How Should We Teach Students About 9/11 Who Were Born After It Happened?

Plane headed for South Tower

It is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that brought down the Twin Towers in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and caused an airplane to crash in Shanksville, PA. For those of us who were alive when this day happened, the tragic event is seared into our memories, but there are those who were born after the attacks, and many of them are not fully aware of what happened or clear about the impact on our city, our country, and the world. 

For me, 9/11 is very personal. We lost a family member on that day – a firefighter who was so brave that he went up the stairs of a burning building when everyone else was coming down them. I also lost two childhood friends that day, so it is not something I can just forget about and move on. 

My children have no memory of what happened, but as a family we have chosen to keep the story of 9/11 as something that deeply affected us. They have heard stories about their brave uncle who died on that day, and they see how we have honored his memory each year. Even though it is 25 years later, we are never going to stop marking this day and will never forget what happened.

How Can We Teach About What Happened?

To the generation born after 9/11, it has become a part of history. It's something they encounter in their textbooks in history class. As my generation learned about Pearl Harbor – another devastating day in American history – these students learn about 9/11 as part of a broad course of study. 

D-Day in France June 6, 1944

My father was a WWII veteran, so in our house discussions about Pearl Harbor, D-Day (my father was there for it), and other aspects of the war were part of our childhoods. When I was learning about it in school, I had a definite personal connection to the events of the war.

This generation may or may not have known someone connected to 9/11. Teachers cannot and should not treat 9/11 as just another event in history. It must be made into something more important than that. It is a day that changed everything, and those lost and their grieving families and friends deserve a more focused approach.

Personal Connections

Firefighter visiting a classroom

One of the best resources teachers have at their disposal are people. Survivors of 9/11 – firefighters, other first responders, and civilians – are valuable because they can relate personal experiences had on that day.

Schools should hold a day of tangible recognition for 9/11. Part of the program of that day or week should include visitors who experienced 9/11. I know many people – myself included – who would be more than willing to participate in such an experience. 

These speakers could bring physical artifacts to show to the students. This could include photographs of their lost loved ones, personal belongings, and documents (including any newspaper clippings). This would make 9/11 not just something read about in a textbook – it would make the tragic day come alive for students. 

Interview Family Members

A great resource for students can be family members or friends of the family. Students can be given an assignment to interview someone and ask a series of questions regarding 9/11. 

Student interviewing someone about 9/11

Younger parents may have vague memories of 9/11, but older family members and friends or neighbors may hold onto vivid memories of 9/11. Questions could be asked like these: Where were you when it happened? How did you feel when you learned about it? Was anyone you know lost in the attacks? And many other questions. 

By interviewing people who lived through 9/11, students are going beyond what is just a historical entry in a textbook. This is bridging the gap between a simple rendering of events and personal memories that are probably more vivid and meaningful. 

Audio and Video

9/11 was covered extensively by the media from the moment the first airplane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. For students to be able to see and hear what happened that day has much more impact than a textbook entry would have. Please watch the video below of the Twin Towers coming down.

Depending on the age of the students, teachers would have to use discretion regarding what is actually shown. High school students should be able to handle the more graphic videos of the falling buildings and people jumping from the burning towers. While this is ugly and heartbreaking, it is also necessary and compelling to let students know about the human losses that day and how horrific they were.  

There is also the opportunity to hear audio of phone calls between people in the burning buildings or on the doomed planes and their friends and loved ones. People who knew they were going to die were trying to connect with others during those final minutes. Yes, it is devastating to listen to these voices, but it will definitely make 9/11 become real beyond the textbook explanation about what happened. 

Everyday Impacts on Their World

The attacks on 9/11 are still impacting our world today. Teachers can make clear how these procedures have changed the way we live our lives. Here are some things that should be discussed:

Passengers and TSA agents

1. Airports - Going through security now involves taking off shoes, limiting the volume of liquids we carry, and going through TSA body scanners. 

2. Public Areas - Concrete barriers, enhanced security (including surveillance cameras), and bag checks are found in federal and state buildings, train and bus stations, sports arenas, and large public events. 

