The Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy is one of my favorite franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Compared to other series with admittedly disjointed plots, all of Spidey’s storylines have a clear thread leading from one to the next. Since the fourth entries after trilogies are historically lackluster, I had a lot of trepidation heading into Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Thankfully, all those worries were unfounded. Brand New Day follows the same throughline as its predecessors, once again reinforcing Spider-Man as the strongest franchise that Marvel offers fans today.

A brand new day indeed

Coming from No Way Home, Brand New Day still has Peter Parker live a new life as a literal nobody where no one remembers who he is. So begins his existence as just Spider-Man with no friends or family.

When a new and unseen threat ravages through New York City, Spidey starts to wish that he still had friends to help him out, which leads him on an inevitable collision course with Ned and MJ. Ironically, it also leads him to other characters in the city, including the Hulk and the Punisher.

A cacophony of villains

When I first saw the trailer, I was worried about the astounding number of villains from the get-go. After all, one of the biggest problems in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, the most maligned entry in Spider-Man movie history, was the villains. Though far from the movie’s biggest problem, having too many bad guys without a solid plot led to its terrible reception. You can see why Brand New Day’s trailer raises some flags.

If you were thinking the same thing, Brand New Day does indeed have a cohesive plot. Everything flows neatly into one another. Each emotional beat of Peter feeling for his solitude mixes well with the action. In here, fight scenes feel like they have a purpose.

And there is a big bad here. It’s not just a collection of guys that Spidey has to go through. That big bad, who shall not be named at this time, doesn’t feel like just a placeholder for Peter’s internal struggles. They have a character of their own and their own struggles to solve. I wouldn’t say they’re at the level of Loki just yet, but they definitely have a better go at it than most of the MCU’s other villains.

Marvel’s New York City finally debuts

Despite being a prime location since 2012’s Avengers, New York City never really felt like the quintessential city for superheroes in the comics. In the movies, the city was just another city to be ravaged when a new villain comes along.

For the first time, Brand New Day makes the city feel like a lived-in world with a bunch of superheroes living in the neighborhood. And they do pop up.

Does Peter have a scientific problem that only a very specific hero can solve? It’s a good thing Bruce Banner is just around the corner. Does he need some muscle? Well, the Punisher is skulking around somewhere. Plus, there’s even a succinct reason why other superheroes can’t help out.

In this way, Brand New Day presents itself more like a comic book series than a one-off movie. It’s like following the story alone from issue to issue. It’s not the most perfect adaptation of the landmark city, but it goes a long way from just another ravaging of New York.

Peter’s sadness

Everything here hinges on Peter’s loneliness. Despite meeting a trove of characters across the cinematic universe, Peter yearns for time with his loved ones. But they’re gone.

Unlike the past three films where he always had someone to go home to, he has no one here. Tony Stark is dead. Aunt May is gone. Happy has gone to parts unknown. Ned and MJ have no memory of him. Brand New Day has a way of making you feel for his aches, whether the way he still keeps track of MJ or some physiological changes as a result of his predicament.

It also helps that the movie’s big bad has similar motivations. Both serve as perfect mirrors against each other, elevating both their stories effectively. And that’s all I’ll say about that.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a few steps behind from being a perfect Marvel movie, but it’s still an extremely strong part of the Spider-Man mythos. The trilogy, now quadrilogy, remains Marvel’s most consistent franchises to date. It’s an absolute must-watch.

For so small of a game, UNDERTALE quickly made it into the gaming world’s hall of fame. Despite being only a decade old, the small title has had a major influence for modern-day gamers because of its unique gameplay, its lo-fi art, and, of course, its catchy soundtrack. If you’re a fan of UNDERTALE’s soundtrack, a unique concert experience is headed your way.

On October 17, Film Concerts PH, in partnership with SOHO Live, is hosting UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.

The concert will be performed by the Filharmonika Orchestra and conducted by Thanapol Setabrahmana. Personally curated by creator Toby Fox and developed by Lambert Jackson with Materia Music, the concert experience showcases the game’s most recognizable tunes laid over gameplay footage playing simultaneously. Plus, for the world tour, the experience will have expanded scoring.

