Tonight's Movie: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

It's been a busy couple of weeks, including attending the D23 Expo, so I'm only now reviewing SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (2026), which I saw earlier this month.

BRAND NEW DAY is the fourth of Tom Holland's Spider-Man films of the past decade, following SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019), and SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021).

It's hard to believe it's been half a decade since the last film, and after the long wait -- including something of a cliffhanger ending -- I was particularly excited to see it. Right from the start I loved Tom Holland's welcome to the theater, in the style of some of Tom Cruise's introductions, saying "We made it for you."

As Marvel fans know, the previous film concluded with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casting a spell to make the world forget Peter Parker (Holland), aka Spider-Man.

Those who have forgotten Peter include the love of his life, MJ (Zendaya, now the real-life Mrs. Holland), and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).

Peter leads a lonely existence in his apartment, though he emerges regularly to fight crime as Spider-Man. Indeed, that's really all he has in his life at this juncture.

As Spider-Mann, Peter has a professional relationship of sorts over the phone with a New York police detective (Liza Colon-Zayas) and he sometimes interacts with his "frenemy" Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), aka the Punisher, but Peter is now very much a loner.

As MJ and Ned graduate from MIT and move back to New York, Peter sees them and yearns to reach out, but he's also dealing with serious problems in the form of a telepath (Sadie Sink) who hops from body to body while causing mayhem.

Spider-Man reaches out to Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) for information regarding the telepath, but while she's able to provide a bit of useful information, Peter's problems are growing: His superpowers are acting very strangely. Perhaps Peter can get ideas from Professor Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), though Bruce no longer has any idea who he is...

Needless to say there's much more to the story, but I'll leave off with that as I don't want to be spoiler-y given that the film was just released.

Holland is excellent as an older, sadder Peter/Spider-Man; he's quite endearing in the role. The viewer aches for his losses and loneliness -- viewers will remember that he also lost Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) in the last film -- and wants to see him happy.

The movie presenting Spider-Man and Frank as having a backstory was confusing, inasmuch as Frank has never before appeared in a Spider-Man film; apparently he and Peter became acquainted during the years since the last film. Thanks to my daughter, at least I knew who the Punisher was before seeing the film!

The movie also makes great use of Yelena; Pugh is seen only briefly but has some very funny line deliveries about dealing with "big potato stuff" while Spider-Man is dealing wtih "small potato stuff."

I was particularly impressed with the way Aunt May is creatively woven into the story in ways that are both natural and moving; May is ultimately a significant key to the plot.

One of the film's strengths is an excellent theme about isolation and the human need for others; indeed, Holland improvised a line Peter delivers at Aunt May's gravesite, "You'd be happy to know that I've decided I'm not going to do this alone anymore."

Given that we often heard during lockdowns that moviegoing was dead and in the future everyone would stay home and stream, there's sweet justice in a movie about the perils of human isolation earning absolutely staggering box office returns.

One of my only criticisms of the film is that although I liked the film's final scene, the audience is left hanging regarding Peter's relationships with MJ and Ned, which was unsatisfying after waiting five years.

Other than that, my main critique of the movie is that the telepath's villainy, taking over bodies, feels like a cheat, rather how I feel about the multiverse concept in general; nothing means anything if nothing is guaranteed to be real and anything can happen anywhere. There's a scene midway through the film with Peter, MJ, and the telepath which I frankly found cruel to viewers.

Otherwise, SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is pure entertainment. It was quite long, at 145 minutes, yet the time flew by. It was wonderful to spend time with characters we've come to care about deeply, and hopefully it won't be another five years before the next movie!

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and filmed by

Brett Pawlak.

The movie was scored by Michael Giacchino, who I had the pleasure of seeing interviewed by soundtrack historian Jon Burlingame at the D23 Expo a few days ago. Giacchino has described removing notes from the usual Spider-Man theme to give it a more "lonely" sound.

Parental Advisory: This film is rated PG-13. It has the usual "classic Marvel" level of non-graphic violence mixed with positive themes about caring for others.

A trailer is here.