3. The Patriot Act - Federal legislation enhanced governmental powers to monitor phone calls, digital communications, and financial contractions. 

4. New Agencies - The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) were established for domestic security and border control. 

 Social Impacts

1. Profiling People - The attacks caused an increased awareness of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Muslims, who were subjected to heightened security, stereotyping, and a persistent focus on their activities. 

2. Ongoing Health Issues - First responders and Lower Manhattan residents and students have been affected from ongoing chronic respiratory illnesses, cancers, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can compound physical and mental health and also lead to death. 

3. 9/11 Memorial and Museum - Lesson plans are available from this invaluable resource for all grade levels. It is also an ideal place for school class trips for students to understand the real impact that 9/11 has had on our lives. 

First Responders' Bravery

NYC Firefighters raise a flag on 9/12/2001

Students should be made aware of the incredible bravery of all first responders on 9/11, when they did their jobs without thinking about their own personal safety. Even after the attacks, they worked in the smoking rubble for weeks to try to find survivors. 

If teachers are able to do so, schedule a class visit by first responders to talk about the impact of 9/11 on our city and the country. It will be more than a teachable moment – it will make the day come alive for our students. 

Final Thoughts

By making an effort to do the things discussed above, we can make 9/11 more than just a day that occurred in history. On this 25th anniversary of the attacks, it is essential to remember the depth of the scars that were left on our nation. 

By teaching about 9/11 in a compelling and meaningful way, we are not just giving our students essential instruction about an impactful historic moment, we are also honoring all those lost on that day and their families and friends who still suffer a deeply personal loss. In doing so, we are making clear right now and for the years to come that 9/11 will not recede into the backdrop of history but will be meaningfully noted each year for now and forevermore!

9/11 Documentary

When you have time, please watch the documentary below. I believe it best captures what happened to my city on 9/11/2001 and shows the bravery of the firefighters on that fateful day.

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Marking the Premiere of the First Episode

 

On September 8, 1966, "The Man Trap," the first episode of Star Trek TOS, premiered on NBC. Little did anyone know it at the time, but the show would change television and film forever. People like George Lucas and Seth MacFarlane have admitted being influenced by Star Trek, leading them to create shows (MacFarlane's The Orville) or films (Lucas's Star Wars franchise). 

 The Episode

McCoy and Nancy had once been lovers

"The Man Trap" involves the U.S.S. Enterprise arriving at planet M-113, where it is meant to provide supplies and medical exams for its only two inhabitants – Professor Robert Crater (Alfred Ryder) and his wife Nancy (Jeanne Bal) – who work at the archaeological research center there. 

Darnell sees a woman he once knew

Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForrest Kelley), and Crewman Darnell (Michael Zaslow) beam down to the surface, with Kirk mentioning to McCoy that he once had a relationship with Nancy. They each view Nancy differently – Kirk sees her as an older woman, McCoy sees her as he once knew her, and Darnell as an attractive blonde woman he had met once before. When Nancy goes outside to find her husband, she encourages Darnell to follow her. 

Crater returns without Nancy, and he insists that he doesn't need a medical examination. All they require is salt tablets because of the atmosphere. McCoy insists on conducting the examination, but before anything meaningful can take place there is a woman's scream outside. They find Darnell is dead with a plant in his mouth and Nancy standing over him. She says that he tried to taste the plant, and it caused marks on his face and that it killed him. 

Back on the ship, McCoy conducts an examination of Darnell's body and determines that the plant didn't kill him, and he has had all the salt drawn from his body through suction marks on his face. Kirk recalls that Crater asked for salt tablets, and he is determined to get to the bottom of what has happened. 

The Salt Monster

The Salt Monster

Designed by Wah Chang, the creature consisted of a head sculpted in clay and then covered by a plaster cast. After drying, Wang removed the cast and painted the head and added a white wig and glass lenses for the eyes. Gloves were fashioned to make the fingers having suction cups, and the costume was complete with a furry bodysuit. Dancer Sandra Gimple played the part – one that I found terrifying as a kid. 

