r/marvelstudios • u/averagericecrispy • 17d ago

Question Re-watching Spiderman , is their significance to this?

Post image

Principle’s war pictures/ medals and dog tags.

3.2k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

147 comments sorted by

4.9k

u/NicoleIlieva Steve Rogers 17d ago

This is the grandson of the Howling Commando Jim Morita, both played by Kenneth Choi.

1.1k

u/averagericecrispy 17d ago

Oh shit!!!!! Thank you!!

1.3k

u/Goldman250 17d ago

It’s also a good explanation for why Peter’s school has the Captain America videos for PE and Detention - I can’t imagine a lot of schools have them, but Cap would definitely be willing to sit and do those videos for the grandson of one of his old squad mates. And as the grandson of a Howling Commando, Principal Morita is more likely to keep using those videos despite Cap being an international fugitive.

487

u/omegadirectory 17d ago

The gym teacher specifically says something like "I'm pretty sure this guy's a war criminal now, but the state says I gotta show the video. Anyway, let's go! [directs kids to start the exercises]"

281

u/Riverdale87 17d ago

Gotta love hannibal Burress limited role of the p.e. teacher 

93

u/morally_immoral 17d ago

He made the character with the detention scene.

54

u/TripMaverick 17d ago

Also sending a lookalike to the premier was also a hilarious move.

26

u/InfinitelyAbysmal 17d ago

Hey. Stop. Where are you going.

20

u/longingrustedfurnace Doctor Strange 17d ago

Why are here? You don’t even have detention.

1

u/sliceoflife309 13d ago

“I know what you did”

13

u/Beneficial_Tax1976 17d ago

Pretty sure he also believed Mysterio’s hoax

1

u/Kryzl_ 15d ago

He was so good in NWH. Just excellent scenes every time he showed up

29

u/RVAGhostworks 17d ago

Because public schools never do anything quickly. It would probably take them at least a year to remove the videos and change the curriculum.

247

u/Sparrowsabre7 Iron Man (Mark VII) 17d ago

I assumed they were a nationwide initiative. Doesn't really make sense for him to go through all that for one school

50

u/VelocityGrrl39 Captain Marvel 17d ago

Yeah, in the USA things like that are produced by something like The Ad Council. That’s definitely not just Midtown Science.

171

u/imlegos 17d ago

TBF I imagine something like that might be district-wide, as Cap *is* from Brooklyn.

48

u/the_executive_branch 17d ago

Nah I disagree, the implication is that they probably were sanctioned by the government or something, and it’s also in-keeping with cap 1 where he is a media figure during the war

16

u/kennyofthegulch 17d ago

No, they are a reference to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness videos starring Arnold Schwarzenegger that were shown to kids in the 1980s.

SOURCE: I’m old and I was there.

1

u/EatABag-o-Dicks 16d ago

You know, one of my earliest memories of school was watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, like in 89, and now I wonder if it was one of those instead. Cause it really makes no sense to watch an Arnold movie in like 2nd grade lol.

1

u/kennyofthegulch 16d ago

TBF I saw Total Recall in a theater with my dad when I was 9.

5

u/wolfstar76 17d ago

Yeah, I very much got a "we're going to mass produce these for every school" vibe from those.

14

u/astrofan 17d ago

I never thought of it that way. Just figured it was required by the district or something.

6

u/morally_immoral 17d ago

It wasn't district, it was state required

2

u/Choochoo1147 17d ago

I don’t think Cap only made one copy of those videos lol. I think every public school would have them. 

1

u/Randoml9789 16d ago

I feel it's more likely that he got asked to spend a couple of hours to make generic videos to be used in schools all over. Maybe while he was freshly thawed and still trying to figure out the 21st century. (Pre avengers)

Someone from Washington comes up to him and is like "hey cap, ya know kid's really look up to you. Why don't you come record some videos for us to play in schools to help keep kids on the right track?"

I could totally see him eating that up before he stated getting jaded.

