Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Review

Tom Holland delivers his most personal and powerful Spider-Man performance yet in a film that feels like a comic book brought to life. 

I can say without a doubt that this is now officially my favourite Spider-Man movie. It focuses more on the man behind the mask than the man under the mask, but I also feel like we get to see the best version of Peter Parker yet. I absolutely love this movie, and while there is a lot to praise, there is one thing that bothered me – but I’ll get to that.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now officially the biggest film of the year, and it has broken numerous records across Southern Africa. It’s clear that I’m not the only one who has a deep love for this character. I have a connection with Spider-Man that I’ve never had with any other character.

This movie takes Spider-Man back to basics: a hero who has to deal with things on his own. He constantly has to carry the weight of doing the right thing, regardless of how much it affects him. “With great power comes great responsibility,” as Peter’s Uncle Ben would say.

This is the most personal Peter Parker story since Spider-Man 2, and I think that film had a major influence on this one. Tom Holland has always been excellent as Peter Parker, but I think he has finally fully embraced Spider-Man. His performance feels like a combination of all the Spider-Men who came before him.

All the right notes

Sadie Sink is another standout. Her vulnerability and honest approach to her character are wonderful to watch. Outside of Spider-Man, the Punisher is my favourite street-level hero, and Jon Bernthal absolutely delivered. I was worried about the PG-13 rating, but he made it work. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are also excellent. In fact, there isn’t a single weak performance in this movie.

I think the practical effects in this film look incredible, and it also features some of the best CGI effects of the year. Marvel and Sony have truly brought back the quality we’ve become accustomed to, and it adds significant value to the film. Destin Daniel Cretton once again proves that he understands not only superhero movies, but also the characters at their core.

His use of first-person shots and other filmmaking techniques makes this movie feel like a comic book that has come to life. As Stan Lee said, it could be anyone under the mask, and in the cinema, it felt as though it was me under the mask. Cretton’s incredible cinematography, combined with Michael Giacchino’s score, makes this an experience I will never forget.

There is one thing that bothered me, and that is that I didn’t expect this movie to hit all the right notes.

I will cherish Brand New Day forever. I’m still not sure whether it will be my favourite movie of the year, but for now, it is the film that has had the biggest emotional impact on me.

Once again, an easy 5 out of 5 stars, although I think I might be a little biased.