Review: Spider-Man: Brand New Day - The Fresh Start Spider-Man Needed

It’s been five years since the last Spider-Man movie, but at least the time has flown by, and now we finally have the chance to see what happened after Doctor Strange cast his spell. I remember being pretty sad about how Spider-Man: No Way Home ended, and I was really curious to see how the story we’ve been so used to for so long would continue.

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Spider-Man is one of—if not the most beloved and profitable—Marvel superheroes, and for me, he certainly is. Ever since I saw the first Spider-Man movie in theaters—the 2002 one starring Tobey Maguire—the character has fascinated me. The fact that I’ve also played quite a few video games set in the Spider-Man universe—especially those made by Insomniac Games—has only made me grow even more attached to this character. So, without exaggerating, I can confidently say that he’s my favorite superhero, including both Marvel and DC. That’s exactly why, when I went to see Spider-Man: Brand New Day today, I had very high expectations. Fortunately, for the most part, the movie lived up to them.

Brand New Day starts off quite differently from what we’re used to seeing. We find Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, in a more solitary light, focused almost exclusively on his role as a hero fighting crime. At first glance, it seems like he’s carrying on with his life with the same energy we’re already familiar with, but it quickly becomes clear that things aren’t simple at all. The absence of MJ and Ned affects him much more deeply than it might seem, and this pushes him back toward people whom, at least in theory, he shouldn’t have close to him anymore.

Although the two no longer recognize him, the film manages to build much of the emotional tension around them. At the same time, a new villain—with powers we’ve never seen before in the Spider-Man universe—threatens both the residents of New York and the most important person in Peter’s life. Alongside this trio, the film also features Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal, as well as Sadie Sink, whose role I’d rather not reveal here. All I can say is that I found her character very interesting, and she raises many questions about the future of this story and, more broadly, the Marvel Universe.

In supporting roles, we also see Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo; Detective DeWolff, played by Liza Colón-Zayas; Bill Metzger, the New York head of the Department of Damage Control, as well as Aunt May, played by Marisa Tomei. Even though her appearance is brief, it was a welcome addition and adds an emotional depth to the film.

I can’t go into the plot any further, but I can say that the story is good and doesn’t feel recycled at all. It never gets boring either, and that’s probably one of the film’s greatest strengths. I also liked the fact that there’s a thematic connection between the hero and the antagonist: both characters are lonely and carry within them the trauma of losing a loved one.

The relationship between Peter Parker and Frank Castle is, in turn, a key element of the film. The dynamic between the two works very well, and director Daniel Cretton also includes plenty of funny moments, which have already become something of a signature for Spider-Man movies. They don’t feel forced, nor do they completely disrupt the flow; instead, they come in exactly when they’re needed.

I really liked the villain’s special effects. The scenes where he “jumps” from one person to another are brilliantly done and add a mysterious touch that I found very refreshing. I also liked the shots of Spider-Man swinging on his web, especially those filmed from Peter’s perspective. Since it’s a 3D movie, it felt like you were right there with him, soaring through the skies of New York. I don’t recall if these shots were used in the previous films, but here they really stuck with me, and I appreciated them a lot.

Since no movie can be perfect—even though I really, really wanted it to be—I have to say that the ending disappointed me. Specifically, the last few minutes felt like they were cut off very abruptly. I had the feeling there should have been another fifteen minutes or so, but suddenly the credits started rolling. I was left with a rather strange impression, because I didn’t understand why they chose to wrap up the story so abruptly. From my perspective, everything would have worked much better with a more natural and fluid transition.

Overall, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a good movie, probably among the best in the Marvel Universe over the past three years and, without a doubt, one of the top three Spider-Man movies, including those starring Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. It’s definitely a movie worth seeing in theaters while it’s still playing, especially if you’re a fan of superhero movies—but not only then. The theater I went to today was absolutely packed, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting that—especially since it was opening day, tickets were more expensive, and the showing was at 6:00 p.m. At the end, there was even applause, and that immediately reminded me of the audience’s reaction during the famous scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home, when the three Spider-Men reunited on screen.