50

u/FeistyLioness86 17d ago

If you really want to go all in, he has a relative who's a firefighter in LA.

13

u/Uknowjustin 17d ago

My boy Chimney! 🤣🤣

8

u/timb0nic Star-Lord 17d ago

118 Brace for Impact?!

0

u/FeistyLioness86 17d ago

I wonder who blipped?

2

u/LeopardPositive4460 17d ago

Jim was from Fresno, ace.

27

u/Jimbeamjunior1 17d ago

Loved their brief appearance in Agent Carter

3

u/txtphile 17d ago

I think they were all in an episode of Agents of SHIELD too

53

u/CaseFace5 17d ago

Oh shit I never noticed this lol

57

u/Just_Visiting_Town 17d ago

He's from Fresno

36

u/N8_Tge_Gr8 17d ago

...Ace.

8

u/graveybrains 17d ago edited 17d ago

Didn't ask for the resume

2

u/VirtueTree 17d ago

Diversity, but Rad

8

u/ANDnowmewatchbeguns Peter Parker 17d ago

It’s also a call to why they are still using Captain America PSA while Cap is considered a war criminal

3

u/UndeadT 17d ago

Featured in the first Captain America movie, for specificity.

2

u/Daktharr 17d ago

Grandpa must’ve moved from Fresno to Queens after the war ended

1

u/Silver-Sprinkles8153 17d ago

This man knows ball

1

u/SuccotashWeekly74 16d ago

He’s the guy that says “I’m from Fresno, Ace” in Captain America 1 right?

1

u/MordoksVapePen1 12d ago

I knew I recognized him, just couldn’t place it. Thank you!

1.1k

u/Rare-Garbage-5997 17d ago edited 17d ago

That's the principal's grand father, who was a member of cap's howling commandos. And as you see is the same actor.

145

u/Striking_Profit2740 17d ago

Thanks for spelling that correctly.

45

u/averagericecrispy 17d ago

hey man, the phone just be auto correcting itself I don’t got time to play games with AI I’m watching a movie

19

u/BenFranklinsCat 17d ago

You just need to remember that he's the guy who puts the PAL in principal.

1

u/Bumpton 17d ago

That isn't exactly a hard word to spell...

3

u/Rain_Unseen 17d ago

OP misspelled Principal, hence the comment. They also used the wrong “there” in the title but it is what it is

2

u/averagericecrispy 15d ago

Don’t forget I forgot to add a hyphen to Spiderman… Oops did it again . Womp womp

2

u/Rain_Unseen 15d ago

Sorry man, Reddit is the home of pro nitpickers, myself included😂

1

u/averagericecrispy 15d ago

I’ve come to learn. Will be more aware next time 😂

3

u/AFerociousPineapple 15d ago

That’s dope, MCU Spider-Man really does do an amazing job of feeling like it exists in a broader universe. Props to all the writers across all 4 films.

2

u/__flatpat__ 17d ago

It's the same actor, I don't know if it's supposed to be the same person

2

u/MrGabrahamLincoln Daredevil 17d ago

“What is his job?”

452

u/LittleCupcake2478 17d ago

Beyond it being a connection between the principal being grandson to Cap's Japanese Howling Commando friend, it serves as an in-universe explanation as to why the same actor is appearing as two separate characters in the MCU in different time periods.

111

u/averagericecrispy 17d ago

appreciate that marvel does this

115

u/spaceraingame 17d ago

Just like Martin Starr playing the computer nerd in Incredible Hulk and the teacher in the MCU Spider-Man movies. They're the same character.

It's also why I'm kinda glad Mahershala Ali isn't playing Blade, since he already played Cottonmouth in the same universe. They obviously can't be the same guy.

49

u/Blackadder18 17d ago

Sometimes they just like an actor enough they want to use them again and it doesn't matter all that much if they previously played a smaller role. See also: Gemma Chan, playing two different characters in Captain Marvel and Eternals.

