FILM REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN – BRAND NEW DAY (12A) ESP RATING: 4/5

Tom Holland’s Spidey breathes fresh life back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe – with a passionately grounded outing that has something for everyone.

And after taking the biggest opening day ($169.8 million) and weekend ever at the US box-office ($360.1m) – and second biggest worldwide behind only Avengers: Endgame – it seems like cinema-goers came out in their droves to see this summer blockbuster.

After taking over the reins from Jon Watts (who did the original Holland-led trilogy), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton does a fantastic job of cramming so much in – keeping accomplished control with so much going on.

Following Dr Strange’s spell at the end of No Way Home, the world has forgotten that Peter Parker exists – leaving him with the mental anguish to deal with, as he distances himself in virtual isolation from his ex-girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).

He still protects New York City as the celebrated superhero Spider-Man, tackling street-level villains, with Michael Mando’s Scorpion as the main antagonist – but briefly showcasing the likes of Tombstone (Marvin Jones III), Ramrod, Boomerang and Tarantula – as this pays homage to classic comics from the Webslinger’s back catalogue. Which is a really nice touch. And The Hand ninjas are thrown-in too.

But when a ‘telepath’ tries to get into Spidey’s head, and mind-controls several people (including the aforementioned Scorpion) in an attempt to gain access to the headquarters of an organisation known as Damage Control – headed by director Bill Metzger (Tramell Tillman) – in search of something highly confidential, this starts off a chain of events that hints at future new X-Men involvement with Stranger Things’ starlet Sadie Sink debuting as Jean Grey. His new anti-hero (eventual) friend Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), Florence Pugh’s White Widow, and police detective DeWolff (Liza Colon-Zayas), all join the ride at various points, as Spidey tries to solve the constantly-evolving case.

To compound matters, an emotionally-vulnerable Parker then visits his old friend Ned, and bumps into MJ, which sends him spiralling down a stressful evolution of his powers when he wakes up with massively heightened senses, and organic webs shooting from his wrists.

This dangerous evolution leads to him seeking the advice of Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, and Parker then makes his own inhibitor – similar to the one Banner uses to suppress the Hulk. Fortunately, Banner also gets dragged into the plot and his ‘Savage’ version of the big green monster is gleefully unleashed two-thirds of the way through.

With some exhilarating action sequences, compelling storyline/sub-plots, great camaraderie between Spidey/The Punisher and Parker/MJ, and a whole lot of ‘heart’ – there’s so much to enjoy here. And of course, a welcomed return for a version of the Hulk we haven’t seen for years.

It does fall foul of a few stereotypical Marvel pacing and nostalgia tropes – but not enough to prevent this from arguably firing out the best MCU movie since No Way Home.

But the real winner here is Tom Holland as Spider-Man himself. He puts so much soul into the role – it makes this iteration of the Webslinger an absolute joy to watch.

Which definitely gives the MCU a thunderbolt up the backside it sorely needed with Avengers: Doomsday being unleashed at Christmas.

This might not exactly be the dawn of a Brand New Day – but it could usher in the start of a brand new era.

ESP Rating: 4/5

Gavin Miller

Thanks to Mike Clarke for contributions – Rating: 4/5

Joshua Miller’s (Gavin’s 12-year-old son) – Rating: 5/5

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Tramell Tillman, Liza Colon-Zayas, Michael Mando, Florence Pugh, Marvin Jones Iii, Billy Clements, Olivia Booth-Ford, Naomi Watts & Marisa Tomei

Running Time: 2 Hrs 25 Mins

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Film Review Venues: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Vue Cinemas Carlisle

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk