SpiderMan – Credits Rolling

When No Way Home came out in 2021, fans thought that this was the perfect ending for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. That is why it came as somewhat of a surprise when a fourth instalment was announced. Not that I was against it as I think his portrayal is the best. I just wasn’t sure how they would carry on the story in a way that made sense. Four eyes have passed since the spell that wiped all memories of Peter Parker from those who knew and loved him. Properly on his own for the first time in his life, he helps fight crime with the police. But when Peter is faced with his most powerful foe yet, he must grapple with who he wants to be and who he truly is.

I have been struggling to care about the various superhero films that have been coming out lately. There was a time when they were new and exciting, but now they have become all the same. I’ve stopped getting my hopes up because I simply don’t want to be disappointed. Marvel, in particular, has been very hit or miss since Avengers Endgame and sometimes I find myself wondering when it will all end. Luckily Brand New Day kind of reinvigorated my love for the franchise. It was so much better than I thought it was going to be!

Holland is in top form. We see a different side to Peter, a more emotional one that I don’t think we’ve been privy to yet. The isolation has clearly been weighing on him and I found myself awing out loud at literally every scene because I just wanted to give him a big hug. Those emotions mixed with the more intense Spider-Man that he grows into was interesting as well and I thought he was able to play both sides perfectly. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon reprised their roles as MJ and Ned. Of course while they no longer remember Peter, the relationships that form between the trio is just as genuine as they were before. Jon Bernthal joins in on the fun as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, and he was such a scene stealer. I was such a fan of his bromance with Peter; their banter and little digs were so funny. Other newcomers included Liza Colon-Zayas (of The Bear fame) who portrayed detective Jean DeWolff, Tramell Tillman as William Metzger, the head of the Department of Damage Control, and Sadie Sink in an undisclosed role that you’ll need to see to believe.

Something about this film just felt different. It was shot in a unique way that made the audience feel like we were in Peter’s mind. The close up shots and slow motion moments added an extra bit of depth that really took us behind the curtain. On the other hand, the action sequences were top notch – my favorite took place in the third act and it was when Peter was fighting against the Inner Demons. The special effects were cool especially with all the webs. It also had a crazy good soundtrack which comes as a surprise to nobody.

I didn’t know what to expect going into it, Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a total blast. I had such a fun time watching it in a packed room of people who all cheered and clapped throughout. This has given me hope for the future of the Marvel franchise and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

In 2018, Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse took the world by storm with its intricate storytelling and beyond insane animation styles. Now, five years later, we have the much anticipated sequel Across The Spider-Vers. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is thrust into a world full of Spider-People who want to protect their own. But when the heroes clash on how best to handle a new foe, Miles may need to rethink his destiny.

Full disclosure: I was one of those people who was late to the party. Having only watched the first film last fall, I was immediately swept up into it all. I understood the hype and couldn’t believe I’d slept on it for so long. And luckily this new installment is just as good as its predecessor.

Never have I ever seen such amazing visuals in a film before. It’s a shock to the senses with many different things going on at once, but it totally works. The comic book feel is elevated to the max and I commend the animators for going these distances. Seeing life in various universes was such an amazing experience as well.

Moore once again brings it as our main man Miles. Struggling to juggle every day life and his hero lifestyle is no easy feat and he’s learning as he goes along. I enjoyed having more backstory on Stenfield’s Gwen and am looking forward to her solo film already. The rest of the characters are voiced by some incredible talents in Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Brian Tyree Henry and Daniel Kaluuya, all of who the film wouldn’t be the same without.

As much as I enjoyed the film, I have to admit that I found it too long. Though this is part one of a two part epic, I did think it was dragged out at times. Additionally, there were some scenes in the middle that were on the slower side. They took me out of the action and weren’t always necessary.

Overall, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse was a damn good time, but it didn’t completely sell me. Maybe that will change after the second part comes out next year. I still think it’s one of the most impressive superhero films of all time and it certainly warranted the applause it got at the end.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5