Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Movie Review)

With Avengers: Doomsday looming on the horizon, the Marvel Cinematic Universe hype train has one last stop to farm as much audience goodwill as it can get. So it is a good thing then that the stop in question just so happens to be the latest Spider-Man movie. After all, Spider-Man is arguably the most popular superhero within its vast pantheon of superheroes. But with three movies already in the can, it is only fair to wonder if the webslinger still has enough tricks up his sleeve to farm said goodwill. Or is Spider-Man: Brand New Day merely another random stop in a long, aimless journey?

The movie takes place four years after the events of No Way Home. In that time, Peter Parker has continued to serve New York City as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, even though its inhabitants have no memory of the man behind the mask, specifically his best friends, Ned and MJ. But his world gets upended once again when an unknown mutant with the ability to manipulate others threatens to harm the people dearest to him. Now he must work with the Department of Damage Control, all while struggling with mutations of his own, to neutralize the threat before it is too late.

If you are someone who frequents the nerdier corners of this bustling digital metropolis we call the internet, or a member of comic book movie fandom specifically, then chances are you already know the mutant alluded to in that synopsis. But in the off-chance that you don't, rest assured that I won't be spoiling who it is, even though I found the secrecy behind the character leading up to the film's release a bit ridiculous and ultimately pointless. It was like the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield fiasco from No Way Home all over again, except this specific character's reveal within the movie was nowhere near as impactful.

As for the movie itself, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a lot working in its favor. Right off the jump, we are treated to some of the sweeping, kinetic swinging sequences that have come to define the larger Spider-Man film franchise. And those sequences have never looked as good as they do here, with near-seamless transitions between VFX body doubles and the live-action actors. There were one or two shots with obvious green screen effects, but by and large, the film looks great, and I implore you to try to see it on the best screen available.

The same praise extends to the action scenes in general. Each one was solidly crafted and appropriately cinematic. I especially loved the fights with The Hand, as they showcased some of the best martial arts seen in the MCU since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which makes sense considering both movies were directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Another clear highlight was the fight with the Hulk, even though it was relatively brief and it left me wanting more.

Still on the topic of visuals, I really enjoyed the body-hopping effect used to depict the powers of the mutant whose name I will not mention. There was this sense of momentum behind it, and I know a lot of that was performance-driven, but the cinematography and editing also go the extra mile to really help sell the effect. Speaking of performance, we already know what to expect from our main trio of Peter, Ned and MJ. They were all fine. The real question is how did the new additions fare, particularly Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle and Sadie Sink as She Who Must Not Be Named.

The latter was basically Max 2.0, and I was admittedly disappointed by her portrayal of this particular iteration of the character. But it was the former that irked me the most, as they effectively turned The Punisher into a watered-down version of what we got in the Netflix and Disney+ shows. Think Nick Fury in The Marvels, though nowhere near as egregious. I guess I should have known that from the trailers, but I honestly didn't anticipate how much of a joke the character would become, complete with signature MCU quips and all.

And while we are still on the subject of things I didn't like, I also found issue with the pacing. The movie dragged in places,  nearly slowing down to a crawl during what were supposed to be emotional beats that didn't quite land with me. Maybe I am just becoming old and grouchy, but I found myself checking the time on my phone more than once, which is a pretty good indication that I was losing interest. Thankfully, there was more than enough of the good stuff to help offset the doldrums and make the movie ultimately worthwhile.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the closest thing to a Shang-Chi sequel we've gotten thus far. It shares much of that movie's DNA, particularly the kickass martial arts and next-level choreography. Destin Daniel Cretton clearly has a flair for directing highly stylized action scenes, and a talented production and effects team to help bring those sequences to life. So even though his movie might not quite reach the heights of prior entries, or do much to build hype for Avengers: Doomsday, it is still another solid overall outing for the webhead and fans of his nimble acrobatic antics.