As a postscript of sorts, I especially enjoyed this film as, despite my enjoyment of Marvel films over a great many years, as seen below, I skipped all of the releases from 2021 to 2025, which uniformly looked dark and unappealing. Marvel has returned to form with THUNDERBOLTS* (2025), THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025), and SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY.

Unfortunately, if the latest trailer is a good indicator, the upcoming AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY (2026) looks like a very dark return to the style of films such as DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2022) and ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (2023) which were among the titles I skipped. If a leaked DOOMSDAY plot point I read was accurate, I won't be seeing it, but I'm still hopeful it was a false rumor. We'll find out in December.

Update: SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY will be released on Blu-ray and other formats December 15, 2026.

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), BLACK PANTHER (2018), AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018), CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019), AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019), BLACK WIDOW (2021), SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (2021), SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021), THUNDERBOLTS* (2025), and THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025).

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Tonight's Movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

December has been a busy time, but last week I was able to slip in an afternoon screening of the latest Marvel film, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021).

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME is a sequel to SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017) and SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019), and of course it also builds on other films in which Spider-Man has appeared, including AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019).

I'm somewhat limited in what I can say about the film at this juncture without being spoilery, which is perhaps more of an issue with this film than many Marvel films. I'll start off by mentioning that I'm very glad I'd seen the animated film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (2018) and learned about the "multiverse" concept, which I think pretty much everyone knows at this point is a key aspect of this film.

A brief plot description: Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has had his identity as Spider-Man revealed to the world, which has negative repercussions for Peter, his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).

Peter visits Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), wondering if the Sorceror Supreme could erase everyone in the world knowing, except for MJ, Ned, and Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), and...let's just say things don't go exactly as Peter and Doctor Strange originally planned.

It's a very good movie, which is, as the headline for Justin Chang's review in the Los Angeles Times aptly puts it, "a joyous valentine to Spider-Man movies and their fans." Fans will appreciate a number of happy surprises.

The script by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers is mostly good, but there are a couple weak aspects. A key plot device involves Spider-Man perhaps acting his age but not with the wisdom he has ostensibly acquired through his experiences. I would have liked the script to have arrived in the same place via a different route. I'm being deliberately vague but suspect those who have seen the film will be able to guess what I'm describing.

There's also a heavy sequence midway through which I almost felt was too much, especially given what Peter has already been through in his young life.  

Finally, I felt the movie's resolution leaned too heavily on a recognizable plot device from the Christopher Reeve SUPERMAN films. Some might say, "What do you expect, it's a superhero film?" but I would have liked a little more creativity regarding the film's wrap-up.

The cast is excellent, and I especially liked the writing and performance for Zendaya's MJ in this go-round; her character is less edgy and more charming.

Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange seems to have gone backwards somewhat, reverting to the more egotistical personality of DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), which is a bit of a surprise after the wisdom he showed in helping to resolve the fate of the world in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018) and AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019).  Perhaps that experience caused him to become overconfident once more?

That personality flaw, along with the multiverse concept, seems to be setting up the next film in the cycle, DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2022). The final credits tag scene of SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME has a preview which is identical to the MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS teaser trailer. That film will be released on May 6, 2022.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME was directed by Jon Watts and filmed by Mauro Fiore. It runs a well-paced 2 hours and 28 minutes.

Parental Advisory: Like all Marvel films, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME is rated PG-13 for non-graphic violence. And like all Marvel films, it depicts positive concepts such as friendship, loyalty, courage, and teamwork.

The November 2021 trailer for this film may be watched on YouTube.

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), BLACK PANTHER (2018), AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018), CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019), AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019), BLACK WIDOW (2021), and SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (2021).

I wasn't able to make time to see ETERNALS (2021) before it disappeared from local theaters, so I'll probably be seeing it when it makes its debut on Disney+ in mid-January. That will make ETERNALS the first Marvel film since GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014) which I haven't seen first in a theater.

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Tonight's Movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

The new animated film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (2018) seemed to come out of nowhere; I'd not heard a thing about it until our daughter attended a preview last week and urged me to see it. Other reviewers strongly echoed her recommendation so I went to see it today.

Although Sony/Columbia gave Disney rights to use the Spider-Man character in their live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe series, including SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), Sony otherwise maintained rights to the character and thus released this new Marvel animated feature.

Since I'm unfamiliar with the Spider-Man character outside of his appearances in the Disney-owned Marvel films, my daughter gave me a brief primer on the concept of "alternate universes" which allowed Marvel to create multiple Spider-Man characters. That was definitely helpful; while on one level the film is very "accessible" and explains the concept well, at the same time it moves at warp speed, so it was easier for me to absorb the story thanks to having that background. I'd recommend potential viewers do a bit of similar reading -- and then go see the film, which is excellent.

Young middle school student Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is navigating some of the usual pitfalls of teenage life, including trying to fit in at a new school and letting a girl know he likes her, when late one night he's spending time hanging out with his Uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali) and is bitten by a radioactive spider.

Miles suddenly has bewildering new powers, including sticky hands and the ability to walk on the sides of buildings. Simultaneously he meets the Spider-Man of his universe, Peter Parker (Chris Pine)...and then a bunch more "spider" people from other worlds begin turning up, because mobster Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) has opened up pathways from other dimensions. Miles finds himself working to save his universe and return his new "spider" friends to their own worlds.

That may sound a bit complicated but I didn't have any trouble keeping up; the film benefits from the fact that while there are a lot of "spider people" (including Spider-Ham, a pig!) floating around, the straight line through the movie is the story of Miles maturing and growing into his own role as Spider-Man.

There are far too many excellent moments to mention, besides which the viewer should be surprised; that said, the late Stan Lee made one of his patented cameos in this film, albeit in animated fashion, and it's a special moment. Watch for it. There's also a lovely tribute to Lee and artist Steve Ditko in the end credits.

I'll also say that the Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage) character is a treat for classic film fans!

The story is told with both great humor and genuine heart, presented in a kinetic, uniquely designed visual package. Like most movies these days, it's slightly too long at 117 minutes, but only just.

Favorite reviewer Leonard Maltin wrote that SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE was "the most spectacular animated feature I’ve ever seen." I personally found that praise a bit over the top -- but yes, it is a very good film and well worth seeing.

This film was directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman. Co-Producer/Co-Writer Phil Lord also wrote THE LEGO MOVIE (2014), which I would include on a short list of spectacular animated features.

The only real negative for me was that the stylized camera work -- sometimes shaky, out of focus, or duplicating what was on screen with "shadows" -- was too hard on the eyes. The filmmakers were going for a frenetic "as fast as you can turn the pages" comic book feel but the dizzying style made it hard for me to keep my eyes on the screen at some points. I'm very glad I watched it in 2D as I think 3D would have been "too much"!

All that said, the film deserves praise for creating a unique look, including periodic "thought bubbles" and bits of comic book pages on the screen, which made it very visually arresting.

The voice cast also includes Lily Tomlin, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Kimiko Glenn, John Mulaney, Kathryn Hahn, Jake Johnson, and Lake Bell.

Parental Advisory: This film is rated PG. It's quite "clean" in every respect, and that was one aspect among many I appreciated about the film.

A trailer is here.

This film was an unexpected animated treat which I recommend.

Tonight's Movie: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

I began watching Marvel films on Independence Day in 2015, with CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011).

It's hard to believe, but SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017) marks my 16th Marvel review of the last two years, following reviews of 14 earlier movies and one TV series.

As much as I enjoy Marvel movies, I wasn't expecting all that much from SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, as the idea of a teenage superhero didn't interest me very much. I went to the movie on the basis of Marvel's track record and because the movie also features one of my Marvel favorites, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.).

I'm delighted to report I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Tom Holland is a sympathetic Peter Parker, juggling teen angst, schoolwork, and a crush on Liz (Laura Harrier) with the letdown he feels when it's back to reality after his role in the airport battle of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016).

Peter wants to join the Avengers in saving the world, but Tony, aka Iron Man, wants Peter to mature. Peter is monitored by Tony's righthand man, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), and despite the fact that Iron Man has to bail Peter out of a predicament, Peter disables the tracking device in his suit so he can try to fight the bad guys on his own. Probably not a good idea!

Meanwhile Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) wonders what on earth is going on with Peter's mysterious comings and goings; you'd think since he's an "intern" for Tony Stark she might get a clue, but it never seems to occur to her that her nephew is home late because he's been out saving the world! (Or at least his corner of New York.)

I love the way Marvel films tie events and themes together; worry about "collateral damage" leads to the Sokovia Accords in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, and though it's not directly addressed here, there are certainly a lot of people also affected when Spider-Man starts chasing bad guys.

In fact, I thought it was inspired that SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING starts in the aftermath of the Battle of New York. Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) has a contract to clean up the rubble, and when the government cancels his contract, the resentful Adrian makes off with a bunch of discarded alien weaponry.

Keaton is a fine villain, and while the motivations of some Marvel villains haven't always been completely clear (see: AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON), his anger makes total sense. The conflict between his villainous side and his love for his family gives the character some real depth, and his "tag" scene during the end credits is really interesting.

Speaking of tag scenes, we saw the movie with a big crowd who waited patiently through the end credits for the now-expected Marvel tag scenes...and the last one got quite a laugh!

A highlight for me was Tony's final scene, which was completely unexpected -- I'm glad I didn't read the IMDb credits before seeing the movie -- and made me quite happy.

In a bit of fun casting, Jennifer Connelly (THE ROCKETEER) provides the suit's computer voice, which Peter dubs "Karen." Connelly is the wife of Paul Bettany, who voices Tony's assistant Jarvis/Vision in the Marvel films.

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING was directed by Jon Watts and filmed by Salvatore Totino. It runs 133 minutes -- and yes, like most movies these days, maybe they could have found a few minutes to cut out for a more streamlined story.

Like last fall's DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING has a good score by Michael Giacchino. You may not leave the theater humming like you do with a John Williams theme, but this pair of films has much better music than most of the Marvel movies.

Parental Advisory: SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING is rated PG-13 for "for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments." I'm kind of surprised it wasn't a straight PG, as it struck me as pretty mild, except for Aunt May's last (cut off!) word of the movie. (And I have to admit that was a funny moment.)

A trailer is here, and a different one is here.

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017).

Tonight's Movie: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Somehow half a decade has passed since the release of the superlatively creative Oscar-winning Best Animated Film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (2018).

The long-awaited sequel, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (2023), has finally arrived and it was worth the wait.

Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) has been Spider-Man of his universe for over a year. Things are going okay, but at times Miles struggles with loneliness, as no one else has a clue he's Spider-Man; indeed, his loving parents (Luna Lauren Velez and Bryan Tyree Henry) are sometimes baffled by his mysterious behavior.

Miles particularly misses "Spider-Gwen," Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfield, who starred as Kate Bishop in HAWKEYE), and as it turns out, Gwen also misses Miles. After struggling with her own relationship with her father (Shea Wigham), Gwen left home to join a group of, well, "Spider-People" who work to keep the universe functioning.

Gwen pays a visit to Miles's universe...and things get messy. What happens if you disrupt a universe's "canon," the things which are absolutely supposed to happen? Can you change fate without destroying the world?

There's so much packed into this film it's hard to go any deeper describing the plot, as Gwen and Miles suffer existential crises in between battling the bad guys. I particularly appreciated the way the film focuses not just on the teenagers saving the world but on several parents of superheroes who are trying to navigate exceptional challenges -- including, in one case, parenting a very cute Spider-Baby who calls to mind Jack-Jack of THE INCREDIBLES (2004).

Along the way there are old friends, such as Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), and interesting new characters, such as the motorcycle-riding, pregnant Spider-Woman Jessica Drew (Issa Rae).

ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is an incredible artistic and technical achievement in animation, taking the unique look of INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE and running with it; if possible, it's even more visually innovative than the first film.

One of the things I loved most is that the different worlds of this multiverse are differentiated by varied visual styles; for instance, Gwen's universe was inspired by the colors of Disney's animated CINDERELLA (1950). There's a moment when she hugs her father and the colors change which is truly profound.

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE may be a sequel on a character who's been the focus of many films, yet it's as original and thoughtful a movie as one could imagine. The remarkable visuals are paired with a rich, multi-layered story.

My only complaint about the film is that it's too long at 2 hours and 20 minutes; I knew it was a Part 1, and the film has multiple "false endings" where it continues just when it seems as though it's over. The filmmakers should have reworked things and saved some of the material for Part 2; it's all excellent, but no one needs an animated film that runs nearly 2 and a half hours, especially after sitting through 20 minutes of trailers.

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE directed by Joaquim Dos Dantos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson.

Parental Advisory: Like the original film, ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is rated PG. Some of the themes get heavy regarding loneliness and loss, and the subject matter may not appeal to young children, but otherwise it's fine for the family.

The trailer is here.

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Tonight's Movie: Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019) will have Marvel fans right at home in their happy place. This coda to April's AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), the capstone of the decade-long Infinity saga, is simultaneously moving and ebullient. It's a grand time at the movies for Marvel fans.

I'm going to assume that anyone who particularly cares about spoilers has managed to see AVENGERS: ENDGAME in the last two months. If not, fair warning that I'm not going to tiptoe around that storyline, which plays directly into the plot of SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME. However, I will avoid the biggest spoiler in the new movie.

As the film opens, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is trying to get back to a normal life in New York following the events of ENDGAME. The time lost by half of humanity following Thanos's "snap" five years previously is now called "the Blip"; those who were snapped, including Peter, are the same age they were five years before, while those didn't disappear are now five years older. Peter and Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) help with fund-raising to aid those whose lives were displaced due to the Blip.

Peter is also struggling with the loss of his mentor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and coming to terms with the responsibilities now on his shoulders. Throw in the five years he lost to the Snap/Blip and his lingering crush on MJ (Zendaya) and it's a lot for a 16-year-old to deal with, so when Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) starts phoning, it's somewhat understandable that Peter ignores the calls. He just wants to be a normal kid for a change and go with his friends on his summer school field trip to Europe.

When Nick forces Peter to confront the need to save the world -- or at least a chunk of it -- all over again, Peter desperately wonders why someone else can't do it. Thor? Doctor Strange? Nope, he's the only one available.

However, to Peter's relief it suddenly seems that maybe there's someone else who can help, a recently appeared superhero the Italian press dub "Mysterio" (Jack Gyllenhaal). Mysterio seems quite willing to take up the superhero mantle and let Peter return to trying to figure out how to declare his feelings for MJ.

If only it were that simple...

One of the magical things about the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the spot-on casting, and Tom Holland simply couldn't be more perfect as Peter Parker. He does an excellent job depicting the internal war of the insecure teenager and the gradually maturing adult, capable of doing amazing, heroic things while sometimes wishing to simply be a kid. He struggles with feelings that he must be a disappointment to his idol, "Mr. Stark," but as Tony's close friend Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) reminds Peter, Tony himself was a bit of a mess himself at times; Tony knew Peter well, flaws and all, and had faith that Peter was capable of succeeding despite any shortcomings.

While the film is thoughtful and touching, it's also light on its feet, with humorous scenes ranging from smile-inducing to laugh-out-loud funny. Holland has a great comedic touch -- I particularly enjoyed his bemused expressions as he starts to realize something is happening between Happy and May -- and Jackson has quite a way with zingers ("You've been to space!").

It's wonderful to see much more of Happy in this film than we've seen in recent Marvel movies, and his tentative romance with Peter's aunt provides some delightful comic relief. Happy and Peter share perhaps the best scene in the movie, as Peter begins to build a new suit and Happy mistily watches him, clearly reminded of Tony. There's a strong sense in this scene of the torch being passed to the next generation.

The movie also provides a larger role than usual for Cobie Smulders as Nick Fury's righthand assistant, Maria Hill, and she has a couple of fun moments as well. It's great to see some of the longtime supporting characters in the MCU have time to shine, especially on the heels of the welcome cinematic reappearance of AGENTS OF SHIELD's Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson in CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019).

Jacob Batalon and Angourie Rice return from SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING as Peter's friends Ned and Betty. Martin Starr and J.B. Smoove are amusing as the teacher chaperones trying to keep their charges one step ahead of the monsters suddenly popping up in major European cities.