The Last of Its Kind

The discussion is had that a salt vampire like this one of an inferior species that is dangerous to humans and should be destroyed. But, when it is learned that the murderous creature is the last of its kind, there is some doubt about killing it. The decision is made for them when the Nancy starts attacking Kirk, and McCoy has no choice but to kill her. 

Nancy starts to attack Kirk

When the the creature reverts back to looking like Nancy, McCoy apologizes but shoots her again, knowing it is not the woman he once loved. Still the final feeling left by the death of the creature is multi-layered. This is the power of Star Trek episodes – they are not just meant to entertain you – they are also meant to get you thinking!

Final Notes

A fun fact is "The Man Trap" was the sixth episode to be filmed, but it was chosen as the first to be broadcast due to its scary monster theme. The choice worked because the episode scored 25.2% Nielsen rating for the first half hour, making it first in its time slot. 

Some viewers complained about the violence – multiple killings of crewmen – but others noted that the acting was strong. Fans came up with the name Salt Vampire for the creature, and that is how the character is known by fans today. 

The Celebration Continues

A series of events will continue to take place celebrating the 60th anniversay of Star Trek. Please check out this link to read about the everything being done to celebrate this milestone. 

Live Long and Prosper!

 

Back to School Can Be Cruel

 

I have been an educator for many years, and I can tell you one simple truth – going back to school can be cruel. This is not just for the kids who have cherished these carefree summer days of no more pencils and no more books – even we educators suffer from what we thought was the endless summer finally ending. 

There is no shame in admitting that the summer's end brings anxiety and dread. Getting back into a rigid routine after having months of freedom is daunting. Wondering about how many things I am going to do today is a blessing. Knowing what I have to do today because of a work schedule is a decidedly different thing. 

The pleasure of enjoying sunsets

Adults love summer too, and there's no better feeling than knowing you can linger on the beach to watch the sunset because you have nothing pressing to do tomorrow. I enjoy it just as much as my children do, and there's nothing wrong with that until time runs out, and you have to face reality. 

The Calendar

"The calendar is our friend in June and becomes our enemy as it turns to September," I remember a classmate saying years ago. I recall as a kid looking at the calendar in the kitchen as my mother would for some unknown reason – now I think it was to keep us aware of the days left in summer – cross off each day with a marker. 

I was perfectly fine until the calendar flipped to August. As those days started getting crossed off, I knew my goose was going to get cooked. Each day I would try not to think about it, but inevitably all August days were crossed off, and I stared at the dreaded word SEPTEMBER like it was a black hooded executioner. 

My Kids Suffer Too

I guess my anxiety about summer ending as a kid and then as an educator was inherited by my children. I never crossed off days on the calendar – we don't even have a physical calendar in our house – but they are painfully aware that tomorrow is September 1st, and they know what that means.

When they were younger, these last days of August were filled with dread. We would finally go to Staples to get their school supplies – and the most important new backpack because every kid was apparently judged by this important item. It would have to feature currently popular characters from shows they watched on TV, and ideally their lunchboxes would have to correspond with the backpack.

Check out this funny Staples commercial with Alice Cooper. Actress Madeline Martin plays his daughter.

My kids are older now but the pressure is still the same. I'm going back to work, and it's back to school time for them. I do think this feeling is normal, and it is a good idea to examine why we feel this way. 

Why Kids Hate Back to School

1. Academic expectations have to be the number one reason kids have hated going back to school since the days of the one-room schoolhouse.  They have gone from the lazy crazy days of summer – where the only expectations were to have fun – to days filled with quizzes, tests, assignments, and the dreaded specter of homework. 

2. Structured routines return with school and that is daunting because they have spent a whole summer without a basic routine. I know how my own kids would stay up late watching movies and shows they liked, and then they could sleep late into the morning undisturbed. Going back to school means alarm clocks are set, breakfast is early – when in the summer breakfast could be had a lunch time – and then they are off to school. 

3. Social anxiety is another factor that going back to school brings. During the summer kids hang out with friends, some of whom they've known since pre-K. There is no structure to friendship in the summer; it is rather a laissez-faire arrangement of seeing friends and hanging out with little structure. 

