REVIEW | Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse (2018)

🎵SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-HAM, FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD SPIDER-GWEN.🎵

Even J. Jonah Jameson’s got nothing on this amazing spider entry.

After being bitten by a radioactive spider and slowly realising his powers as Spider-Man. High-schooler Miles Morales has to help a band of other Spider-people from different universes, after a freak scientific accident pulls them into his version of New York through a multi-dimensional gateway. Forming a team of spider superheroes in hopes of returning them to their respective timelines — before the fabric of their reality collapses.

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*Minor spoilers for Into the Spider-verse ahead*

Peter Parker was just your average teenager who lived a normal life as a high-school student, and part-time photo-journalist. Until an accidental bite by a radioactive spider grants him super powers, and transformed him into —

the Amazing Spider-Man!

Now hang on a second,

I know everyone (and their grandmothers) is well-aware of the story behind everyone’s favourite web-slinger. We know his archnemeses, we know what comes after attaining ‘great power’ — we’ve basically been a long-term roommate of his at this point or another, considering how much we know about him (in and out of costume).

And yet despite our scholastic knowledge of your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, Into the Spider-verse hits the reset button on everything that makes the character — and helps us relive every amazing moment by spinning-up a rich, refreshing, and relatable version of the famed wall-crawler.

From the moment the movie rolls, you can already feel the fresh, cool, and flavour-rich sequences through the tasteful soundtrack and remarkable visuals. It’s a celebration of Classic Spider-Man — dialled all the way up to 11.

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It’s no secret that the idea of alternate dimensions and parallel worlds in comic books has intimidated casual readers and new audiences with the black hole of possibilities. I mean the list goes on into infinity after discovering the zombified version of the Marvel Universe, or the gender-swapped edition of the Justice League.

And with a title like ‘Spider-verse’, there’s no doubt you’re wondering:

“A movie about different kinds of S̶p̶i̶d̶e̶r̶-̶M̶e̶n̶ ̶S̶p̶i̶d̶e̶r̶-̶P̶e̶o̶p̶l̶e̶ Spider-Beings?! It’s the most rebooted cinematic superhero character, and we still want more?”

Yet somehow — Into the Spider-verse challenges that notion head-on, plants their feet into its lore, and doubles-down on the dimensional dump of Spider-Man. Creating an original and outstanding entry for superhero movies, animated films, and just cinema in general.

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And of course — we move on to the titular characters that form the heart and soul of the movie. Seriously, there’s no understating how central the Spider-friends are beyond the narrative. Whether it’s the white-bread Peter Parker, a web-shooting Gwen Stacy, a robot-swinging spider-bot, and especially the Looney Tunes-inspired Spider-Ham.

They are quite literally the foundation that blends and balances the tones, themes, and trajectory of the movie. While having other characters and criminals being completely revitalised into alternately surprising, exciting, and charming versions fit for the universe.

Also, let’s not forget the feat of a superbly written Miles Morales, hitting the big screen as Spider-Man and exhibiting a different shade to New York. Without (I might add) having to wait for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker to pass the torch, or for the Avengers to square off & get even with the intolerant-titan, Thanos.

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As someone that has a selective appreciation for animated films (From Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) to 1988s Akira), I was initially unaffected — and even uninterested — by the idea behind Into the Spider-verse. But the film certainly does more than manage to string together a simple yet fantastic plot, with amazing character personas, and all in spectacular style.

On top of its unique animation style, the film takes it a block further and paints every scene in artistic fashion from the pages and panels of a comic strip. Almost analogous to Zack Snyder’s striking graphic novel-to-film adaptation, 300 (2006) — but with waaay more comic book flare, flow, and fun to fill every sequence.

Although it may not have the mass appeal factor of The Incredibles (2004), or achieve the cult status of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000). I can say [without a doubt] that this movie reserves something else entirely unique, and equally as compelling among the animated superhero landscape.

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So to w̶r̶a̶p̶ web things up, Into the Spider-verse packs together the perfect amounts of everything that makes for a great and well-balanced movie (whether animated or live-action). Promising high-calibre action, with quality hijinks, and an impressively cohesive story that sucks you in its multi-dimensional playground until the end.

All topped with enough self-awareness to leverage on its incredibly expressive comic book style, a unique position among cinematic superhero properties, and the cultural impact of this magnificent web-head.

And if you’re worried about Into the Spider-verse running the risk of missed opportunities or wasted potential, all I can say is that this movie absolutely — Could. Not. Be. Better.