a greedy villain. He wasn't that good as a villain because he was just a greedy villain. Russell Means plays Pocahontas's father, Powhatan, and he does a great job. There is also the character of Thomas, a young sailor who looks up to John and sees the new world. The funniest thing is that Christian Bale is the voice of Thomas, and no one knew that for a long time.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nTZDwfeNtbY Here's a link to it.

Pocahontas features some great music, including "Colors of the Wind," which won the Oscar for Best Original Song, and it's a truly outstanding song overall. Except Savages is now considered problematic.

Also the animal characters are fun characters and originally they were suppose to speak but they change that because they wanted it to be more realistic.

Also, there was supposed to be a wise-cracking turkey named Red Feather, and he was going to be voiced by the late great John Candy, but after his death, they didn't use the character.

Now, the film overall, despite being considered problematic, is still good, and Pocahontas is a written female lead. Now, to those who fear a remake of this Disney film, it won't happen. Even a Disney writer has said he will never see a Pocahontas remake anytime because it is risky.

Additionally, despite criticism of the film, the character Pocahontas remains beloved by Disney fans. So yeah, despite this film's issues, it's still a fun film to watch.

Overall, I still have a soft spot for this film,

I give it a 6 out of 10.

Friday, 20 June 2025

Toy Story 3 Review Celebrating 15 years.

My Review of Toy Story 3

To celebrate fifteen years of this great film that should have been the ending of the Toy Story franchise. Here is my review of Toy Story 3. Now, Toy Story 3 is the best Toy Story film. It had the most emotion and a great storyline, and the film's ending is one of the best I've seen in a movie. It also won Best Animated Film and was the second animated film to be nominated for Best Picture since Beauty and the Beast.

Now this film had many rewrites at one point it was Woody and Jesse and the gang going to save Buzz because he got recalled, and it was much darker. The other one was that Andy donates the toys and the toys adjust to their new life.

The film is about Andy going off to college, and he must decide what to do with his old toys. The only toys he kept were Woody, Buzz, Jesse, Bullseye, Rex, Sleenky, Mr and Mrs Potato Head, Hamm, and the three aliens. The other toys he donated, as well as Bo Peep. So Andy decides to put them in the attic, except for Woody, as he plans to bring him with him to college. However, Andy's mom accidentally throws them out and they feel like Andy doesn't care about them and so they go inside a box that's going to be donated. Now Woody witnessed Andy putting them in the attic, but Jesse and the toys didn't believe, which bothered me when I watched this. I mean, come on, Woody did see all this. They should believe him right away.

They all go to Sunny Side, which seems excellent idea, and Lots So seems like such a nice teddy bear that smells of strawberries...but he ain't. Also they have Barbie in the film voiced by Jodi Benson and they interduce Ken voiced by Michael Keaton and he is so funny in this film as he is one of the biggest metrosexual characters ever. Woody decides to leave and is angry at the toys for thinking Andy doesn't care about them. They realize their new home isn't good at all, and they want to leave, but Lot So goes to let them in. Buzz gets reset and thinks he's a spaceranger again.

Woody, of course, returns after being saved by Bonnie, and the toys plan to escape and reset Buzz despite being in Spanish mode. The toys all end up in the dump, but they are saved because let me tell that scene with the dumpster fire was intense, and Lots So gets what's coming to him after he turns Sunny Side into a prison rather than a home. In the end, Woody decides to get Andy to take them to Bonnie's house because he knows they don't want to be in the attic. Andy takes them to Bonnie's house, and Andy plays with Bonnie and gives Woody to her.

We get one of the saddest but heartfelt endings that makes you miss your old toys, and Woody will miss Andy but knows they will be all right. That line in the end of the film is so heartwarming.

This film to me is the best Toy Story film and ending because like Tarantino once said that Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending to this story and there no need for a follow up film.

He's right Toy Story 4 ruined it because we didn't a fourth film at all. Toy Story 4 was just a cash grab and I remember liking it but as rewatched it I don't like what they did.

They made us hate Bonnie because she doesn't play with Woody anymore and she promised Andy she take care of him and also Bo Peep appartantly this bad ass ninja or something they never showed that in the first two films. It feels forced. Buzz is just wasted in this film, and not Keanu Reeves could save it. Toy Story 4 shouldn't have happen now don't get me wrong the ending of Toy Story 4 was sad and even Tim Allen was in tears reading the script when Woody says goodbye to live with Bo Peep help other toys out there who are lost. I still understand why we're getting a fifth film. I mean, all the actors are in their 70s and 80s now. Toy Story 5 is going to be about the toys facing off against screens which like really?

Tim Allen suggested the story be about Andy trying to find Woody and give him to his son. Disney's respond to that idea.

That would have been a good film, but Disney wasn't interested, sadly.

Overall, Toy Story 3 to me is the best Toy Story film and I got to say the cast of this film always do a great job, the animation was fantastic like this one of Pixars best films and the storyline is good closure to the toys relationship with Andy. I love this film, and I give it a 10 out of 10.

It's also one of the few third films that was better than the first two or on the same level because usually the third is always the worst.

Go watch it because you'll have a great time. If I were to do a Toy Story marathon, I would end it with this film.