Back to school means sitting in a classroom with different kids, new kids, and there is pressure to "make friendships" which you may not want to or do not like someone from previous experiences. Trying to make friends or trying to fit in sets up awkward situations. 

4. Loss of freedom is another reason why kids hate going back to school. Going from waking up late and doing whatever you want to do to a rigid schedule is the worst thing of all. Kids heard Alice Cooper singing "School's Out" as they ran out of the school doors in June. but now there is nothing to sing about as they head inside on the first day of school clutching new pencils, new books, and receiving those teachers' dirty looks.

5. A no phones in schools policy is something kids dread. Living in the NYC area, we have the New York State Phone-Free Schools Law. There is a statewide ban from "bell-to bell" which means no smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and internet connected laptops for the whole day. School issued devices are the only exception. For kids who spent all summer addicted to their phones or other devices, this is a withdrawal that can be very difficult for them.   

Handling Going Back to School

Both parents and kids have to prepare themselves for going back to school. For most of us here in the NYC area that means we have until next week, but many of you reading this may already have kids back in school now. What can we do to ease ourselves back into school days mode?

1. Kids and their parents should get back to a normal sleep routine gradually. If you all have been sleeping later, try to get up a little earlier each day. Start getting up 10 to 15 minutes earlier each day this week until you reach the time you would actually have to get up for work and school next Tuesday.

2. Start getting back into school/work mode with your daily activities. Maybe the kids can get their school supplies ready, read a book they know they will have to read in September – besides school supply lists reading lists or books needed for the school year can be posted online. Parents too can try to get back into a breakfast-lunch-dinner pattern that will be starting the following week.

3. Getting clothing ready or getting new clothes for the school year is a way to let reality sink in. Some kids actually have to get new uniforms for school. As a parent I realized that for some reason kids grow more during the summer, so check and make sure that last year's uniform still fits.

4. Ease anxiety by talking about how they feel about going back to school. Kids will feel better if they can explain why they are worried or scared about going back to the classroom. If they are entering a new school – like when kids transition from K-5 to middle school – they may be worried about finding their classroom and meeting new people and teachers. 

5. Going online to "meet" the teachers in advance is helpful. Many school websites have lists of faculty including pictures and biographies. Getting to know where everything is can be helpful too. If you're new to the school, why not schedule a visit to the school with your kids to find out where their classrooms are, the cafeteria, gym, and other important places. Knowing where things are can help ease nervousness of going in cold on the first day. 

Final Thoughts

Going back to school is always challenging. Parents and their kids can lower the risk of it being a catastrophe by preparing for change. Confront the notion that this is a transition phase and that expectations should be realistic that the first week – or even all of September – can be a time of adjustment and adaptation. 

Parents should remember that kids take cues from you about how to handle the situation. If you're acting nervous or stressed out about this back to school time, kids will mirror that, and it will be harder for them. Going back to school is cruel only if you allow it to be!

Take a deep breath, stay calm, and face this time with conviction that everything will work out – because invariable it always does. Oh, and by the time you go to Meet the Teacher Night – usually held during the second week of school – everything should be back to normal. 

Good luck in your transition back to school and have a great school year!

Celebrating the National Park Service's 110th Anniversay

 

The Department of the Interior managed our parks across the country until August 25, 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation (The National Park Service Organic Act) for at that time were 35 locations to be united into the National Park Service. This year we will celebrate the 110th anniversary the NPS. 

Found in All 50 States

The service manages 433 sites found across 50 states. This includes 63 national parks, most national monuments, historic places, and recreational areas. It is responsible for maintaining ecological and historic aspects of the sites, and the service must also make these places available to the public to visit and enjoy in a safe manner. 

Park Workers and Volunteers

The service is responsible for 85 million acres of land. It employs 20,000 people to work at these sites. Approximately 250,00 volunteers each year make it possible for the system to sustain its efforts to maintain such vast areas of land, mountains, waterways, and seashores. 

