I loved this take on MJ. She was smart, interesting, nerdy... a big improvement in my opinion.
I'm surprised that so many people are attached to Mary Jane proper. If ever there was a character begging to be remade, I honestly think it's her. For starters... Mary Jane... the name itself sounds fake... like porn star fake.
Second, her relationship never worked for me, because it didn't seem like her and Peter had anything in common. She was trying to be a supermodel; Peter was a science nerd working as a photographer in the city. Parker is a nerd. Mary Jane is wannabe model. I don't see how those two people get together, or even share similar interests...so it never really worked for me.
Versus this version, in which you could easily see Peter and her connecting and actually making a good team. Unlike Mary Jane who feels very superficial and generic, this MJ has her own interests and goals that we don't even know about... drawing, academic club, who knows what else. I saw depth there... which is more than most romantic co-stars in other movies. I just liked her a lot, and the actress who played her too!