Rod and Karen review the latest entry in the Spider-Man MCU, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” They also discuss movie trailers and your comments.
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SMR 600: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
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Only thing I didn’t like about this movie was how little screen time Marvin Jones III got. I needed some of that sweet, sweet ‘cism that made him famous in Black Lightning, but I guess Disney must have felt the world wasn’t ready for that.
I too, cackled when Frank was doing his J.L. impression. I didn’t hear anyone else laughing.
I love that Rod brought his review up bc that’s one of the things I loved about this movie…the restraint. Saw it with friends and one of them said she was disappointed bc she was unsatisfied bc we didn’t get the return of the friends memories and we didn’t get the Peter/MJ reunion we wanted. But to me that makes it so much better. Spider-Man is so defined by his sacrifice and the amnesia not being able to be undone make a the sacrifice so much greater (not to mention he already spent a whole movie tryna undo it). They don’t have their memories back and maybe they never will but it doesn’t mean that Peter has to be alone…and now his circle includes even more people like his sister Jean Grey. Thank god for Tom and Z’s real life relationship because it comes across amazing on screen…I, for one, am excited to see them fall in love all over again in the future movies—I know it will be work it.
P.S. the pep talk from Aunt May that Jean actually receives had me SOBBING. The action scenes are great, but Marvel always shines to me when it’s sentimental.
Alright, I’m going to have to push back on this review… As someone who manages an international cabal of Ninja, I think that it is clearly possible to be the good guy and have Ninja on your side, just ask Splinter!
Other than that, enjoyable review. This is one of my favorite Spiderman movies and has more emotional depth than the others. It does have too much foreshadowing for my taste, and I would have liked to see a little more nuance and subtlety or even a twist to make it harder to predict. It had a kinda young adult fiction feel to it in some ways.
That being said, the hive-mind ninja fight was amazing! and the story-telling through fight scene choreography was solid throughout!
Hi Rod and Karen,
I loved this Spider-Man and I agree with your review. The doe eyes between Tom and Zendaya as Peter and MJ, melted me. It made me want those crazy kids to be couples endgame even more than I did the last go-round. For me, the most impressive part of the film was the way that it dealt with real issues designed to help the characters evolve, and not just action sequences and jokes. While I love the action and jokes, this entry in the series needed to demonstrate that it was not in a creative holding pattern. It left me wanting more, and that’s exactly what Marvel wanted.
GOD. DAMN. YOU, NED LEEDS!
Sigh, the moment MJ shows her illustration of Spider-Man & Ned playing with Legos before the film advances forward with the Jean Grey/Bill Metzger story proper, on my second viewing of this, recently Thursday (for context, Prime had a special screening for members for 7/29/26, which was the first viewing), I nearly balled like a baby.
Anyway, for a movie with a lot going on, it’s impressive how insular a film about choices, loneliness & sacrifices are. And with this being a new trilogy, directed by Daniel Destin Cretton, beneath all of the web-slinging, PUNISHing & battle royale of jobbers, the film still is hard set on the impact of guilt through two central characters trying to find themselves with not-seasoned Jean Grey & Peter Parker.
And, at first, I was a tad worried this would fall short, due to the “ToO MaNy VillAiNs” conceit that’s been used in a lot of critic circles, but when Scorpion’s fighting Spidey for the final time, as his powers are accelerating, it’s still central on the theme on the gravity of Pete’s pain, why he’s struggling to “just be”, how the “great responsibility” message passed by his aunt (good seeing you again, Marisa Tomei) is crippling him. Trying to live singular worlds is just too much for one man (& even in Grey’s case, one little girl who wants her sister back).
It’s legit great storytelling. Really good point on the Hulk being tacked-on, as that’s not quite explain but as someone who’s usually forgives things like that with a film already on a heater, you say you’re welcome, because man that shit was a great “you’re welcome” that’ll come up later (Hulk/Bruce eventually remembers Peter in comic issue. Might’ve been Secret Wars, idk.).
Anyway, wonderfully acted, excellent direction, Michael Giacchino’s score is otherworldly & grounded & great cinematography.
I know people have reverence for the Spider-Verse films & I do too, but this had “I Am The Night”-vibes from Batman: The Animated Series & components of that episode, really hit home on the responsibility we owe ourselves to be here.
Loved it. Peace.
Ok, so after four viewings of this, I think it’s time for the great Willie D of Geto Boys to do Coon III in honor of Spider-Man using those damn inhibitor chips to mask himself, Jean Grey & that damn Hulk.
The presentations in AMC Prime & Dolby Digital didn’t change the fidelity of the picture much, but I will say it’s better the second time, once the themes of loneliness, prior consequences but once more. Pretty sure 4DX will be cool with 3D glasses.
But we need that Coon III, y’all. Maybe JL Punisher can make an appearance.