It should come as no surprise to any of my beautiful readers that I am, and always shall be, a huge fan of Spider-Man. Of all the superheroes who have stood the test of time, Spidy is probably the one who has stood the strongest, even through the worst of times, because he has always stood strong for us. Much like Superman over at DC Comics, Spider-Man is the embodiment of human strength and perseverance; a hero with human struggles and a desire to do and be better in this crazy sad world, and never gives up on anyone. He is, quite literally, willing to put his life on the line to help people, not only because he can, but because he wants to. Spider-Man is all of us, in his own way.
The latest cinematic offering of our friendly neighbor, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, may not be the absolute best Spider-Man movie ever made, but it is certainly earned its place in my top 5 best Spider-Man media (which I will determine and release in the future). This film succeeds in understanding what makes Spider-Man so relatable, exploring why he matters to the world, and delivering a story that solidifies it all in an entertaining and heartfelt presentation. Not to mention, a visual style with actual texture and personality; something that Marvel has been sadly lacking as of late, but we'll get to that in due time.
Taking place some time after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spidy has been living his life as best he can on his own: helping people, surviving solo life in the big city, and fighting his frustrations with his responsibilities, including avoiding his old friends and loved ones for their own protection. Things take a turn for the unusually dangerous when Spidy encounters a villain who can "possess" people at will, attempting to break into the headquarters of a private research and defense group called Damage Control, in search of something called V-Max. This couldn't have come at a worse time for Spidy, as he happens to be dealing with some serious personal issues, along with a sudden change in his biology, causing him headaches and occasional bursts of overpowered rage. Can Spider-Man work out these personal struggles before things get worse for everyone?
What makes me so drawn to this particular film is how masterfully it tackles an issue I have always been passionate about: the importance of mental and emotional health. While this isn't the first Spider-Man film to tackle this particular subject (that distinction remains with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2), and without going into too many details as to avoid spoilers (intentional or not), the film is a well crafted allegory for the dangerous effects that things like unresolved personal problems, and isolation can have on a persons personality and well being. It is an issue that, sadly, isn't taken as seriously as it desperately should be, and I will always call out and applaud works of art that put in the effort to raise awareness of it, and advocate for better mental health.
Relatable thematic elements aside, the film is also incredibly amazing in its own right! The writing is masterfully crafted and witty, the performances are spot-on, the action scenes are visceral and engaging without being needlessly flashy, and Destin Daniel Cretton's direction perfectly balances character development and narrative progression with the action. Not to mention the special effects, especially with the webbing, are probably the best-looking yet for a Spider-Man film.
Speaking of looks, the film also boasts a beautiful visual style that actually "looks" like a movie. Some of my beautiful readers may recall my occasional mentioning of digital cameras using what is called a LOG profile: a camera setting that allows the image to retain as much possible detail in the brightest and darkest parts of the image, allowing the user to present images where everything is visible at all times. The problem with this setting, as of late, is that not enough filmmakers are adjusting the color and exposure in such a way, that provides any sense of texture or personality; resulting in images that look bland, flat, and lacking any kind of depth. It's essentially the polar opposite of the Ganzfeld effect; because you're shown everything, you really see nothing!
But with cinematographer Brett Pawlak behind the lens, the images for Spider-Man: Brand New Day have actual personality that both harken back to the classic Spider-Man comics, and provide a sense of depth and texture, resulting in images that are fascinating to behold. What is it about these images that are so engaging? One word: shadows! Unlike most Marvel films, or any other digitally captured high-budget Hollywood product these days, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is less concerned with ensuring that every single detail is completely visible, and more interested in having a voice. I genuinely hope we see more Marvel movies in the future with this kind of commitment to its images.
Now that I have finished gushing about this wonderful film, it's time for me to mention a few nitpicks: some of the cameos featured in the early minutes of the film feel wasted; some of the best moments were given away in the trailers and thus weren't as impactful as they might have been; and parts of the editing may trigger uncomfortable reactions to some viewers (though, to be fair, those moments are very few and far in between, and are completely understandable).
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the closest thing to a cinematic masterpiece with our friendly neighbor that we have had in a long time. While I wouldn't consider it my absolute favorite piece of Spider-Man media (again, the list is coming), it is officially ranked high on my personal list. It is a film with so much heart, so much creative goodness, and so much of what makes Spider-Man such a relatable character, that it almost feels overwhelming in the best possible way. Fans and non-fans alike will find something in this film that speaks to them, and it will feel as amazing as it is spectacular.
Swing your way to the nearest theater and catch this movie in your web!
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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