I’ll say it loud, “Brand New Day” is easily the best Spider-Man movie to date and perhaps the best Marvel movie since “Avengers: Endgame.”
That being said, there is so much we can not say about “Brand New Day” for fear of ruining it. The characters have matured so much since 2019’s “Far From Home” it’s like a whole new ball game.
Tom Holland is no longer playing a geeky kid who worships Tony Stark, he’s a conflicted man who has learned how to use his powers – until he gets enhancements and has to continue his education.
Watch a bit of “Far From Home” to appreciate just how good the new movie actually is.
The new film follows up “One More Day,” which told the tale of Spider-men from three universes and ended with Dr. Strange causing the world to forget that Peter is Spider-Man.
The supporting characters cast of “Brand New Day” are amazing and add so much to the story.
Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is fascinating and plays a huge role in the film as Spider-Man’s back-up. He is not as murderous as the Punisher recently seen on Disney channel’s “Punisher: One Last Kill,” (which was also excellent despite, or because of, its unrelenting brutality). This time the Punisher has a heart and a conscience, while still being a bad-ass.
Florence Pugh reprises her role as the Black Widow from the “New Avengers” (or Thunderbolts if you prefer) and plays a brief, but important, function.
Mark Ruffalo is back as the Hulk in a performance that should push the needle for a new Hulk film. Zendaya is an older and wiser MJ. Following the massive mind-wipe in the previous Spidey film, four years ago in Marvel time. Things are not what they used to be between her and Peter.
The adversaries are fantastic. Even the hapless Scorpion (Michael Mando) and the all-too-short appearance of Tombstone (Marvin Jones III) are well done, right down to making the Scorpion’s powerful tail a weapon to be feared. Tombstone got the short shrift, but the movie already clocked in at almost 2 ½ hours so sacrifices had to be made.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton managed to keep countless balls in the air to let this complex story play out. He showed similar skill in the Shang Chi movie a few years ago.
“Brand New Day” is all about the complexities of being a super-hero with enormous responsibilities, which meant giving up all semblance of having a normal life.
He works closely with police, responding to calls like a cop, and he is very busy defeating wanna-be super villains.
Behind it all, there is someone else pulling the strings and the identity of that character has been the best kept secret in years. The audience will gasp when the name is revealed. Even IMDB, bless ‘em, left certain the characters’ names out when listing the cast. That’s how important the identities are.
Do yourself a favor and don’t try to track down the mystery villain, allow yourself the pleasure of being surprised.
–Review by Michael Sangiacomo
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