By Nadia Ranaputri
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Liev Schreiber, Luna Lauren Velez.
Out of all the Marvel heroes, Spider-Man's story is perhaps one that's been told the most. The web-slinger has been a staple character in the Marvel universe, but it's for a good reason. Spider-Man is one of Marvel's most iconic characters, perhaps because he is also the most human of all the heroes. We know the basic origin: Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive spider, Uncle Ben dies, and who could forget the motto "with great power comes great responsibility." No matter how many ways the story would eventually go, his origin remains the same. Sony's repeated the origin of the web-slinger twice now with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in the title role, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, on the other hand, started fresh with Tom Holland as the web-slinger and ditched the familiar origin and goes straight to the already bitten Parker who's somehow in control of his powers by the time we meet him. So when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was brought into the picture, curiosity arises. What is the installment going to bring to the table? The answer is simple: a damn good story.
Basically, in this universe, there's only one Spider-Man, the infamous Peter Parker. But, as the film already suggests, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won't be Parker's story first and foremost: it's Miles Morales' (voiced by Shameik Moore), a regular high school student in Brooklyn who is struggling to adapt in his prestigious school. He spends nights in his uncle's house instead of his dorm room, and is enthralled when one night, he gets the chance to showcase his art skills in an underground tunnel, oblivious to a radioactive spider that just so happens to be there. Having been bitten by this genetically altered spider, Miles has to adjust to this sudden change, though it takes him a while to realize what he was really going through ("I think I hit puberty!" Miles exclaims). To make matters even more complicated, Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) is secretly building a machine he calls the collider, that opens limitless portals to other dimensions. Because of this interdimensional machine, Miles meets another Peter Parker, miles different from the Parker he knows. This Parker, Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) to be exact; is much older and physically different from the Parker in Miles' universe. Turns out, he comes from another dimension, and he isn't the only Spider-Man to arrive in Miles' dimension.
The first thing that has to be mentioned is the animation. When those funky opening titles start to play, you know that you're in for quite the experience. It is fresh, fun, and seriously stunning. You can say that it is the closest you'll ever get to seeing 3D comic-book style animation in a feature length film. Into the Spider-Verse incorporates comic book visuals into 3D animation that brings actual comic book pages into life. It literally leaps off the page and onto the screen. Even the constant "yellow thought boxes" that a lot of our heroes have in the comics turn up here, and when there's a fight going on, you're seeing words like "whoosh" being flashed on the screen, just like how it is on the pages of a comic book. The setting of New York city is beautifully drawn on screen, like it's taking you by the hand and drawing it closer to the city that never sleeps, and the fight sequences are unlike any other, utilizing its animation to the level that live-action comic book movies won't be able to tackle as well as this, no matter how big of a budget the CGI is. It's a unique take on an animation, which really takes the film on a whole other level. Then there's the character introductions, which are simply put, super fun. Each of the character introductions are unique and nudges at how many of us have probably heard of Spider-Man's origins over and over again.
For a film that is under two hours, Into the Spider-Verse takes advantage of its potentials and actually use it instead of just dropping it on the ground and never speak of it again. Just when you think you've had enough of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man's origin story (seeing Uncle Ben die for the third time? No, thank you) Into the Spider-Verse reassures you that it isn't going to repeat that same storyline. But the film does poke fun at the previous iteration, specifically Raimi's Spider-Man, with a certain scene that a character refers to as a scene that "we don't talk about." It still however, has some great storytelling at hand here. The collision of our fellow Spider-Heroes could have lead to a disastrous mess of a story. Thankfully, the film knows exactly how to avoid that. Into the Spider-Verse excels in storytelling. On the surface, it may be your typical origin story where our hero first gets his powers and tries to figure out what to do with it. It is that essentially, but the film goes even further and take the story to a different route than normal. Essentially, it's Miles' story, but the film takes note to pay attention to other characters, emphasizing their roles in the story and their development as individuals and with Miles. Best of all, it does all that without feeling like it overstuffs itself. Every single part of it just works.
Miles Morales is a compelling main character and his arc is one of the best origin arcs in a superhero film. Miles has a slightly strained relationship with his father, he doesn't feel like he fits in with his prestigious school, and on top of that, he's thrust into the superhero world. His development from normal student trying to fit in with his life to sudden superhero is handled with so much care that he becomes a fully realized character that people can truly root for. He's not the type of hero that gets it right the first time, but that's exactly what makes him a great hero. And of course, he isn't the only Spider-Man in the universe (at least when you count dimensions beyond his). Introducing Peter B. Parker, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Noir, Peni Parker, and the most delightful of all, Peter Porker, aka Spider-Ham. This is where the film really excels in: the character building, particularly Peter B. Parker, who might come off as your usual wise-cracking web-slinger, just middle-aged and in the cusp of a mid-life crisis; but he too, is a fully realized character who's more than just a mere supporting character, but one whose arc is just as emotional as Miles Morales'. The film isn't shy of giving them vulnerabilities. These heroes aren't just people with special abilities, they feel very human, relatable at best. It also has some wit and humor that really does put a smile on your face, especially when you have a character like Peter Porker hitting a villain with a giant cartoonish hammer.
