Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Edwin Arnaudin: Much as I enjoyed Spider-Man: No Way Home, so much time has passed between live-action Peter Parker films — five years, to be precise — that I admit to forgetting what happened at the end of our last adventure. How prepared were you going into Spider-Man: Brand New Day and what were your hopes for it as a fan of the comics?
Isa Whitaker: Wow, has it been five years already? I still remember the hype and anticipation of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returning in No Way Home, and while I think those appearances lose some of their steam rewatching the film outside of the theater, and the plot holes seem somewhat more apparent with every revisit, it's still a film I enjoy watching and left me eagerly waiting to see what was next for Spidey in Brand New Day.
I had high hopes for the film and wanted to see a more down-to-earth hero this time around. And I must say, I left the theater feeling my expectations had been met.
Edwin: Even though Spider-Man is a character rooted in loss (R.I.P. Uncle Ben), and this particular version has experienced more than usual (R.I.P. Tony Stark and Aunt May), it was refreshing to see Peter (Tom Holland) navigating the multi-year fallout from sacrificing his love MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) — via Dr. Strange memory loss spell, of course; they ain't dead — and wondering if the time is right to fulfill his promise and remind them of their shared past.
It's easy to overlook acting in comic book movies and praise flashy side characters, but I was really impressed with Holland's performance here and the depth he brings to Peter at this lonely juncture in his life.
Isa: Likewise. You could really feel the emotional weight of Peter's decision, which made for a few heartfelt and heart-wrenching moments watching him navigate his new life in Brand New Day. Seeing the progression of Peter starting as a protégé of sorts to Tony in Captain America: Civil War (and his solo films that followed — minus No Way Home), to now seeing him with somewhat lesser resources and guidance showed that even though he's alone, he's able to stand on his own and with grace and determination, too.
Edwin: He's nicely come into his own as an adult character, though as his NYPD ally Det. DeWolff (Lisa Colón-Zayas, The Bear) notes, he could use some friends. That isolation and his seemingly related headaches are put to the test when a mysterious, powerful villain who can possess people breaks into the Department of Damage Control (DODC) building and attempts to break into Peter's mind, though he compellingly proves immune to this adversary.
What did you make of this new threat?
Isa: I thought the way they portrayed the possession jumping from person to person was pretty cool, and the build up that led to the reveal was neat as well. However, I'm a bit puzzled why they chose to introduce this character in this movie, but overall I enjoyed this newest addition to the MCU.
Edwin: I guess all (or at least some) will be revealed in Avengers: Doomsday, but I'm with you on welcoming this character and following their arc.
Speaking of additions, I was especially thrilled to have Florence Pugh's Yelena aka Black Widow join the scene. She's welcome to be in any and every MCU movie, and I'm pretty confident this isn't a one-and-done for Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle aka Punisher, who brings his gruff but charming ways to a fun uncle figure for Peter. I was pretty lost on the whole "Peter saved his butt on Staten Island" history, though. Did I miss a TV special or something?
Photo: Sony
Isa: Pugh was a great addition to the MCU when she made her debut in Black Widow, and I've enjoyed every one of her appearances since. The chemistry between Spider-Man and Punisher made for some fun back-and-forths, and I believe the Staten Island incident they refer to took place off screen.
Edwin: phew! I'm woefully ignorant of the Netflix MCU series (and the ones that have migrated to Disney+) but I would definitely track down that episode if it existed.
All of these players blend together nicely under the direction of Destin Daniel Cretton, who did an admirable job with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings but whom I still associate with such powerful dramas as Short Term 12 and Just Mercy. He seems like the secret sauce in Brand New Day's emotional depth but his action direction is also impressive. Did you have a favorite set piece or three?
Isa: Off the top of my head, I'd have to say the Hulk fight scene was one of my favorites, and the last few fight sequences when Spidey gets to DODC. I know I'll probably think of more later — I really want to go back and see it again.
Edwin: There's so much going on with Peter, MJ, Ned, Punisher, Black Widow, and our surprise addition that I nearly forgot about the big green guy. Perhaps that means we could have used a little more of Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and/or his anger-fueled alter ego. But yes, Spidey vs. Hulk was thrilling and a neat nod to their rich adversarial history in the comics.
I was also fascinated each time Peter's arachnid side temporarily took over, adding a fresh element of danger to the proceedings that had me wondering if he'd come in contact with a dash of Venom.
As with each of the Holland Spider-Man films, Brand New Day left me excited about more adventures with these characters but also the prospect of Peter teaming up with Black Widow, Punisher, and others going forward. What are your hopes for this series and how big of a role do you think Spider-Man will play in upcoming Avengers movies?
Isa: I was looking forward to the Spidey vs. Hulk fight since they first teased it in the trailer — I just wish they wouldn't have shown so much beforehand, but I still enjoyed those scenes and it sticks out as a highlight of the film for me. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for the Neighborhood Hero, though I've unfortunately heard that he won't make an appearance in Doomsday. So, depending how true that is, we might have to wait until Secret Wars to find out.
Filled with lots of action, heart, and funny moments that kept me engaged the whole time, Brand New Day gets an A-minus from me.
Edwin: Much as I enjoyed it, there are still some superhero movie conventions that keep Cretton’s film from reaching the next-level goodness of such MCU peaks as Captain America: Civil War, Black Widow, Thor: Ragnarok, and No Way Home. But it’s a damn good time at the movies, so another B-plus it is.
Grade: A-minus. Rated PG-13. Now playing at AMC River Hills 10, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., Carolina Cinemark, and Regal Biltmore Grande.
(Photo: Sony)
