"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" - Film Review
The superhero genre can feel tedious at times, especially to anyone who may not have had a strong childhood connection to these characters. Most of the movies in this category are retreads of the same old coming-into-superpowers narratives played over and over again, just set in different places and populated with different casts of characters. Every once in a while, though, a movie comes out and reinvigorates the genre. The animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has done exactly that.
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) lives in a normal universe with Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man (Chris Pine). Miles is having trouble fitting in at the prep school he attends, so he blows off steam by painting graffiti on the walls of an abandoned subway station. While down in the tunnels of the station, he is bitten by a radioactive spider. On his way out of the station, Miles finds a massive room that contains the supercollider built by Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) who is attempting to open the multiverse and find the universe where his wife and child are still alive. Spider-Man knows that the supercollider will destroy the stability of the universe if it is used, and comes to fight Kingpin. A battle ensues between Spider-Man and one of Kingpin’s henchmen. Spider-Man is killed and the multiverse is opened.
With the multiverse opened, various Spider-people from across different universes come tumbling into Miles’ New York. There’s Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld), Peter Porker, aka Spider-Ham (John Mulaney), Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn), Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage), and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson). Peter B. Parker is a reluctant mentor to Miles, who is beginning to experience spidey senses. It’s been a long time since Peter B. has felt like a hero, but he’s forced to save Miles’ world so he can get back to his own.
Sony Pictures Releasing
For so long, superheroes have all fit the same mold. They pretty much look the same, act the same, and suffer from similar neuroses. This creates the impression that only one type of person can be a hero. The thesis statement of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is that everyone is capable of greatness. There is no one right way of saving the world, the individual simply has to act with heart and compassion. Each of the spider-people in this universe brings something unique and special to the table.
Visually, the film is everything a superhero movie should be. The bright, bold colors jump off the screen. Kingpin’s suit is a dark, rich black that feels as if it were an abyss. It’s perfect for the massive, imposing villain that he is. The halftone technique that resembles the comic book printing style jumps off the screen, and each of the different spider-people has their own distinct animation style. Why the majority of superhero movies chose gloomy color palettes instead of Technicolor ones like Spider-Verse will never make sense. Ultimately, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a shining example of what a superhero movie can be.
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