Special note: As Marvel fans know, there are always tag scenes during the end credits, with ENDGAME being a notable exception. Staying through the credits is an absolute must following this film.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME was directed by Jon Watts and filmed by Matthew J. Lloyd, with music by Michael Giacchino. It runs 129 minutes.

Parental Advisory: This film is rated PG-13. It's your usual Marvel movie, with the cartoon-level violence even less of a concern than usual. Except for a couple very mildly racy comedic moments and a touch of bad language, this film strikes me as family friendly for all but the youngest viewers.

A trailer is here.

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), BLACK PANTHER (2018), AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018), CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019), and AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019).

Repost: Tonight's Movie: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

NOTE: A few days ago I attended the "Encore" theatrical screening of AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), which included a couple new "tag" scenes for the upcoming AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY (2026).

As I wrote at the end of my review of SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (2026), I'm not certain whether I'll be seeing DOOMSDAY, and the new scenes weren't the pull for my seeing ENDGAME again. 

Rather, I wanted to revisit what I consider a singularly brilliant conclusion to the Marvel movies which had gone before.  I deeply enjoyed revisiting all 181 minutes of this film, and I want to encourage any Marvel fans to do likewise.

And so, at last, we come to the conclusion of this era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), which I saw yesterday, was a remarkable capstone to the 20 Marvel films previously reviewed here since July 2015. (The total is upped to 21 previous reviews if TV's AGENT CARTER is included.) I can't imagine a better way to have ended the series.

This review will necessarily be relatively brief and detail free so that, as the Twitter hashtag says, I #DontSpoiltheEndgame.

When last we saw our heroes in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), arch villain Thanos (Josh Brolin) had just erased half of humankind with what is now called "The Snap." I wrote of INFINITY WAR: "How I ultimately feel about this film will have quite a bit to do with my reaction to Part 2 when it's released in May 2019. It's really all one big story, and it's far from over at this juncture."

The story is now completed, and I am more than satisfied. In rather a remarkable feat, the movie simultaneously wraps up not just INFINITY WAR but ideas lingering from past films. I was particularly grateful for the exquisite last scene; Marvel really did right by its fans.

The movie is simultaneously elegiac and funny, successfully straddling a variety of tones; it has a wealth of quotable lines which I suspect are already entering the popular culture lexicon. It allows for moments both big and small, with quiet, intimate scenes between closely connected characters, as well as epic sequences certain to gladden the heart of any Marvel fan. It's probably the fastest 181 minutes I'll ever spend in a movie theater, and it's very possible I'll go back and do it all over again, there is so much to take in and appreciate about this film.

Pretty much everyone who's anyone in the MCU is in this film, and the lengthy closing credits feel like a curtain call for the actors who've participated in the series over the past decade, with special credits tributes to the original six Avengers, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Each of these six actors shines in this film -- and who could have foreseen when watching the original THOR (2011) the extent to which the god of Thunder would become such hilarious comic relief?

I agree with Leonard Maltin, who wrote, "It is escapist entertainment of a very high order, and an achievement that has no true precedent in the history of motion pictures. No series...from Tarzan to James Bond, has ever attempted to incorporate so many moving parts in one conclusive film."

AVENGERS: ENDGAME was directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo and filmed by Trent Opaloch. The score was by Alan Silvestri.

Parental Advisory: This film is rated PG-13. As with most Marvel films, the violence is of the non-gory variety, though there are moments which could potentially upset young children. There is also some limited yet notable swearing. The many positive themes include love of family and friends, the value of kindness to others, teamwork, and placing others above one's own priorities.

I'm so glad I was persuaded to begin watching the Marvel films nearly four years ago, as they have given me so many hours of movie pleasure, and I particularly appreciate that the filmmakers honored their viewers by working hard to maintain the quality to the very end, and then some. Watching AVENGERS: ENDGAME felt a bit like unwrapping the biggest present on Christmas morning, and it turned out to be exactly what I wanted.

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), BLACK PANTHER (2018), AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018), and CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019).

Update: My review of the coda to AVENGERS: ENDGAME, SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019).

Update: AVENGERS: ENDGAME is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

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Tonight's Movie: Thunderbolts* (2025)

I've been a big fan of the Marvel movie series for most of its run, enjoying over two dozen Marvel movies and shows.