In the game, you play as a small child stuck in the mysterious Underground filled with interesting characters and monsters. Unlike traditional RPGs, UNDERTALE asks players to choose between building relationships and chasing after wins. It’s a unique experience that’s defined by whether you chose to make friends or fought your way to the top. It teaches players to value different ways to solve problems, all while showering them with its one-of-a-kind humor.

Pre-sales for the concert, exclusively for members of the Film Concerts PH community, start on August 4. Public sales, however, will start on August 11 via Ticketmelon.

SEE ALSO: The hunt begins: The Witcher in Concert hits Manila with surprises in tow

Stepping into King’s Cross following an invigorating stroll past St. Paul’s Cathedral and a quick ride on the Circle Line shifted my mood into pure aspiration.

London bustled around me, and as I approached Coal Drops Yard, I felt a familiar flutter. I caught myself mentally evaluating my outfit and my posture, filled with a sudden desire for my surroundings to match my grandest domestic fantasies.

I walked forward with genuine admiration, unaware that my destination was Samsung KX, the brand’s 20,000 sq ft. experiential flagship store in the UK.

Stepping inside felt like walking into a cathedral of modern design. Massive glass windows bathed the interior in natural light and offered sweeping views of people strolling outside.

They seemed oblivious to the marvels inside, while I stood frozen, already convincing myself I needed every single item on display.

Between workstations and digital playgrounds

The store layout struck an intentional balance between high performance and everyday living. At the heart of the space stood the Samsung Vision AI displays, arranged as a central living room showcase with striking fixtures. It felt like a high-end Mayfair penthouse.

Watching the Vision AI coordinate the living space, I realized true luxury is complex technology operating so seamlessly I never had to think about how it worked.

Beside it, productivity setups featuring the Galaxy XR showed how modern work could blend into personal space just as gracefully.

Further inside, the latest mobile lineup filled the display tables with the Galaxy Z Fold7, the Galaxy Z Flip7, and a curated set of matching accessories. This was before Samsung officially unveiled the next-generation Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8.

WATCH: Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Flip8, Ultra

Beyond the devices, the space opened into a lively hub with a kitchen bar, an event workshop area, and a Gamer Bus parked near a Mobile Gaming Bus Stop.

Surrounded by tech journalists comparing specs, I realized high-stakes gaming wasn’t exactly my domain. My idea of extreme competition usually involves bidding wars on vintage decor. Still, I could appreciate the craft behind the setups.

Sanctuary for the aesthetic soul

I gravitated toward the far right of the store, where the smart home ecosystem came alive, skipping the productivity workstations behind the central hub without a second thought.

I’m helpless in front of a bespoke living space that looks like it belongs on the cover of Architectural Digest.

Samsung had divided the smart home section into distinct real-world scenarios, each one showing how connected technology could elevate a different corner of a home.

We started in the Smart Kitchen, where the Home Control system was on demo. One press on the panel turned the kitchen into a control room.

The refrigerator screen and the ambient TV both displayed live security feeds from the home CCTV. I envisioned a delightful image of myself entertaining guests while keeping an eye on my front door from the island counter.

Further in, townhouse-style suites brought the vision to life. There’s a multi-room layout with a dining area, and a garage with integrated laundry along with a dedicated AirDresser.

Nearby, a solo living setup demonstrated the Samsung Routine feature. Through SmartThings, it adapts lighting and climate the moment you step through the door.

Where whimsy meets fine art

The highlight of the tour, for me, was a dedicated Moomin zone, showcasing The Frame Pro alongside Samsung’s flagship TVs.

Tove Jansson created the Finnish fairytale trolls in 1945, filling her stories with quiet adventures in Moominvalley. Seeing the illustrations rendered on ultra-high-definition displays made the technology feel closer to gallery art than showroom tech.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GadgetMatch (@gadgetmatch)

I stood there imagining how easily I could switch my living room wall from a classical oil painting to a whimsical illustration, depending on my mood. It proved that modern displays can soften a living space instead of overpowering it.

Walking out of Samsung KX, I realized the tour gave me far more than a look at new gadgets. It sparked a real desire to curate a home that feels smart and beautifully tailored to my life.

Experiencing technology through the lens of design and daily comfort makes me want to dream bigger. To build a space where every moment feels simpler and maybe… a little more elegant.