The film does a flaw though: the villain. As menacing as he is, Kingpin is overshadowed by our heroes to the point where he is simply just a villain that stands in the way of our heroes. Since this is an animated film that clocks in under two hours though, not everyone is going to get much of the spotlight to develop as a character, and the film sacrifices the development of the villains in favor of the heroes (which is not an entirely bad thing, to be honest). There is an exception for a certain Prowler here though. Kingpin may be the main villain, but Prowler is the one that steals the show. Overall, Into the Spider-Verse was more than just another superhero film filling the slot of the many superhero films that came out this year, it was a great film that brings something unique while also reminding us why we love heroes like Spider-Man. It brings me so much joy to see a Spider-Man story that entertains as much as it inspires. There's a line that a character says in the film: "It's a leap of faith, that's all it is." It isn't just a line directed at a character, it's directed at us, too. As superhero origins go, Into the Spider-Verse brings an innovative take on the Spider-Man story, especially when it comes to breaking the fourth wall by literally bringing the different dimensions that were originally very separate in the comics together in one film. You don't see that everyday in a superhero film, do you?
Overall verdict: Into the Spider-Verse excels in nearly every single aspect, particularly the storytelling and character development. While we've seen Spider-Man's origin being repeated twice already, it's a pleasant surprise to see that since it takes the origin of a different Spider-Man, it goes on a completely new route. Miles Morales is a fully realized character whose arc is so well handled, and his development as an individual is spectacular. Alongside him are the other spider-heroes from different dimensions, but among them, it's Peter B. Parker that has as much of a development and an emotional arc as Miles. And that's what made this film special, it reminds us why Spider-Man is a beloved hero. Spider-Man is perhaps a superhero that feels the most human and the most relatable. No matter how many times he's fallen down, he would always rise up again, and this film doesn't shy away from the web-slinger's vulnerabilities. The only issue with the film is perhaps the main villain, but since this is an animated film clocking in just under two hours, not everyone gets the spotlight. Into the Spider-Verse chooses to develop its heroes more because that's who we're here for after all, and it delivers. Miles' journey throughout may seem like a typical hero's journey, but the film makes sure that it has so much more to it, and that's why it's exceptional.
Stars: 4.5/5
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| Image source: IMDB |
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Liev Schreiber, Luna Lauren Velez.
Out of all the Marvel heroes, Spider-Man's story is perhaps one that's been told the most. The web-slinger has been a staple character in the Marvel universe, but it's for a good reason. Spider-Man is one of Marvel's most iconic characters, perhaps because he is also the most human of all the heroes. We know the basic origin: Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive spider, Uncle Ben dies, and who could forget the motto "with great power comes great responsibility." No matter how many ways the story would eventually go, his origin remains the same. Sony's repeated the origin of the web-slinger twice now with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in the title role, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, on the other hand, started fresh with Tom Holland as the web-slinger and ditched the familiar origin and goes straight to the already bitten Parker who's somehow in control of his powers by the time we meet him. So when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was brought into the picture, curiosity arises. What is the installment going to bring to the table? The answer is simple: a damn good story.
Basically, in this universe, there's only one Spider-Man, the infamous Peter Parker. But, as the film already suggests, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won't be Parker's story first and foremost: it's Miles Morales' (voiced by Shameik Moore), a regular high school student in Brooklyn who is struggling to adapt in his prestigious school. He spends nights in his uncle's house instead of his dorm room, and is enthralled when one night, he gets the chance to showcase his art skills in an underground tunnel, oblivious to a radioactive spider that just so happens to be there. Having been bitten by this genetically altered spider, Miles has to adjust to this sudden change, though it takes him a while to realize what he was really going through ("I think I hit puberty!" Miles exclaims). To make matters even more complicated, Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) is secretly building a machine he calls the collider, that opens limitless portals to other dimensions. Because of this interdimensional machine, Miles meets another Peter Parker, miles different from the Parker he knows. This Parker, Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) to be exact; is much older and physically different from the Parker in Miles' universe. Turns out, he comes from another dimension, and he isn't the only Spider-Man to arrive in Miles' dimension.