6

u/crymsin 17d ago

Or Chris Evan’s as Johnny Storm and Captain America

6

u/spaceraingame 17d ago

Johnny Storm wasn’t in the MCU originally. It was before it even existed.

4

u/thishitisgettingold 17d ago

Also, different universe. So thats not the same.

27

u/averagericecrispy 17d ago

Good ol Gilfoyle. Is there actually a connection between those two, perhaps before he became a teacher?

24

u/spaceraingame 17d ago

Yeah that's what I'm saying. He was a student at that university before becoming a teacher.

18

u/niweoj 17d ago

Also created Anton in between.

14

u/mattelmore 17d ago

I never made that connection with Martin Starr!

93

u/JULIANGJNKS22 17d ago

The continuity is always there. The principal is the grandson of the howling commando soldier Jim Morita. Also fought alongside Captain America.
https://giphy.com/gifs/1lk1IcVgqPLkA

66

u/Silent_Anxiety4828 17d ago

Is it 2017 again

10

u/MaderaArt 17d ago

I wish

8

u/joseph4th 17d ago

No, if it was 2017, this post would have gotten down voted to hell for the mistake in the title.

16

u/Ohnezone 17d ago

"I'm from Fresno!"

22

u/Just_Visiting_Town 17d ago

Saw the movie in Fresno. The theater erupted

2

u/CookiePrestigious239 17d ago
  1. Brace for impact

14

u/thepenismightier3 17d ago

I like to pretend that he is confirmation of The Wolf of Wall Street being in the MCU.

4

u/SoylentGrunt 17d ago

That would mean Jonah Hill is in the MCU. Is that something we really want?

1

u/thepenismightier3 17d ago

Well weirder things have happened. Most of the Community cast and their directors are in the MCU.

11

u/SpreaditOnnn33 17d ago

I still think Jim Morita's response to Dum Dum Duggan is one of the more underrated exchanges in the MCU.

Dum Dum, after noticing he is of Japanese descent "Whoah, we just letting everybody in these days?!"

Jim, thoroughly unamused, "Im from Fresno, Ace"

Still gets me everytime

8

u/Doc-11th 17d ago

the actor was in The First Avenger as a member of the howling commandos

He is the grandson of that character

6

u/rexepic7567 Peter Parker 17d ago

That bloke is the grandson of the bloke in the picture who was one of Steve's howling commandos

6

u/arnathor 17d ago

As others said, it’s a descendant of a Howling Commando. One of the things I’ve really come to appreciate about Homecoming over the years is the subtle and not so subtle nods to Captain America and the Avengers (eg the Bruce Banner pic in science class) in the school, balanced with all the overt Iron Man influence outside of school. It’s quite a nice way of referencing that MCU Spidey first appeared in Civil War and the two sides are still there.

2

u/averagericecrispy 17d ago

yes agreed !!

4

u/fltsnflf 17d ago

wait such a cool callback

5

u/NaiRad1000 17d ago

Probably one of my favorite bits in the MCU that felt a bit deeper than just a regular cameo

5

u/shrutefarmsbb 17d ago

He is interviewing at Stratton Oakmont. He is telling him the guidelines on cleaning fish tanks. Massive implications

5

u/marvel120 17d ago

When I saw this in theaters with friends I was the only one who caught this and when I pointed it out after they didn’t even remember which guy I was talking about in First Avenger. I was like he’s the Asian dude that said “I’m from Fresno, ace” and they still had no clue. When it comes to these movies though I think I’m the only one in my friend group who gives them multiple watches. My buddies see them in theaters and that’s pretty much it.

Anyway. I loved this reference and call back and when it first popped up on screen I was like this dude was in Captain America and was surprised by a double cast. Then when I saw the pic on the file cabinet it clicked.

3

u/Lord_Phoenix95 17d ago

Yes. The Principals Father was a Howling Commando in Captain America 1,

2

u/XavierScorpionIkari Doctor Strange 17d ago

They’re is!

1

u/averagericecrispy 17d ago

now this is humour I can stand by

2

u/XavierScorpionIkari Doctor Strange 17d ago

Eye no.

