Film: Spider-Man Brand New Day

It’s not summer unless there is a new Marvel superhero movie in theaters. This year it’s the much-anticipated next Spider-Man installment, Spider-Man: Brand New Day by Destin Daniel Cretton. As always, I went into this film not knowing a thing about it, minus the mind-wipe from the previous film, and I was blown away. This is easily the most mature Marvel movie yet.

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we find Peter Parker making his way through post-college life, still in New York, but without those who mean the most to him: Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), MJ (Zendaya), and Ned (Jacob Batalon). Instead, he has an antagonistic brother relationship with Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) and a secret working relationship with Detective DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas). Since life never throws just one tragedy at you at a time, a mysterious new villain is plaguing NY. 

Throughout the tenure of Marvel movies and television shows, we’ve been blessed with some fantastic entertainment. I’m a big fan of how they’ve brought these iconic characters to life, even with the multiple renditions of a few properties. While Spider-Man might not be my favorite superhero in the Marvel Universe, the Spider-Man movies have been some of my favorites. It is easy for me to say that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is not only the best Spider-Man movie, but the best Marvel movie I have seen. (In case you were wondering, I do love me some Gambit and Moon Knight.) If you look at this cluster of films, the evolution of not only the characters, but the story, is impressive. It truly is like they are evolving alongside you, or vice versa.

Of course, this evolution seems intentional. With each film, the stakes rise, taking the next step provided from the one before. The villains get more complicated, the action gets more complex, and the acting becomes fearless. What separates Spider-Man: Brand New Day action from others is that you can tell it was rooted in reality, utilizing as many practical effects and techniques as possible. (That is also a luxury due to the athleticism of Tom Holland.)

There is one action element, however, that I can’t stop thinking about. I’m fascinated by not only the talent of the stunt performers who took it on, but the overall unease created by the movements. The villain in Spider-Man: Brand New Day presents itself in a way that mimics possession. There is a full-body attack and release when this entity moves through their victims. That movement is beautiful yet unsettling. Something as simple as body movement has created one of the most unique and sinister elements a Marvel villain has graced us with. The mastermind behind this sequence is dance choreographer Nathan Kim.

Dance has a prevalence in the world of stunts, which is also why Holland can perform his duties with such natural ease, but as much of a stunt nerd as I am, I have never seen dance used in this way. Body manipulation can be used to bring forth a wide range of emotions, and the jumping effect that was constructed not only exhibited malice but also urgency. There was more to this villain than just hatred, which allowed their humanity to shine through. The best villains are those who don’t see their wrongs, but the ones who see the justice in motivations. I’m sure at this point the villain is known, and while it wasn’t a surprise to me either, I still like to keep my review void of any important spoilers.

The villain isn’t the only character whose emotions are front and center in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. We catch up to Peter and his former crew 5 years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. The devastation that concluded that film is heavy throughout this installment. While it’s heavily felt, it’s not heavy-handed. Grief, no matter what form it takes, is not something that is quickly rectified. A lot of work has to be put in to move past it, and except for what happened, it’s not something you can grin and bear. We see the grief and pain lingering in Spider-Man’s actions and Peter’s face. He may think that he is doing the right thing by separating himself from the remaining support system in his friends, since his family system of May and Tony are no longer with us, but we see the emotional cost of that choice within himself. That evolution isn’t the easiest to process, and presents its own challenges. This is a common trait within Peter Parker, but seeing it in this film allows the audience to understand the weight of that decision. Cretton doesn’t shy away from the turmoil, but instead faces it head-on. Is protecting those who you hold dear worth your loss of self?

The other emotional element that struck a chord with me in Spider-Man: Brand New Day was growth. Peter, MJ, and Ned are no longer teenagers; their daily lives have changed as they have matured. They are not the same people we met in Homecoming, nor should they be. Becoming an adult is a way of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s hard, sometimes, to let the past version of yourself go. Life doesn’t stand still; there is change all around us, and that can be a gut punch. I wouldn’t necessarily say the growth showcased in this film is a loss of innocence, but there is definitely a loss nonetheless.

This goes back to why I think these are the best films, and why so many people are attracted to Spider-Man as a character. He is the every man; he is relatable to us; we see ourselves in his struggles. You don’t feel as alone when you are watching an awkward teen maneuver through life like you once did. When you pair this relatable youthful character with one who embodies adult anguish in Frank Castle/Punisher (Bernthal), you have the recipe for humanity on screen. Leading up to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, I kept hearing how excited people were to see Peter and Frank together, and I never truly understood why. For me, the two sides of the same coin are Punisher and Daredevil, but I get it now. Frank is the cautionary tale for Peter, a mentor on how to endure life and not succumb to it.

I can’t tell you how pleasantly surprised I was with this film. It makes me so happy with the new crop of comic book movies that are coming out (like Supergirl earlier this summer), ones that don’t shy away from the emotional health of our heroes. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is full of fantastic action, wonderful acting, fun cameos, and heartfelt emotions. Everyone must see this film in a theater sooner rather than later.

Written by Lisa M Mejia
Images provided by Sony