Spiderman: Brand New Day - Head Spin

Spiderman: Brand New Day

2026

Genre: Superhero

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Battalion, John Berthal

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Much like Black Panther, this edition of Spiderman is staying with me, asking me to contemplate, to look beyond the fun but predictable action sequences to those quiet moments of conversation in between.  Here we can look put aside the bravado of superheroes and villains to see the moral dilemmas and existential questions of everyday human beings. 

Ironically, while Spiderman remains a web spinning topic for thousands of fans, Peter Parker is all but forgotten, perhaps even unto himself. Unable to bear the grief of having to give up the ones he loves for a higher good,  Peter buries himself in his crime fighting alter ego, all the while struggling with physical and mental pain.  He soon discovers that his arachnid instincts are growing and at times, going out of control. To me, it suggests a transitional stage in the Hero's Journey, where he must come to terms with a greater purpose.  

To the nemesis in this movie however, his state of mind proves a valuable tool to, yet again, razing New York City's skyline.  But right and wrong are only a few notches apart, as the nemesis too is feeling much the same pain and dilemma, and is lashing out in rage. 

Deep turmoil find solace in tender moments. Both Ms. Tomei and Zendaya are given room to act as grounding to the otherwise ''injured animal'' feel of this film. However, I personally feel that the inclusion of other Marvel characters into the plot weakened its intentions. But, hey, we must remember that all this is for the kids. 

The message is as much for them as for us. We have fallen into a trap all too American, solipsism and loneliness. There is great need to look beyond the  fatalism and individualism to recognize that our individual destinies are, in reality, instruments to a Higher Good.