David R. Walker

Spiderman: Brand New Day

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Jacob Batalan, Florence Pugh, Lisa Colon-Zayas, Tramell Tillman, Marisa Tomei

Running Time: 2 hours and 25 minutes

Film Rating:  8 out of 10

Tom Holland, the 30 year old star of the Spiderman franchise has come a long way from his first Spiderman film which was released back in 2017, when he was just 21 years old. From Spiderman: Homecoming to Spiderman: Brand New Day, Holland has embraced the role of the legendary New York web slinger as he grew from a high school kid that discovered superhero powers to his latest film as a late twenties young man who is finding his new powers both a burden and a blessing.

Five years after Spiderman: No Way Home, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton injects some oriental charm into Spiderman: Brand New Day in the form of red clad ninjas. When the trailer for this film was released, I knew it would do well at the box office.

After all who doesn’t love Spiderman fighting ninjas?

The cinema houses will be packed. Indeed they are. This film is showing in multiple cinemas at every cinema house across the planet.

Along with an extremely buff and competent Tom Holland as Spiderman, Zendaya reprises her role as the elegant MJ along with Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher, Poor Things) as Bruce Banner aka The Hulk and Jacob Batalan as Ned Leeds.

In the first three films there was always a clear villain. In Spiderman: Brand New Day, the villain is an elusive shape shifter that can enter people’s bodies and move onto the next one, which in a city like New York that becomes extremely handy.

Enter the fabulous Sadie Sink (The Whale) as the vengeful Jean Grey as she tries to penetrate the ironically named department of damage control led by Bill Metzer played by Tramell Tillman.

Before Spiderman can meet his younger, fierce and feisty villain, he must battle The Hulk and flying red ninja’s in some epic and beautifully shot fight sequences whose impressive visual effects should be rewarded.

Naturally the chemistry between Zendaya and Tom Holland is undeniable but it is really Holland’s growth into the role of Spiderman that is most exhilarating and is the reason this film is so spectacular. A notable scene between Spiderman and Yelena Belova from Black Widow fame is clever and quite sexy as they meet in a steam bath. Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (Little Women) reprises her role as Yelena Belova as she helps Spiderman figure out what Jean Grey wants.

Coupled with the buddy scenes between Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal, Spiderman: Brand New Day works on multiple levels as a fantastic superhero film with high production values in the capable hands of the Hawaiian director that knew exactly what would make this film so successful.

Set entirely in New York, Spiderman: Brand New Day is a celebration of one of the most iconic superhero’s as he outgrows his teenage years and becomes a capable and brave man, trying to win back the girl he loves while dealing with the loss of his beloved aunt May played in flashback scenes by Oscar winner Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny), while battling malevolent forces and looking after his own health.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spiderman: Brand New Day gets a film rating of 8 out of 10 and is darker in tone but is definitely worth seeing.

Highly recommended viewing for those that love the entertaining web slinging franchise.

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