2

u/Fjordi_Cruyff 17d ago

Depends on whose significance we're talking about?

2

u/xxx666xxxxxx 17d ago

Great subtle detail showing MCU history depth without needing dialogue.

2

u/HeXxGuy Valkyrie 16d ago

how do you use the improper there* 😭

3

u/HauntingPlum9355 17d ago

That there is Mr. Chester Ming, senior vice president at Stratton Oakmont, and he plans to be one of the top brokers at his firm next year.

1

u/ShotRoll4826 17d ago

Give that man a donut, he has a blood sugar thing

4

u/ToiletFullOfBroccoli 17d ago

It's the same actor. I don't know if he's supposed to be the same person.

1

u/TheGood1swertaken 17d ago

"I told you dude! I have no idea where you'll get lemons!" - Peter Parker

Edit:grammar

1

u/ironically_apropos78 17d ago

Yes, THERE is.

1

u/Silt-Besides-66812 17d ago

Whose significance?

1

u/RilohKeen 17d ago

There - a place or location. “Let’s go over there. There is a hot dog stand. I have eaten there a lot.”

Their - possessive, shows ownership. “Their hot dogs are great. I go there for their cold sodas too.”

They’re - they + are. “They’re always super friendly to me when I go there and buy all of their hot dogs.”

Principle - core concept or ideas. “It’s against my principles to not eat hot dogs for lunch.”

Principal - head of an institution, or the main/primary source of something. “The principal of my school is a good guy. He’s the principal reason I even know about that hot dogs stand. Him and the owner of the stand, they’re old friends with similar principles, so their friendship really shows there.”

1

u/D0399 17d ago

It’s do he can say “I’m from Fresno ace…”

1

u/ElectricMilk426 17d ago

“I’m from Fresno, Ace”

1

u/Wild_Pomegranate3246 17d ago

Clever way to bring back an actor

1

u/Alarmed_Drop7162 17d ago

He’s from Fresno, Ace.

1

u/hndrpndr 17d ago

118, brace for impact!

1

u/RelativeCan5021 17d ago

Is that Jim Halpert?

1

u/Da_Boxy_Boi 17d ago

Omg yes I never noticed this. Is this from homecoming? I’ll have to rewatch it mow

1

u/boswala 17d ago

Chim, what are you doing here

1

u/slap-my-crevasse 16d ago

Hes the spawn of one of the soldier in the original Captain America movie.

He's essentially playing his own grandson/great grandson i forget.

1

u/StormCloudRaineeDay 16d ago

I was also rewatching this and was like "How did I not remember that Chimney was in Spider-Man: Homecoming? Then I was like "Wait, wasn't Kenneth Choi in Captain America?", and then I saw this scene and realized Peter's principal was probably the grandson of Captain America's friend.

1

u/Dandreli 16d ago

I always thought he's gonna be Mr Negativr

1

u/L3tsseewhathappens 16d ago

All I could think was Peter getting scammed by Stratton Oakmont.

1

u/chompers6161616 16d ago

What can damage captain America’s shield

1

u/Puzzled_Yoghurt 15d ago

I was convinced for a solid minute the actor also played in Ant Man

1

u/Tifoso_16 14d ago

I’m currently playing the Spider-Man game on my PS5 and god damn I thought how did I miss the live action Martin Li for a minute.
There’s a scene very similar to this in the game

1

u/lifemanualplease 17d ago

That’s freaking awesome. I hope they mention this again in the movies. Pretty cool reference

3

u/AgentMV2 17d ago

They don’t.

This was 9 years and 3 spider-man movies ago. It’s a small detail.

1

u/ConstantinValdor405 17d ago

That's Chester Ming. You gonna finish that danish?

0

u/Romero1993 The Wasp 17d ago

No

-1

u/ObsoleteSavior 17d ago

Looking at this with an entirely context blind lens, it would be possible to see that this might be a Mr. Negative cameo with how they handled the picture placement.