In addition to the list of Marvel films and series I've reviewed, found at the end of this post, I've also watched the TV series WANDAVISION (2021), HAWKEYE (2021), and LOKI (2021). WANDAVISION and HAWKEYE, in particular, were beautifully crafted and became big favorites of mine.

My viewing of new Marvel films came to a halt starting in 2022, when Marvel seemed to be looking for a new style and began to make less family-friendly films. I skipped DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (2022), THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (2022), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 (2023), and ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (2023), among others.

These films featured disturbing violence and torture, coarse humor, or in the case of MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS completely ruined a beloved character; Wanda, played by Elizabeth Olsen, lost all the growth she'd experienced in WANDAVISION and became a true villainess.

A couple of my grown kids actually texted as they left the theater to tell me I should "absolutely not" go see a couple of those films; they knew I wouldn't care for the tone or the level of violence. So I was very glad when my daughter saw THUNDERBOLTS* (2025) and texted me "Marvel is back, baby!"

Friends similarly recommended THUNDERBOLTS*, and Justin Chang, a reviewer I often agree with, termed it "The best Marvel film in a while." So today I saw my first Marvel film since 2021.

Is THUNDERBOLTS* (aka THE NEW AVENGERS) among the very best of the long list of Marvel movies I've enjoyed? No, but at the same time I can say I had quite a pleasant time watching it. The cast is congenial, the plot isn't anything particularly disturbing, and there were a couple especially delightful classic moments I really enjoyed.

As the movie opens, a depressed Yelena (Florence Pugh) is missing her late sister Natasha and tiring of her violent job "putting out fires" for CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss). Valentina, incidentally, has way more power than she should and is being impeached by Congress.

As part of the "cleanup" to deal with her impeachment, Valentina concocts a plan to eliminate the team she's been using for various jobs; she'd just as soon her operatives aren't able to talk.

And so Yelena finds herself locked in a remote building with John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko). There's also a strange man named Bob (Lewis Pullman) who has no idea how he got into the building.

Most of this group of ornery superhero misfits manage to escape before they're blown up by Valentina, and they get away aided by Yelena's father Alexei/Red Guardian (David Harbour) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), who is now a Congressman. When Bucky appears on a motorcycle, it's an exciting moment which drew applause.

The group, now calling themselves the Thunderbolts, work to stop Valentina's plans to control the world via Bob, who is revealed to have unexpected powers and is dubbed The Sentry.

The performances of the entire Thunderbolts crew are very good, elevating what could be cartoon characters with nuanced playing, humor, and emotion. Seeing some of these characters again, especially Bucky, Yelena, and Red Guardian, felt like visiting old friends; ultimately, it's the superhero camaraderie which especially makes the Marvel films "movie comfort food."

The movie feels like it should end with a "To Be Continued..." tag; surely Valentina will pay for her crimes at some point?

A couple notes. First, it was a curious coincidence that Lewis Pullman's character is named Bob, which was also the name emblazoned on his flight helmet in TOP GUN: MAVERICK (2022). The gag in that film was that unlike all the other pilots with offbeat "handles," he was "just Bob." In this case the name apparently goes back to Sentry comics, but casting Pullman was an interesting choice.

There are two second generation actors among the Thunderbolts; besides Pullman (son of Bill Pullman), Wyatt Russell is the son of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. Russell is actually a third generation actor, his grandfather being character actor Bing Russell.

Finally, I'm wondering: Where is Yelena's mother Melina (Rachel Weisz)?

THUNDERBOLTS was directed by Jake Schreier and filmed by Andrew Droz Palermo. It runs 127 minutes, which is on the shorter side as Marvel films go, and I thought the pace was just right.

Parental Advisory: THUNDERBOLTS* is rated PG-13. There is quite a bit of cursing; otherwise it's a return to the typical Marvel level of violence, nothing particularly graphic.

Let's hope that future Marvel films continue this return to a more family-friendly tone. Up next, out in July, will be THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025).

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), BLACK PANTHER (2018), AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018), CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019), AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019), BLACK WIDOW (2021), SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (2021), and SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021).

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