History

Mount Rushmore

The concept of a national park was first suggested by artist George Catlin. While visiting the Dakotas in 1832, he realized that the way of life there was being threatened by the advancement of civilization. He saw a need to preserve the culture of American Indians, the wildlife living there, and the environment. He wrote about "a nation's Park" that would maintain these things for all time. 

The First National Park

Yellowstone National Park was our nation's first national park. Since Wyoming was a territory and not a state, the park was managed by the federal government. The military was put in charge of handling all matters, and this included the famous African American Buffalo Soldiers.  

There were calls for an independent agency to manage Yellowstone and future parks. Conservationist Stephen Mather headed a campaign to create The Department of the Interior. This agency would manage all parks and sites until Wilson signed the legislation to create the NPS, when he named Mather as it's first director. 

Under Mather's leadership, he pushed for the creation of new parks, built roads, established campgrounds and lodges, and worked with car companies to promote accessibility for citizens to visit the parks. He also introduced education programs for adults and for children. 

The Reorganization Act of 1933

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

On March 3, 1933, President Herbert Hoover signed the Reorganization Act. This gave the president the authority to transfer monuments to the NPS. Later that year the new President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed that American Civil War sites be transferred from the War Department to the NPS, expanding areas that it administered. 

However, it wasn't until 1966 (when NPS turned 50 years old) that the idea of parks and sites being more accessible to the public came into sharper focus. Director George Hartzog initiated the process, and he established the National Lakeshore and National Recreation Areas. This drive began to transform the NPS into what we know today. 

Why We Should Celebrate This Anniversary

Old Faithful, Wyoming

We should appreciate the National Park Service now more than ever. Let's celebrate the importance of its mission. The service conserves ecosystems, protects endangered wildlife, maintains precious American historical sites, and offers free to low cost access to recreational spaces for millions of people to visit each year. 

It also leads the way in the fight against climate change. NPS preserves large areas of forests and plant life across its sites, and these green areas absorb carbon dioxide and clean the air that we breathe. This is an essential element that the service provides. It also strives to keep the water clean in wild habitats.

Have you visited a national park recently? I have visited a number of them over the years and have enjoyed the opportunity to swim, hike, and gaze in wonder at the amazing sights to be seen. Why not schedule a visit to national parks near you as soon as you can? They have so much to offer and truly are American treasures.  

Fun Fact: On August 25th, 2026, admission is free for the 110th anniversary of the NPS. Camping and reservation fees are still in effect.

Please enjoy this video about visiting Yosemite National Park.

Please enjoy this video about all 63 National Parks!

My Favorite Summer Songs

 

Summer songs are a lot like Christmas carols – every time I hear them they bring back the season vividly. Particular songs can even evoke special moments when I remember the event because of that song.

My list is completely subjective, so it is very likely that you would have a completely different list. That is the beauty of music – there is something for everyone. 

So, here it goes, my top ten favorite summer songs – with number one being the top one for me. 

10. Shadow Dancing by Andy Gibb

When I hear this song I picture my teenage self driving on the Belt Parkway into Brooklyn to pick up my then girlfriend to go to the beach. It makes me think of great times that summer and freedom to just enjoy life.

9. "Dancing Days" by Led Zeppelin

Robert Plant sings the heartbreakingly beautiful words "Dancing days are here again as the summer evenings grow." Wow! The whole song brings back my youthful life of swimming every day, hanging out on my friend's back deck watching wrestling on TV, and barbecues that I wanted to never end.    

8. "When Doves Cry" by Prince

I was traveling through Europe with a big group of enthusiastic young people on a bus. I can remember listening to my Walkman – at the time heading toward Nice, France – and I put Prince on, and I was tapping my feet to this song. I was on top of the world seeing different places, but this song makes me think of beautiful France every time I hear it. 

7. "Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful

This one always reminds me of riding the subways in New York City during a hot summer. I was taking acting classes on the upper West Side, and in those days less than half the trains were air conditioned. Some of them had the old annoying oscillating fans. Still, every time I hear this song I think of the magic of that summer. I was playing Edmund in scenes from King Lear. I will never forget it. 

