I’d obviously heard the buzz and seen the ridiculous box office figures. But I still tried to keep my expectations in check going into this.
I needn’t have worried. It feels like Marvel badly needed this to hit. And they totally threaded the needle.
I’m not sure what more you could want from a live-action comic book movie. Great action, comedy and camaraderie, engaging character beats and the mostly successful introduction of an important new character(s).
It still doesn’t hit the Spider-Verse heights for me, but that’s more a limitation of the MCU format than a criticism of the movie. I’ll need to properly redo my list, but I’m fairly sure it’s comfortably in the MCU all time top five.
Given the timing of its release, it’s hard not to draw comparisons with The Odyssey. Brand New Day doesn’t come close to matching the sheer craft and visual splendour of Nolan’s epic. But I know which one I’d pick for a rewatch and it’s not really close. The Odyssey may be a better film, but Brand New Day is a far better movie.