Spider-Man: Brand New Day Movie Review

Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Movie Review

Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
Written by: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers
Based on the MARVEL Comic Book by: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Produced by: Kevin Feige, p.g.a. Amy Pascal, p.g.a. Avi Arad Rachel O’Connor, p.g.a.
Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito David Cain
Cast: Tom Holland – Zendaya – Sadie Sink – Jacob Batalon – Jon Bernthal – Tramell Tillman – Michael Mando – Mark Ruffalo

This film delivered—and then some. That’s not to say it was without shortcomings, but overall, it was one seriously fun ride.

Right off the bat, I have to say that the visuals were absolutely stunning. Previous films featured fantastic cinematography while following Spider-Man’s swinging patterns through New York City, but this time, it was mesmerizing. While director Destin Daniel Cretton will deservedly receive plenty of accolades, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge cinematographer Brett Pawlak. Kudos to Brett for making every movement appear so seamless, fluid, and lifelike.
From the opening scene to the very end, New York City became our playground—from the rooftops and penthouses to the pointed antennas atop the tallest skyscrapers. For the first time, I literally felt like I was Spider-Man. Wow.

The film begins right where things left off, with everyone having forgotten the identity of the person beneath Spider-Man’s mask, Peter Parker. Tom Holland truly shines as he embraces the emotional weight of that reality. His performance sold everyone at the screening on the fact that Peter was genuinely going through it. The pain, anguish, hurt, sadness, and darkness were all there, and Holland delivered every bit of it extremely well.
For the first time, we really get to see Holland show the full extent of his acting ability, and he does not disappoint. Dare I say it? He puts on a near-perfect acting clinic. Every time Peter sees his former best friend, we feel the hurt. Whenever he watches MJ or interacts with her, we feel his sorrow and his yearning to be with his soulmate. His pain feels real, and the audience is behind him every step of the way.

Zendaya is equally stunning as MJ. She absolutely lights up the screen whenever she appears. Her beauty and charm shine through like a diamond, while her acting has reached another level with each film. She appears increasingly confident in both the role and the character. In my opinion, she is by far the best MJ ever to grace a Spider-Man movie screen.
As the story unfolds, we finally get to know the MJ who exists outside Peter’s world. It is an interesting take on what her life is really like without him in it. Certain scenes are not easy to watch because MJ is no longer Peter’s rock. She is no longer the guiding light that Peter—and Spider-Man—feeds off. She is the opposite of everything we have come to associate with her, not in a bad way, but because the audience has been spoiled by their relationship for so many years. The sadness is deeply felt, and Zendaya delivers an acting clinic right alongside her co-star. Riveting.

Peter’s former best friend, Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, also gives us a different version of the character. Granted, he no longer knows Peter, but this take on Ned is noticeably more mature, and it is welcomed. He is not simply the goofy best friend anymore. He is now a mature nerd who still slips into those familiar “Ned” moments every so often.

You can truly feel how much these characters have grown since we first met them in 2017. Memories of the three of them together are revisited throughout the film, bringing tremendous sadness with them. Each reminder feels like reopening a fresh wound.

Frank Castle, played by Jon Bernthal, proves once again that Bernthal was born to play the Punisher. However, I did notice a slight variation in the skull-wearing vigilante compared with the version we saw during his Daredevil appearances. That is not to say the Punisher does not live up to his anger issues—because he certainly does—but viewers should be prepared for a somewhat different version of the character. This is still a Spider-Man movie, so the variation is understandable in many ways. Fans of the television version of the Punisher will recognize what I mean when they see this Spider-Man-friendly interpretation. Regardless, Bernthal is awesome.

The film is also packed with surprises. I will not spoil any of the fun because I am bound by Sony not to reveal anything—and I would not ruin it anyway. There are a couple of very good surprises, so stay away from social media if you do not want to have them spoiled.

The Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, is a major part of the film’s tremendous action sequences. Visually, everything is off the charts, and the sequence involving Spider-Man, the Punisher, and the Hulk is next-level superhero movie action. It will literally leave you on the edge of your seat.
The eye candy is so good that I already want to see the movie again just to experience the action involving this trio. I cannot say much more without ruining anything, but the Hulk delivers in a very big way.

Sadie Sink plays [REDACTED], but the pacing of her storyline feels uneven. At times, it takes far too long to land the plane. I wanted to understand exactly what was happening with her character, but the answers unfolded at an oddly sluggish pace. Was it a little clumsy? A little too drawn out? Something simply felt off.
Perhaps a second viewing will help everything fall into place. This is not to say Sink fails to deliver her lines or perform the role well. The issue is not necessarily her performance; something about the pacing and placement of the storyline just does not completely work.

Supporting actress Liza Colón-Zayas is an absolute delight as Detective Jean DeWolff. She is charismatic, energetic, intelligent, and a devoted family provider. She becomes a beacon within an already stacked cast. I loved her role, and she was delightful in every scene. I cannot wait to see her return in another Spider-Man film someday.

Overall, this film is aesthetically appealing beyond words. The dialogue is on point, and Peter’s personal struggle is far more compelling than the other major storyline unfolding around him. That uneven secondary storyline is the only thing preventing me from giving the film an easy 8 or 9 out of 10.
If that storyline had been more tightly wrapped and better paced, the movie would have earned a much higher score. For now, I am giving it a strong 7 out of 10. Maybe a second viewing will change my mind, but at the moment, I am standing firmly behind my 7+ rating.

I would most definitely recommend this film to friends and family. This is one Spider-Man movie that should not be missed.

P.S. Stick around after the credits.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Movie Review

-Jay Katz