6. "Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones

The band members were Queens boys like I was, and they went to a NYC high school just like I did. So, even though I never met them, they were kindred spirits. This song always makes me think of Beach 116th Street where we would get the coldest beer for our beach parties. As soon as I hear it, I instantly think of those wonderful summers. 

5. "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama

This one takes me back to riding the city subways as well. Summer in NYC is hotter than hell, so there is something "cruel" about it to be sure. However, as the sun sets and the lights come on, walking to Battery Park took all the heat away. As soon as I hear this one I feel like I'm standing there as night fell over the city looking out over the water again at an illuminated Statue of Liberty. 

Fun Fact: Check out the price of gas in the video above.

4. "Vacation" by the Go-Gos

I'm sitting in the international terminal at JFK waiting for a flight to take me to Italy. Once again I am listening to my trusty Walkman – I still miss the thing – and this song came on. It was a mix-tape – I made a lot of those back then – so it was completely random that this song came on first. Now, every time I hear it, I think of that great trip that started with this song. 

3. "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas

When I hear this one, I'm a kid again. I don't know for sure but I think I was probably nine or ten. I was at a block party playing with friends, and the adults were eating and drinking. When this song came on, almost all the people got up and started dancing – and my friends and I joined in the fun! Every time I hear this song, all I want to do is dance. 

2. "School's Out" by Alice Cooper

This is every kid's anthem every June of every school year. On that last day of school each year, I would hear this song in my head as I ran out the doors and dreamed of never having to go back. Cooper did sing, "School's out forever!" I wanted to believe him. Every September ruined the feeling, but nothing could beat the joy of hearing this song and being free of pencils and dirty looks for what did seem like forever in late June. 

1. "I Get Around" by The Beach Boys

Beach Boys' songs always make me think of summer, but this one does so most of all. I remember the summer I got my first car, and I had a lot of tapes in the glove compartment. When I would get closer to the beach, I'd pop in the Endless Summer album and listen to this song. Every time I hear it, I think about the freedom I had driving a car and had seemingly not a care in the world. 

Honorable Mention 

"Summer Breeze" by Seals and Crofts

Like most of the songs on this list, this one brings back memories. I can remember it playing in my head as I swam at the beach, toasted marshmallows at bonfires, and went to parties and had no worries. Indeed, the summer breeze made me feel fine, and I wish I could go back to that time even for one day!

In the End

So, there is my very subjective list of favorite summer songs. They all bring back good memories, but also a few tears too. I think about hearing those songs with loved ones and friends, and some of them are not here now.

Still, music has the ability to transcend moments in time. When I hear one of these songs, I feel young again, like I was experiencing it for the first time. 

Why not make your own top ten list? You might be surprised by what pops up there. 

Enjoy the rest of your summer! 

Movie Review: 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' – Peter Parker's Evolution

 

Peter is Spider-Man

The new Marvel movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an excellent film that explores the evolution of Peter Parker (an excellent Tom Holland) and his alter ego Spider-Man. Remember this line? "With great power comes great responsibility" is something that we associate with Spider-Man. We are familiar with it in an intimate way because Peter Parker inhabits the suit, and so Spider-Man is always Peter Parker, but we forget that Peter Parker is himself when not web slinging, so where does responsibility begin and end? 

Director Destin Daniel Cretton – along with writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers – has crafted one of the best Spider-Man stories told on film. Holland has grown into the character and has made it his own, and here he is allowed to explore nuances of that responsibility to others, but Peter begins to understand that it's at the expense of his own good health and peace of mind. 

Catching Up 

MJ and Ned

In the last film – Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) created a spell that made the world forget Peter ever existed. This means that his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) no longer know him, and also all the Avengers will not know who he is, and the general public who knew Peter Parker was Spider-Man don't remember that anymore. This spell was cast because Peter's world had become too dangerous, and he mostly wanted to keep his friends safe.

This does present Peter with some difficult problems. He still loves MJ and misses his friendship with Ned. He keeps track of them online during their time at MIT. He also observes them after they graduate and return to New York City. He feels very upset about seeing them in person again and knowing that they don't recognize him. He also has lost his identity – living alone and anonymously is not exactly an exciting way to spend his life.

