“Spider-Man Brand New Day” hit the theaters sprinting on Jul 31. According to Rotten Tomatoes, opening weekend its box-office two and a half million dollars behind “Avengers: Endgame,” three days later, it was nearly three million ahead of “Endgame.” The next weekend, it joins the list of movies to have broken a second weekend, $100 million box office with an impressive $144.5 million, right below “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”($149.2 million) and “Endgame”(147.3 million), putting them at third on the short list of eight. 

After just ten days, “Brand New Day” takes the first grossing movie with $655.1 million, “Endgame” and “the Force Awakens” following close behind.

As someone who refused to watch a trailer, clip, interview or anything related to “Brand New Day” so I could be completely and utterly surprised, I have to say it’s exactly what I wanted to see from Tom Holland as Peter Parker. He needed the angst and struggle that comes with the mask. This movie gave me that. Holland was always missing the goofy humor and awkward teen that Andrew Garfeild perfected. He was also missing the element of the mental conflicts that Toby McGuire had struggled with as Peter Parker. 

I also enjoyed, in the least sick and twisted way possible, that MJ, played by Zendaya, forgot who he was. The trope gave a similar feeling to when Andrew Garfeild’s Gwen Stacy died in his movies. Now add in Jean Grey, a telekinetic played by Sadie Sink. Grey ends up putting Peter’s emotions through hell by controlling MJ and playing with his feelings to beat him easier in a fight is a whole other thing.  

I think it’s a good thing that MJ and Peter didn’t automatically get into a relationship and fall helplessly in love again. Same with him and Ned’s, portrayed by Jacob Batolon, friendship. One major plotline was that Peter needed to realize that he can’t do it on his own like he thought, he needs help —  be that from a begrudgingly Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal, or Yeleana Belova, played by Florence Pugh. Or maybe he needs to go back and explain to his best friend and “man in his chair,” Ned, why he doesn’t remember who Peter is. 

The point is, Parker has to figure out for himself who he’s going to let in and help him. 

The heartbreak that the movie brings through both Parker and Grey, sends the message that you can’t go through life alone, especially when you’ve lost people close to you.

Something else I enjoyed, bringing in the idea of Parker becoming more and more a manspider rather than a spiderman is a comic book kids dream. What happens is, the added stress that comes with working alone, is causing his DNA to shift and morph into more arachnid than human. This subplot adds to the main plot of him figuring out who he is as Spiderman, which I love. I also enjoy the callback to MaGuire’s Peter when he is taken over by the symbiote.

Bringing back the Hulk was also an amazing add in, and not the mushy Hulk from “She-Hulk” or the half-hulk, half-banner we see in “Endgame.” But it was the mean, nothing but rage and conquest Hulk that we had before. 

Another interesting thing to point out is the ending. Grey has MJ and Ned, as well as the entire population within a Kilometer of the Department of Damage Control, under her control using her mind. While this is happening, we see MJ crying. Later we see her on the same rooftop as the one Peter, Ned and MJ sat atop as they dreamed of their time at MIT, clutching the necklace that Peter had given her in “Spiderman: Far From Home,” slowly smiling to herself.  

This could mean that when Grey had her hold on them, she had given MJ her memories back. The only caveat in this idea is that why would she not do the same to Ned? And if she did, then why at the very end, when Peter sees Ned at a corner store, did Ned not recognize Peter immediately rather than recognizing him after they go through the motions of their handshake from when they were best friends?
All of this to say this was an amazing movie that really brought the look, feel, and both comfort and uncomfortableness of its counterparts. It really made me think about all the hardships I’ve gone through and how much easier they may have been if I had let myself lean on my friends and family. I would give this movie a 4.5/5.