Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Four years after Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asked Doctor Strange to cast a spell that'd make everyone forget he's Spider-Man, he lives in an attic apartment with his tech, as he still laments about the life he could've had with MJ (Zendaya) and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) whom forgot who he was in order to keep them safe. He's working with detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colon-Zayas) to help keep the streets of New York safe, but all the while struggles with being alone. When he encounters a new enemy who has the ability to shift into anyone, he realizes MJ's life is once again in danger, and with the help of The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) sets out to stop this new threat. However, that's not his only problem, as the arachnid part of him starts coming out stronger, leading him to turn to Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to figure out how to suppress that part of him before it totally takes control.
The new MCU "Spider-Man" films have been huge hits with audiences, introducing the world to the talent of Tom Holland, and each one has been met with critical and audience acclaim. The last time he graced the big screen was 2021's "No Way Home" which left on a major cliffhanger with the world forgetting he is Spider-Man after being exposed at the end of "Far From Home." Everyone wondered what would come next, and how this would shape Peter Parker's view on the world and himself, being forced into self-isolation to protect those he cares about the most by having them forget who he is. "Brand New Day" expertly continues this journey as we see the emotional toll it's taken on our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man throughout the years, watching videos of Ned and MJ at MIT and graduating when he remembers when the three of them talked about that journey together. Experiencing the strongest "FOMO" ever, Peter struggles with the weight of the city of New York on his shoulders as well as wanting so desperately for companionship. As a cameo character says, Peter is a "pretty lonely spider," and co-writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers showcase this perfectly as Peter begins experiencing DNA changes that mutate his abilities and turns him more into a spider than a man due to the emotional stress he's endured all this time. This movie could've easily just been a deep character study on Peter's mental state as he struggles with loneliness, but this is a MCU movie so there has to be action as well.
That side of the coin comes with a new enemy who has a telepathic ability to shift into the mind of anyone and control them like a puppet, which serves as a pretty powerful ability. Learning Peter's identity, this new villain sets out to do what...well...every Spider-Man villain tries to do: take it out on his friends and family. Again, this sets Spider-Man apart from other heroes because his enemies oftentimes target his friends and family over him because they know that's how it'll get to him. This causes Peter to split his focus, setting out to save MJ while uncovering the villain behind it, all the while continuing to struggle with being feet away from the woman he's loved for years but has no feelings back whatsoever. Tom Holland has had the last ten years or so to build his own Spider-Man character, and he's accomplished what Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield couldn't: he has become a symbol of hope not just for the characters in the movie, but audience members as well.
After seeing this movie twice so far, I'm amazed at how many people come into the theater donning Spider-Man related merch, and even full-blown costumes. They see Spider-Man as a hero for the people, a relatable underdog who is, essentially, just a kid. They see themselves in him, and like another "Spider-Man" movie claims, "anyone can wear the mask" (as long as they're bit by a radioactive spider), meaning it's easier for people to see themselves as Spider-Man as opposed to any other hero, which is why theaters are at max capacity for this movie, despite there being "superhero fatigue."
Tangent time...the idea of "superhero fatigue" is total BS, evidenced easily not just by the sales of "Brand New Day," but the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday" as well, where premium showings sold out in less than ten minutes for a movie coming out in December. People say when a superhero movie fails (such as
"The Marvels," "Thor: Love & Thunder," "The Flash" and most recently "Supergirl") it's due to "superhero fatigue" and they should stop making these movies. That's not the truth at all, as, again, evidenced by the sales for these two movies alone. It's not that people are tired of superhero movies, they're tired of bland, mediocre, cookie-cutter movies regardless of its genre, but will flock to theaters to see something fresh, original, and new (such as "Obsession" and "Backrooms"). "Brand New Day" disproves the "superhero fatigue" mantra exponentially by offering a compelling, well-written, well-acted and well-shot movie that belongs in the pantheon of excellent superhero films throughout history.
Back to the movie, the idea of what a monster is looms heavily throughout the film. Spider-Man feels he's becoming a monster due to the spider DNA taking over. He calls the villain a monster during a pivotal moment of the movie. The villain claims humans are the monster. Essentially, we all have a bit of a monster inside of us, and what matters is how we suppress that side and not allow it to completely take us over. It's a fitting theme for today's world, and again how it's made audiences appreciate Spider-Man all the more.
Zendaya and Jacob Batalon return for their fourth outing as well, and both give amazing performances as they usually do, with the chemistry between Zendaya and Holland being red hot (since, you know, they're married) which adds to Peter's depression. Jon Bernthal is a unique addition as Frank Castle...aka The Punisher...who is more fit for R-rated films than this but still showcases something that the entirety of the MCU Spider-Man saga has incorporated: a mentor. First it was Tony Stark, then Mysterio, then Doctor Strange, and now Frank is someone Peter looks up to (or, for the most part, finds extremely irritating) as the two share a brotherly friendship that, again, doesn't sound right on paper but works perfectly on the big screen. Mark Ruffalo returns as Bruce Banner who eventually turns into the "other guy" in a way we haven't seen since "Thor: Ragnarok" and is one of the more exciting action set pieces. Sadie Sink, hot off "Stranger Things," stars as a newcomer to the franchise with her own haunted past and who gives hope that the future of the MCU is in capable hands. No matter the actor, they give their all in this film and it shows in every frame.
Not just that, but Destin Daniel Cretton sure knows how to choreograph a fight scene. He directed the 2021 "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" which gave some of Marvel's most graceful and impactful action sequences, and returns again to do the same here, especially in a climactic battle between Peter and The Hand that feels taken out of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and makes for one of the entire franchise's best-shot and executed action sequences. The camerawork, the creativity and the pacing round out what is easily one of "Spider-Man's" best outings on the big screen with emotional stakes, high-octane action, and plenty of twists and turns.
The Score: A+
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