Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review – Reaches New Heights!
Behind every extraordinary superhero is a human. Strip away the gadgets, the powers, and the courage and one is left with a person, like us all, with pain, loneliness, and fears. When Peter Parker became Spider-Man, after the adjustment period of realizing he was half-spider with web slinging strengths, there was a level of excitement that came along with it. What could be better than fighting crime and saving the city you love while gaining glory by the citizens of NYC. Behind every struggle lied a happy ending of defeating the villain and flying away with MJ.
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However, with great excitement comes great loneliness of constantly having to hide from the ones you love and do this all by yourself. Like Peter Parker, the Spider-Man films, from Tobey Maguire to Andrew Garfield, follow a similar path. The beginning film or films in the franchise are action packed and often comedic as we find Peter learning how to become a hero and his badass powers that shine through as he defeats the bad guy. But, after the brightness dims Peter is always left with the truest of emotions that no superhero is strong enough to defeat alone. Tom Holland stars as Peter in his fourth film in the new Spider-Man franchise as he faces his most powerful villain yet, loneliness. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is without a doubt Tom Holland’s best Spider-Man film giving him the ability to explore his more emotional side in a truly human story.
Last time we saw Peter, Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) had to cast a spell in which nobody would remember that Peter was Spider-Man, including his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and the love of his life, MJ (Zendaya). Four years go by quickly for MJ and Ned as they graduate from MIT while the years trudge by for Peter, living alone but finding some joy still in aiding the police to catch criminal in NYC. When a mysterious new villain emerges without a particular face or name, Peter must help the Department of Damage Control under director Bill Metzger (Trammell Tillman) to find out who is inhabiting the minds of violent criminals and innocent civilians.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day surpasses expectations set before by the previous three films and does an excellent job continuing Peter’s journey while also feeling like a fresh start. Like the first film, Peter’s identity is a secret yet again. However, this time there is much more pain that comes with it, having created such meaningful relationships with others that fade away before his very eyes.
Tom Holland has perfected the role as Peter and Spider-Man after years of work with the character, allowing him to sink deeply into the depression and heartache that the beloved character has to face down the line. There is always a moment for Peter in each franchise where the life of Spider-Man feels much more than he can handle as a young man. This film takes this moment and allows Holland to harness both Peter and his own emotions that feels like a tribute to Holland’s Spider-Man itself and a turning point for the new franchise.
Destin Daniel Cretton as a director excels in his ability to create Spider-Man level action, allowing the audience to feel as Peter does during every battle and every moment of pain. The addition of Punisher (Jon Bernthal) as a primary character in the film amps up the intensity of the scenes they battle against and with one another. Cretton is perfectly hired for a Spider-Man film of this intense caliber having made films like Short Term 12 in the past, displaying his talents for directing character going through traumatic situations.
In the film Peter begins to see his body changing and taking on more arachnid DNA than human, causing him to create an inhibitor device that will hinder the new DNA from mutating. In this way, the film is displaying Peter holding onto the past the way he is afraid to adapt and grow for himself and for Spider-Man. This is exhibited with stillness and ease through Cretton’s directing and handle on the camera.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day establishes itself as the reintegration of Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, combining X-Men with other added characters into the Spider-Man films over the years. Where many superhero films introduce a popular and established character for audience reactions alone, Brand New Day is able to utilize Jean Grey’s backstory to intensify the themes of loneliness and develop a balance between Peter and her feelings of societal isolation. Both have had loved ones taken away from them. This allows them to share a connection as the film progresses, lending for emotional sequences of remembrance.
Where all superheroes in the MCU have a level of sacrifice they must offer up to save others and maintain their powers, the film exhibits how Peter and Jean share a deeper feeling of loss, having been thrust into this world so young without an established foundation to settle themselves. It is so difficult for young people to find their way through life to begin with. This film makes a case for how hard it is for young adults left with unimaginable weight on their shoulders and how Peter and Jean possess an incredible level of strength in who they are both as hero’s and people. Spider-Man Brand New Day solidifies the hero’s continuing legacy and how even the most played out stories can feel new again.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Rating – 4/5
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