Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review: Tom Holland's Best Spider-Man Movie Yet

This review contains spoilers.

Destin Daniel Cretton has now given us three amazing superhero projects with Shang-Chi, Wonder Man, and now Spider-Man: Brand New Day. At this point give him the keys to the entire Spider-Verse! This is officially my favorite Tom Holland Spider-Man film, and that's saying a lot because I've genuinely loved every installment in the Home trilogy. Destin and Tom really crafted a love letter to Spider-Man fans with this story. That's just my humble opinion, but everything about this movie felt like it was made by people who truly understand the character.

The film is absolutely beautiful. The web-swinging is unlike anything we've seen in Tom Holland's Spider-Man movies. It pays homage to The Amazing Spider-Man films while still feeling fresh, and New York feels more alive than it ever has in the MCU Spider-Man movies. I appreciate what the Home trilogy was trying to do, but this more street-level approach is exactly what Spider-Man has been missing.

When the story begins, we're shown the passage of time, and by the end of the opening montage we learn it's been four years since Doctor Strange cast the spell that made everyone forget Peter Parker and forget Spider-Man. Ironically, that spell gave us the version of Spider-Man fans have been waiting years to see.

I honestly don't think there's ever been a Spider-Man movie where Peter spends almost the entire film without taking his mask off. That was one of my favorite parts. It reminded me of the comics and cartoons I grew up with, where Spider-Man was Spider-Man first, and Peter Parker second. Throughout the movie we see Peter taking on several members of his rogues gallery, including Boomerang, Ramrod, Tarantula, Tombstone, and finally Scorpion, played once again by Michael Mando, a character we've been waiting to properly see since 2017.

Marvin Jones reprises his role as Tombstone from Into the Spider-Verse, and honestly I needed more of him. What we got just wasn't enough. Spider-Man is also working alongside the NYPD and Detective Jean DeWolff, played wonderfully by Liza Colón-Zayas. That was another huge highlight for me. Seeing Spider-Man working with the police as your friendly neighborhood hero reminded me so much of the Insomniac Spider-Man games.

One thing I really liked is that Peter's only real human connection over the past four years has become Detective DeWolff. Their relationship has grown through countless phone calls while Peter continues watching over Ned and MJ from a distance. He even follows Ned to a party using the fake name "Maynard." It's during this sequence that everything begins to change.

Throughout the first act we notice Peter experiencing pain in his wrists, but he doesn't understand why. After seeing MJ kiss her new boyfriend, something inside him snaps. He begins sweating uncontrollably before collapsing and waking up completely wrapped inside a cocoon made from his own organic webbing. Yes, Peter has evolved. He's literally going through a metamorphosis.

I absolutely love how Marvel mirrors Peter's personal growth with the evolution of his powers. We then get one of the funniest scenes in the movie as Peter sneaks back into his apartment through the laundry room window after accidentally stealing one of his neighbor's outfits, a tank top and sweatpants with "Juicy" bedazzled across the back.

From there, Peter begins trying to understand these new abilities. He even turns to Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, who's now teaching at ESU, a nice callback for longtime Spider-Man fans. Bruce helps Peter develop a power dampener to keep these new abilities under control. Peter quickly realizes he can no longer rely on his web-shooters because his body is now producing organic webs. The problem is he can't control them. His enhanced Spider-Sense has also evolved, becoming so powerful that it's physically painful.

Then we're introduced to the Department of Damage Control's new director, William "Bill" Metzger, played by Tramell Tillman. Metzger has transformed DODC into an organization focused on policing enhanced individuals, and he recruits Spider-Man to help stop an invisible threat.

That threat? Jean Grey. Yes, the rumors were true. Sadie Sink officially joins the MCU as its first X-Men character. Jean is searching for her missing sister Sara, who has been taken by Metzger and Damage Control. Using telepathy, Jean possesses other people in her desperate search.By the end of the movie, we begin seeing her evolve into the Jean Grey comic fans know and love. I have to say. Sadie Sink has grown tremendously as an actress since we first met her as Max on Stranger Things.

Interestingly, Jean's powers don't work on Peter, which gives him an advantage. However, she immediately knows exactly who Peter Parker is, remembers the Doctor Strange spell, and even understands everything Peter sacrificed to protect MJ.

She repeatedly targets MJ throughout the film; I felt terrible for Peter. Between trying to stop Jean while dealing with his own evolving powers, Peter gets put through the wringer. Jean eventually kills someone using her telepathy, sending Peter into an emotional spiral. Completely losing control, he uses a possessed Scorpion as a battering ram against a police cruiser, nearly killing an officer in the process.

By the film's final act, Peter finally accepts what he's becoming. Instead of fearing his new powers, he embraces them. The final battle against the possessed Hand Clan is incredible. Seeing Peter fully control both his enhanced strength and organic webbing was one of the movie's biggest highlights.

In the end, Jean isn't truly the villain. She's simply a young woman who was pushed too far. Unfortunately, the damage she leaves behind is massive. She manipulates Frank Castle into nearly killing Spider-Man, giving us an incredible recreation of the iconic Civil War moment where Punisher carries a wounded Spider-Man. She also undoes years of Bruce Banner's work by bringing Savage Hulk back to the surface, forcing Bruce to begin that battle all over again.

Peter also has to accept one heartbreaking truth. MJ still doesn't remember him. Even after learning the truth, those feelings simply aren't there anymore. She's also the one who helps Peter solve the issue with his inhibitor technology, telling him that while the device was designed to control monsters, he doesn't seem like a monster to her.

The movie ends with Peter telling Aunt May that he isn't going to do everything alone anymore. Later, he runs into Ned. The two perform their old handshake and for just a brief second i looks like something clicks. Did Ned remember? I believe so.

Then we see MJ sitting on the rooftop from No Way Home, quietly holding the necklace Peter gave her. Does she remember too? We'll have to wait and see. The biggest highlight of the movie for me, though, was the chemistry between Peter and Frank Castle. Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal are absolutely fantastic together. Their banter is hilarious, their action scenes are incredible and this is honestly the best either actor has been in these roles.Every scene they shared was entertaining.

Overall, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an incredible start to this new trilogy, and I honestly cannot wait to see where Spider-Man goes next. We already know Spider-Man will return and after this movie, I can't wait for him to swing back onto the big screen.

The TV Cave gives Spider-Man: Brand New Day 5/5 Stars

It's simply... Astonishing.

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