The Odyssey (Movie Review)

Like most high-profile movies nowadays, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has been bogged down in controversy. Most of that centers upon its interpretation of the source material, as well as some casting choices that I can only describe as questionable. But regardless of what side of those never-ending culture war debates you happen to land, there is no denying the fact that anticipation for the movie itself is at an all-time high. So does the film successfully sail past the siren song of all that noise, or does it get shipwrecked by the godlike fury of angry film fans?

In typical Christopher Nolan fashion, the story of The Odyssey is told in a nonlinear manner, primarily through flashbacks. But the general gist is as follows. It has been many years since Odysseus, the king of the Greek island of Ithaca, was last seen, ever since going to fight in the Trojan War, even though there have been tales of his exploits. In his prolonged absence, tensions rise as suitors gather in his hall, seeking to inherit his kingdom by marrying his wife, Penelope. Except Odysseus is not dead but merely caught by the many trials that have plagued his journey home, as he struggles to return in time to save what's left of his kingdom.

Heading into 2026, I knew there was one movie I absolutely had to see. And that film was The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's first foray into the realm of epic fantasy. And he couldn't have possibly chosen something meatier because Homer's Odyssey remains till today one of the quintessential works of Greek mythology. Even though I must confess that most of my initial exposure to the material came through other adaptations like Ulysses and the Percy Jackson book, Sea of Monsters. But from what I know, there's plenty there for a director like Nolan to sink his teeth into.

And sink his teeth into it he does with an adaptation that feels faithful yet modernized. It touches upon a lot of the familiar beats from the source material but is told through a contemporary lens, a fact that is reflected in the use of modern language for dialogue as well as the diverse casting. These are the two main areas of contention for the purists out there, and a lot of that backlash is valid. But I'd be lying if I said I was bothered by any of it beyond the first five minutes of the film. Because once I got over that initial hurdle of seeing Travis Scott belting out stories as the resident bard, I was fully locked in and immersed in the narrative.

It did take a fair bit of time for that story to kick into gear. But even though the film is just shy of 3 hours long, a hard limit imposed by its use of IMAX cameras, it never felt overlong or like it overstayed its welcome. Speaking of IMAX cameras, I didn't see the movie in IMAX, but was still able to appreciate its grand scale and scope. Everything about the film felt larger than life, from its sprawling locations and sets to the cinematography that captures all of it in jaw-dropping detail. Put plainly, this is one you'd definitely want to see in a cinema.

A lot of that praise must also extend to the mostly practical effects that help bring the movie to life. I hear that a large 60-foot-tall puppet was built for the cyclops, along with clever use of forced perspective for the armored giants. And it all blends together seamlessly to sell the illusion, keeping the movie grounded while still exploring the fantastical elements of its story. Nolan is known for his aversion to CGI, and the fact that they were able to accomplish so much with very little of it is a testament to the wizardry of his production team.

But the real standout in my opinion was the incredible score by Ludwig Goranson and the movie's overall sound design. His music was able to elevate the visuals in the best way possible, adding layers of tension when needed. I'd be surprised if he doesn't pick up yet another Oscar next year, along with the entire sound team. The screams of that cyclops, echoing inside its cave, will haunt my nightmares for weeks to come, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

In terms of performances, Matt Damon was a more than capable lead. The same goes for Anne Hathaway as Penelope. Even Elliot Page and Lupita Nyong'o gave half-decent portrayals of their characters. The only truly weak link among the bunch was Travis Scott, a casting that Nolan himself confesses was born out of their trying to draw a link between the storytelling of bards of old and that of rappers today. And considering how little he was in the actual film, I imagine it would have been possible to cut out his scenes entirely and the movie wouldn't be worse for it.

The Odyssey is a sprawling epic fantasy adventure worthy of the Christopher Nolan name. It is the work of a director who is clearly in full control of his craft and all the resources at his disposal. And for a movie that seemed engineered to leave moviegoers divided, I was surprised by how much it plays like a crowdpleaser. I, of course, recognize that not everyone would be able to overlook some of its more "creative" choices. But if you are willing to accept the movie for what it is, then you just might be in for a journey like none other.