Movie Review: 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' ... Chapter 4 of Moving Forward While Carrying Pain

I went to see the latest Spider-Man movie, released today (July 31st).
This article will be written (with spoilers), so please be aware if you haven't seen it yet.

I went to the movies about once a month in the first half of this year, and this is my fourth time in July. It's still on the low side, and since I'm someone who normally goes to the cinema as naturally as breathing, I'd like to see even more films in the second half of the year.

Now, what was the content of the fourth Tom Holland Spider-Man film, which can be called a blockbuster to close out July?

Filmarks Review

Spider-Man: Brand New Day(2026 film)

The fourth Tom Holland Spider-Man film, which seemed to have closed its curtains with the overwhelming scale and star-studded cast of No Way Home.
Since the announcement of its production, there were views that it might be 'unnecessary,' and there is no doubt that this work holds a unique position among the many comic book movies.

When I actually watched it... I see, this was indeed a 'necessary sequel' for Peter.
It depicts the aftermath for Peter, who disappeared from people's memories in exchange for saving the world in the previous film. The focus is on whether he can regain his bonds with MJ and Ned.
While it had been every two years until the last film, this one came after four years, so my first impression was that the cast had grown up. The part in the beginning where Peter gets sick from stress and his abilities as Spider-Man are hindered really hit home. I also had health issues for similar reasons around spring. I felt a sense of kinship, realizing that heroes are human on the inside, and their minds and bodies are connected, so they can't always be in perfect condition.

In this film, what I found most brilliant and tricky was the enemy's ability. The invisible enemy that possesses others was eerie and appeared to be an unprecedentedly difficult opponent, but as its true identity and the reality of its abilities were revealed, there was even a twist regarding the internal situation. And that development even encouraged Peter's personal growth. This leads to an ending as an orthodox drama, so it's a story that truly embodies 'simple is best.' This structure, while scattering mystery-solving elements, is nothing short of wonderful. It was truly a hero movie.
The previous film was a finale, but it was a bitter ending that ended with overcoming sadness while carrying new sadness. In contrast, this film, as the title suggests, reached a new day beyond that sadness. I was impressed that this was the script Tom Holland was satisfied with.

The action is brilliant and powerful as always, but I was surprised by Peter's physique, as I had the impression that Spider-Man was slender. Was Spider-Man the type to look thinner with clothes on? (lol)

Although it is a long film at two and a half hours, it is not boring, just like the previous one, because the truth of the incident and Peter's personal drama are intertwined and unfold moderately.
It was a story about our friendly neighborhood hero that ended pleasantly, moved by an epilogue that clearly and easily depicted 'growth.'

...Because of that, I felt the usual line after the end credits was unnecessary. That is the reason I couldn't give it a perfect score.
Well, I'm sure there are people who will be happy about it, though...

Score... 4.8

Becoming the 'third time's the charm' in both name and reality

As you know, Spider-Man has been rebooted many times, and the same protagonist, Peter Parker, has been played by various actors. It is well known that three Peter Parkers from different dimensions came together in No Way Home four years ago, but it was also a spectacle that will remain in film history.

The first, so-called Raimi version, had talk of a fourth film but it didn't materialize, and the next Amazing series also ended after two films (it seems there were plans for a third, but I feel it was a blessing in disguise that it gave us a wonderful ending in the second). Including his appearance in the Avengers, the current MCU version of Spider-Man has been going on the longest, and I feel like he has finally become a Spider-Man that unfolds as planned, or rather, beyond the initial plan. Filmmaking is always a battle with irregularities, and there are many times when things don't go as planned. It can be said that it is the 'third time's the charm' precisely because of the name recognition and the strength of the content of Spider-Man's class. I don't think it's an exaggeration to feel the charisma of the friendly neighborhood hero who is the 'face' of comic book heroes there.

The boy finally becomes a senior in life

As I wrote in the Filmarks review above, the enemy character was good this time. It's a pity that it's not in the pamphlet because uncovering its existence is a major goal in the story (I haven't read it thoroughly yet, so it might be somewhere), but it was a good character that also had important meaning for Peter. Even though he was the youngest young warrior when he first appeared in Civil War, Tom Holland's Peter has finally reached a position where he can advise those younger than him.
Along with that, this time, he also gives an answer to the anguish he has held as a hero; he has completely reached the 'next' step after No Way Home—this is undoubtedly the significance of making a sequel, and it was moving.

I think this film is so well-crafted as a story about Spider-Man after the Avengers that it could be called the second half to the previous film, No Way Home. To be honest, from Peter's perspective, the previous film was nothing but bitterness from start to finish, but I felt that this film is a story about gradually overcoming that bitterness.
As a piece of drama, it was highly polished and refreshing.

This is the fourth movie pamphlet I've bought this year, and all of them were impulse buys. Isn't it cheap if you can feel happy for just over 1,000 yen?

Also, the biggest bitterness this time, I think, is 'that scene' in the middle where he runs away with MJ. I kind of expected it, but that was quite a mental attack. However, in that scene, I knew the real-life relationship between the actors—not the characters—so I didn't feel that much bitterness. In a way, those who didn't know might have enjoyed it even more.

With that, those were my thoughts on the latest Spidey movie, which met my expectations and even added a little something extra. I'll also add that because of time constraints, I went to a regular screening, but it made me want to see it in IMAX if I get the chance.
Although there aren't many, I will conclude this article by summarizing the Spider-Man related articles I have written so far.