New Acquaintances

Frank Castle/The Punisher

Peter has made new "friends" in the form of Frank Castle (a terrific Jon Bernthal) and Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colon-Zayas). Frank and Peter are more like frenemies – Peter keeps stopping him from killing the criminals Frank is pursuing. On the other hand, Peter is working with Wolff catching criminals and hopefully preventing bigger events.

Frank mumbles about how he's going to "Kill that kid" after Peter stops him yet again in pursuit of a tank raging through Manhattan. Wolff is basically part of the fan club that has developed over the past four years, seeing Peter as the city's protector, but even she worries about him because he seems to devote his whole life to crime fighting. 

Health Issues

Peter's lack of social connections is negatively affecting his health. He is swallowing Advil to combat headaches, and his whole body seems to be revolting under his Spidey suit. After having an emotional reaction to seeing MJ and Ned, Peter comes home and just collapses on the floor. 

Peter's Wake Up Call

The next morning he finds himself enveloped in a cocoon made of spider webs hanging outside over the street below. He discovers that his senses have become enhanced, and webs are coming out of his arms instead of web shooters. This evolution is painful and makes Peter feel uncertain about what his next move should be. 

The Villains

Scorpion

Mac Gargan/Scorpion (Michael Mando) seems to be the villain at first, and Spider-Man captures him after a brutal battle. But when Peter discovers that someone is trying to break Mac out of the Department of Damage Control (DODC), it is not just one person but numerous persons. 

Peter realizes that the main villain is using telepathy to "body hop" from person to person to break Mac out of prison. Since this is unlike any villain he's ever faced before, Peter realizes that he needs help.

Getting Help

Spidey's Business Meeting with Yelena

Peter visits Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) who is the current Black Widow. In a very hilarious scene, Yelena's office is a bathhouse, and to "meet" with her, Peter must take off his Spidey suit and go into the bath with her. When he comes out of the changing room he is stripped down but still wearing his mask, causing me to laugh along with the audience in the theater.

Yelena uses her telepathic skills to zero in on a person who continually attacks the DODC looking for someone or thing called V-Max. She believes whoever this is is the one who is body hopping from person to person. Peter's job just got much more difficult.

Getting More Violent

Peter locates the escaped Scorpion and engages in another violent battle. Scorpion even recognizes a change in Spider-Man's tactics and asks him about it. Spider-Man eventually defeats Scorpion, but he injures a police officer in the process. 

DeWolff arrives on the scene and is appalled to see her badly injured officer. She warns Spider-Man that while she is grateful for all he's done for the city, if something like this happens again that she would have no choice but to arrest him. 

Controlling His Rage

Dr. Banner tries to help Peter

Being extremely upset that he hurt a police office and was out of control with his new powers, Peter visits a local university to meet with Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). He knows that Banner had invented an inhibitor to keep his Hulk alter ego in check. 

Peter impresses Banner with his understanding of the inhibitor technology. They discuss the various parameters that are needed for the inhibitor to work. Peter goes home and starts working on building an inhibitor. He also builds one for the telepathic villain because he believes that will put an end to the body hopping.  

Spoiler Territory

The rest of the way is spoiler territory. Will Peter be able to build the inhibitor to control his growing powers? Will he be able to find the villain V-Max and use the inhibitor to stop what seems to be aimed at destroying the DODC? And, or course, the most important question is this: will Peter ever get MJ and Ned back into his life?

The Verdict 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an awesome movie that checks all the boxes for Marvel fans and even those who are not fans. The performances are all strong, and the story keeps moving forward like a freight train right up to the thrilling final act. 

The way I see it this film is it's a great start of a new Spider-Man trilogy. In the grand scheme of things it feels like the threads are being woven to bring in other characters from the MCU – I'm hoping that will include Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox). 

I'm looking forward to more Spidey days ahead. I give this film 4.5 stars out of 5. I highly recommend that you go and see it on the big screen. You'll be happy that you did. 

Please check out the trailer below.