Spider-Man: Brand New Day
★★★★½
When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created the iconic superhero way back in the 1960s, their goal was to create a character the average everyday person could see themselves in; and they succeeded. Peter Parker A.K.A Spider-Man is an abnormal character facing abnormal external threats, but his internal struggles of everything from grief to loneliness are what makes him identifiable. Hence why, as per Lee, “anyone can wear the mask.” This idea has dripped into the cinematic adaptations of the character, and not since Spider-Man 2 had that been perfectly potent in film…until now.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man franchise, is this time directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and episodes of Wonder Man). Tom Holland reprises his role as the titular superhero as do Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. Other MCU characters crossing over into this film include Bruce Banner / Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Frank Castle / Punisher (Jon Bernthal). New to the universe are actors Tramell Tillman (as Department of Damage Control head Bill Metzger) and Sadie Sink (whose role I’ll refrain from spoiling but know that she plays the antagonist).
Four years after the events of No Way Home in which everyone’s memory of him is erased, Peter Parker remains alone, watching as MJ and Ned live their lives without him. He instead works full-time as Spider-Man, battling villains of the week and occasionally crossing paths with the guns blazin’ anti-hero Punisher. But as a new telepathic threat hits New York, Spidey must deal with that, his pent-up emotions, and an arachnid hormonal imbalance all at once.
Far and away, this is the best MCU Spider-Man film. It has an innate understanding as to why the character is such a relatable one; Peter’s struggles are what makes him human, but it’s his choice to do good and get back up in the face of adversity that makes him a hero. Not to say that the Home trilogy doesn’t portray this concept, but it’s not nearly as strong there as it is here. And it’s partly because Peter internally suffers more than he ever has (well, at least this version). The film does a great job at conveying his loneliness and how much his clinging to the past bottles up emotions, which is why the spider side grows and starts to affect him. Peter’s arc stems from realizing he has to embrace both the pain of his losses but know that he isn’t alone in his struggles and is loved as both himself and Spider-Man. It’s not a new concept nor storyline for Spidey (again, Spider-Man 2), but it’s deeply human and identifiable regardless, and Holland treats Spidey with a balanced amount of levity and seriousness to make the character work.
I would also like to point out how great other characters, already in the MCU and new to it, are integrated into the film because they aren’t here for no reason. They’re here to serve as parallels or foils to Peter, with their own approaches to grief and loneliness. Punisher and Hulk repress their emotions, with the latter getting out of hand as he regresses to the angrier Hulk (which results in a great fight scene between him and Spidey). But the real character of interest is the main antagonist, who is more of just that than she is a villain. Because while her actions aren’t condoneable since her telepathy puts people in harm’s way, she shares the same struggles Peter has. And towards the film’s end, she has a great redemption arc thanks to him. On a different note, the film also goes out of its way to portray the overwhelming support the citizens of New York have for Spidey due to his heroics, which really assist his arc. As a matter of fact, the film’s credits depict footage of average everyday people, hammering home how strong their love for him is.
Visually and audibly speaking, Brand New Day does much more than the Home trilogy. The cinematography gives the film a comic-book feel and is used more creatively to convey emotion. The abundant use of close-ups for example helps establish closeness for the audience towards Peter and others. There’s also strong and warm colors that pop on Spidey, New York, and other interior scenes. The sound mixing, especially when Peter’s Spidey Senses overload, is incredibly immersive, and Michael Giacchino’s score is just as soaring as ever.
With all that, Brand New Day is another breath of fresh air for the MCU, let alone Spider-Man, and the best this version of the character has ever been. Something tells me Lee and Ditko would have been immensely proud.
