Sony Pictures
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a new story in the Spider-Man franchise, and it draws inspiration from a slew of Spider-Man comics. Like Batman, Superman, and countless other heroes, Spider-Man has been remade and retold in many different comic stories. Moviegoers will undoubtedly be familiar with Peter Parker, the Spider-Man that appeared in both the original Spider-Man trilogy and the newer Spider-Man: Homecoming. However, most fans might not know about the various alternate-universe Spider-people. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduces us to a slew of fun Spider-Man characters, shows off a stylish and psychedelic animation style, and delivers one of the best superhero origin stories in recent memory. Spider-Man superfans and newcomers alike will be enthralled with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, as it expertly blends comedy, drama, and action to create an exciting yet heartfelt roller coaster.
The film tells us the origin story of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) a young and personable teenager living in Brooklyn, New York. At his heart, he’s a creative and vibrant personality, enjoying graffiti and listening to music. However, he feels uncomfortable and out of place, struggling to fit in at his new private school. His home life is in limbo as well. Struggling to bond with his strict police officer father, he prefers to hang out with his estranged Uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali).
His teen woes are made even worse when he (predictably) gets bit by a radioactive spider. This starts a series of events that brings other Spider-Man characters to his world. Familiar faces like Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) tie things together, while more unique characters like Noir Spider-Man (Nicholas Cage) freshen things up. Together, they must thwart the evil Kingpin (Liev Schrieber) and stop his dangerous experiments. The additional cast of characters round out the experience and provide a solid team mechanic as Miles starts to understand his powers. The various alternate-world heroes are distinct, and each brings a new flavor to the storytelling. The overarching tone is comedic, but each character is personable and fun in their own way.
In terms of story, the weakest link is the villain. Like other Marvel films, our villain is underdeveloped and merely serves as an identifiable bad guy to point the finger at. However, there is a supporting cast of villain characters that ultimately feel more effective and intertwined with Miles’ story. While the overarching “Spider-Man versus Kingpin” story is arguably disappointing, the side stories within make up for it. Dramatic, powerful, and often hilarious, Miles’ origin story is fantastic. The surrounding subplots and characters only strengthen it.
Great storytelling and memorable characters aside, the glue that holds Into the Spider-Verse together is its animation. The visuals are highly stylized and feel like a comic book come to life. Sharp edges and distinct bold-lining make scenes pop, and the incredibly vibrant and invigorating tone makes it all exciting. Even in the simplistic of dialogue scenes, the animation always stands out. Transitions, smash cuts, and inventive uses of color make the entire film a visual treat. When fights break out or the action gets heated, it feels very reminiscent of the Spider-Man fights of yore. As characters battle, freeze frames and color shifts make the action feel weighty, and there’s a constant sense of speed. At its worst, it can be hectic and choppy, but I never found myself losing track of the action.
Besides humorous editing and fun sequences, the strongest aspect of the visuals is the use of color. Superhero movies are often a colorful affair, but Into the Spider-Verse makes Doctor Strange look like Citizen Kane. From the opening studio logos and initial credits to the hilarious post-credits scene, the visuals are unique, arresting, and inventive. It truly feels like a comic book in action and is one of the best representations of the comic book and visual novel medium this side of Sin City. Simply put, Into the Spider-Verse’s visuals and animation are worth the ticket price alone.
I also have to give credit to the music selection and score composition. There’s a mixture of catchy hip-hop and pop tunes that do a good job establishing the tone early on, as well as an excellent traditional score. The sound design, in general, is phenomenal, adding an audio experience equally as satisfying as the visual one. This is most notable during action sequences when numerous characters are fighting and the action gets especially intense. Music is also used very well for comedic effect, in a particularly funny running joke that I won’t spoil. Spider-Verse is more than impressive in the audio department as well.
Overall, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best films in the Spider-Man franchise to date. It rises far above The Amazing Spider-Man films and even ends up being more satisfying than the recent Spider-Man: Homecoming. It’s an effective origin story that feels incredibly fresh, thanks to a slew of good ideas and inventive storytelling. There’s a good amount of fan service for the hardcore Spider-Man fiends, but enough explanation so complete newcomers will feel just as rewarded. It works as both a family-friendly movie and an exciting action film, seamlessly blending good morals with thrilling sequences. It executes on the core themes of the Spider-Man property in a way that few other films have. It’s a story about individuality, compassion, determination, and of course, great responsibility. However, it’s also much more nuanced than that. The striking and intense visuals add a noticeable flare to the movie, and it’s an absolute highlight of the experience. Regardless of your level of Spider-Man fandom, you should definitely check out Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. While it’s not a perfect movie, in terms of Spider-Man adaptations, it’s one of the best.
Movie Rating: 4 stars.
Movie Rating Guide
1 Star = Unwatchable
2 Stars = Cannot Recommend
3 Stars = Great for the Fans
4 Stars = A Solid Movie
5 Stars = Must Own (DVD/Stream Download)
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