Movie Review: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Oh, how we’ve missed you, Spider-Man. Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day worth watching? Here’s our spoiler-free review. 

(NON-SPOILER REVIEW)

The MCU’s latest flick Spider-Man: Brand New Day introduces a fresh tone and notable character changes, taking Holland’s Spidey on a more mature new path. We reunite with Peter Parker, four years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and he’s been extremely busy ever since. His life as Spider-Man has taken a toll on his mental health and emotional stability, underscoring how much this alter ego affects his overall well-being and mental health. His personal journey more relatable and emotionally engaging to watch. We as viewers are able to connect more deeply with his story, looking at it from a human perspective.

We are reunited with some extremely familiar faces: Zendaya, returning as MJ, and Jacob Batalon, reprising his role as Ned Leeds. Seeing how their lives have changed since Peter Parker was erased from their memories makes the story more meaningful and relatable. There’s a sense of connection and anticipation.

We are joined by new cast members, including Jon Bernthal as the extremely violent anti-hero The Punisher, aka Frank Castle, whom we last saw in The Punisher: One Last Kill. Alongside an original member of the Avengers, Bruce Banner, who returns in all his glory —  we are finally reunited with the raging alter-ego, The Hulk, who we last saw in She-Hulk. Their presence adds depth, a little nostalgia, and excitement, making the story more compelling and engaging for viewers and undeniably persuading long-time fans to watch.

One of my favourite aspects of the film is the chemistry between Spider-Man and Punisher. Tom and Jon have a strong and loving friendship off-screen as they both worked together in the film, Pilgrimage, and more recently in the film of the summer, The Odyssey, and so to see them work together for a third time, in a brand new environment within the characters they’ve been playing for over a decade, is a real treat. Their bond in the film is like a big brother-little brother rivalry, and their admiration for each other in real life definitely made their scenes together feel more believable and extremely hilarious.

Also, going back to the Punisher, I was extremely anxious about how he would be portrayed in this film, as he comes from a very violent genre, but after seeing how he’s involved in the film, it’s safe to say that he’s the same violent man we all know and love. His tone is more comical, but he’s still the character, and the film doesn’t do a disservice to him or his live-wire personality.

And then there’s Sadie Sink, who plays… gotcha! She marvels throughout this film, and her character really elevates the film’s themes of grief, loneliness/isolation, and indifference. I’m looking forward to seeing more of her in the future. I wish I could say more about her role, but as mentioned, no spoilers from me!

The fight stunts in this film were incredible, crafted by Jackie Chan’s stunt team, and, with the involvment of the supernatural ninja cult, The Hand, whom we last saw in The Defenders, it’s evident where the stunt team’s work is on display. It’s the most physical we’ve seen Spider-Man ever be, and I appreciate just how well he’s adapted to this new style of combat.

The main takeaway of the film, in terms of themes, is how loneliness can really affect you and isolate you from anything that can be good for you. The way they demonstrated these themes in the film made me cry a few times, as it is extremely relatable to me, which is perfect, because I’ve always found Spider-Man to be someone whom I can relate to, and so can so many people around the world. So to see a story with themes that hit home proves that people do go through these things on their own, but it doesn’t mean they should, and I’m glad that they validate this, as it has given me a clear view on what I need to do personally to better my life in the future.

Overall, this film is a must-watch; it’s packed with surprises, pays meaningful tribute to the comics, and leaves us eager for more adventures with our favourite web-slinger. Its blend of action and homage makes it a compelling addition to the superhero genre, encouraging fans and newcomers alike to experience it firsthand.

Can’t wait to see where he swings to next!