Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Proving that the superhero genre isn't dead, it's just been starving for a great film, SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY soars across the screen with huge action, big laughs and massive heart.

The Dolby Cinema, sold out preview audience I saw it with went bonkers, as did I. It's fantastic to see theaters this packed with people again, it was a mad house.

From its opening frames, the film delivers a web covered, treasure chest of great surprises, fun asides and some MAJOR plot points that will guide the Marvel universe going forward, none of which I will mention here.

Those opening frames of the Marvel logo always feature printed lines from the screenplay, and those highlighted here detail when Peter Parker told Doctor Strange to fix the universe at the end of "No Way Home" even though the result would be wiping the memories of everyone who ever knew Peter.

Tom Holland is back and sensational as Peter/Spidey, swinging relentlessly around New York City to stop any crime in progress. It's been four years and Peter has settled into a 24/7 work week as Spider-Man. His only confidant seems to be Detective DeWolff (Liza Colon-Zayas from "The Bear") who's getting worried that her young superhero may have no life outside of fighting crime.

An early action set piece follows Spider-Man as he and Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) both chase a stolen tank barreling down the streets of Manhattan toward the Main Complex of the Government Agency of Damage Contol. The agency seems to be half S.H.I.E.L.D. and half PR, cleaning up any kind of mess that our intergalactic foes or heroes may make.

The chemistry between Bernthal's Punisher and Holland's Spiderman shouldn't work, but it does, beautifully. Bernthal is perfectly cast here, unlike his last role in Nolan's "The Odyssey" where it felt like he had stumbled in from a modern gangster film. The two actors have a fantastic sense of comic timing and a lethal presence when it comes to the thrills.

When the tank is finally stopped after a fantastic, propulsive chase sequence, the person inside is an everyday woman, the villain inside of her jumping from one person to the next to escape Spider-Man.

It's a clever trick that pays off again and again in the film.

To say too much more would ruin the surprises and that's not going to happen here.

Growing lonely, Peter begins to quietly observe his lost love MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon). Peter is clearly starving for any kind of meaningful relationship. Holland is excellent in the role, bouncing from lonely and wounded to heroic with ease.

Peter's also dealing with a sudden change in the balance between his human and spider DNA. As his spider senses grow in intensity and every tiny noise becomes a pounding cannon, NYC is a poor choice to try and live your life. He reaches out to an old friend who doesn't remember him, Dr. Bruce Banner. Mark Ruffalo is back as Banner and his giant green alter-ego, delivering flawlessly with his minor screen time.

Sadie Sink is terrific as a mysterious young woman who becomes vital the the plot and the Marvel-verse.

Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Dune Part 2) makes a hilarious return as the New Avengers Black Widow, Yelena Belova. Her office is unexpected fun and her regard for Peter's problems as small potatoes are perfectly delivered.

Tramell Tillman (Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning) is a great add as Damage Control's Bill Metzger, in charge of an agency with a lot of reach and more than a few security issues.

Michael Mando (Better Call Saul) is very good as Scorpion, a villain who seems to really enjoy his face offs with Spider-Man.

The red clad, flying ninja squad knows as The Hand is a fantastic add, blending "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" mysticism and some thrilling combat scenes into the mix.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton, whose "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" is an underappreciated Marvel entry, returns to the Directors chair and juggles multiple story lines beautifully.

There are some genuinely moving moments that turn sinister and major events that will shake your certainty of where the story is going. I loved every surprise, twist and turn.Cretton's deft hand moves you from suspense to comedy to tragedy and loss without ever pulling you out of the film.

This is, for me, the best Spider-Man film to date and that's saying something. Sam Raimi's 2004 film, Spider-Man 2 has been my favorite Marvel film of all time for over two decades.

Special effects are superb throughout and the scenes of Peter spinning his way across New York City are the best I've ever seen, the effects are stunning. They've come a LONG way from those CGI spideys that never looked quite right in the first films.

Michael Giacchino's score is huge, symphonic and perfect, blending flawlessly with the sound design team, who take the action scenes to the limits of Dolby Cinema. I literally felt this movie from start to finish.

Tom Holland turns in his best performance in the role, creating a young superhero determined to do the right thing. He's a joy to watch in the role, delivering a multi-dimensional character that we care for, making the finale even more powerful.

Compare Holland's Spider-Man in this film to the Milly Alcock's performance in DC's downer bomb, Supergirl. In that film, she doesn't want to be good, whines about everything and is the person at the party you hope you don't get stuck standing next to, a complete downer. Holland exudes charm, caring and hope. Alcock is filled with self centered angst and a Debbie Downer mantra.

Gee, I wonder why one film bombed and Peter Parker's latest will gross more at the box office in 36 hours (literally) than Supergirl did in its entire theatrical run.

This is everything you have been waiting for in a Marvel movie and an absolute blast of pure summer movie fun.

You know, in Nolan's "The Odyssey" I must have looked at my watch 20 times. At one point, I thought it stopped running, time was creaking by so slowly.

Spidey? I didn't have time to look at my watch.

I was too pulled into the story, the action, the laughs and the unexpected heart of the film. SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY gets a rousing, standing ovation of an A+. I can't wait to see it again next week in 4D-X with my 12 year old grandson.

Marvel fans: stay through all the credits for one post credits scene at the very end of the film after the logos have rolled.