The first thing that has to be mentioned is the animation. When those funky opening titles start to play, you know that you're in for quite the experience. It is fresh, fun, and seriously stunning. You can say that it is the closest you'll ever get to seeing 3D comic-book style animation in a feature length film. Into the Spider-Verse incorporates comic book visuals into 3D animation that brings actual comic book pages into life. It literally leaps off the page and onto the screen. Even the constant "yellow thought boxes" that a lot of our heroes have in the comics turn up here, and when there's a fight going on, you're seeing words like "whoosh" being flashed on the screen, just like how it is on the pages of a comic book. The setting of New York city is beautifully drawn on screen, like it's taking you by the hand and drawing it closer to the city that never sleeps, and the fight sequences are unlike any other, utilizing its animation to the level that live-action comic book movies won't be able to tackle as well as this, no matter how big of a budget the CGI is. It's a unique take on an animation, which really takes the film on a whole other level. Then there's the character introductions, which are simply put, super fun. Each of the character introductions are unique and nudges at how many of us have probably heard of Spider-Man's origins over and over again.
 |
| Image source: IMDB |
For a film that is under two hours, Into the Spider-Verse takes advantage of its potentials and actually use it instead of just dropping it on the ground and never speak of it again. Just when you think you've had enough of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man's origin story (seeing Uncle Ben die for the third time? No, thank you) Into the Spider-Verse reassures you that it isn't going to repeat that same storyline. But the film does poke fun at the previous iteration, specifically Raimi's Spider-Man, with a certain scene that a character refers to as a scene that "we don't talk about." It still however, has some great storytelling at hand here. The collision of our fellow Spider-Heroes could have lead to a disastrous mess of a story. Thankfully, the film knows exactly how to avoid that. Into the Spider-Verse excels in storytelling. On the surface, it may be your typical origin story where our hero first gets his powers and tries to figure out what to do with it. It is that essentially, but the film goes even further and take the story to a different route than normal. Essentially, it's Miles' story, but the film takes note to pay attention to other characters, emphasizing their roles in the story and their development as individuals and with Miles. Best of all, it does all that without feeling like it overstuffs itself. Every single part of it just works.
Miles Morales is a compelling main character and his arc is one of the best origin arcs in a superhero film. Miles has a slightly strained relationship with his father, he doesn't feel like he fits in with his prestigious school, and on top of that, he's thrust into the superhero world. His development from normal student trying to fit in with his life to sudden superhero is handled with so much care that he becomes a fully realized character that people can truly root for. He's not the type of hero that gets it right the first time, but that's exactly what makes him a great hero. And of course, he isn't the only Spider-Man in the universe (at least when you count dimensions beyond his). Introducing Peter B. Parker, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Noir, Peni Parker, and the most delightful of all, Peter Porker, aka Spider-Ham. This is where the film really excels in: the character building, particularly Peter B. Parker, who might come off as your usual wise-cracking web-slinger, just middle-aged and in the cusp of a mid-life crisis; but he too, is a fully realized character who's more than just a mere supporting character, but one whose arc is just as emotional as Miles Morales'. The film isn't shy of giving them vulnerabilities. These heroes aren't just people with special abilities, they feel very human, relatable at best. It also has some wit and humor that really does put a smile on your face, especially when you have a character like Peter Porker hitting a villain with a giant cartoonish hammer.
The film does a flaw though: the villain. As menacing as he is, Kingpin is overshadowed by our heroes to the point where he is simply just a villain that stands in the way of our heroes. Since this is an animated film that clocks in under two hours though, not everyone is going to get much of the spotlight to develop as a character, and the film sacrifices the development of the villains in favor of the heroes (which is not an entirely bad thing, to be honest). There is an exception for a certain Prowler here though. Kingpin may be the main villain, but Prowler is the one that steals the show. Overall, Into the Spider-Verse was more than just another superhero film filling the slot of the many superhero films that came out this year, it was a great film that brings something unique while also reminding us why we love heroes like Spider-Man. It brings me so much joy to see a Spider-Man story that entertains as much as it inspires. There's a line that a character says in the film: "It's a leap of faith, that's all it is." It isn't just a line directed at a character, it's directed at us, too. As superhero origins go, Into the Spider-Verse brings an innovative take on the Spider-Man story, especially when it comes to breaking the fourth wall by literally bringing the different dimensions that were originally very separate in the comics together in one film. You don't see that everyday in a superhero film, do you?
 |
| Image source: IMDB |
Overall verdict: Into the Spider-Verse excels in nearly every single aspect, particularly the storytelling and character development. While we've seen Spider-Man's origin being repeated twice already, it's a pleasant surprise to see that since it takes the origin of a different Spider-Man, it goes on a completely new route. Miles Morales is a fully realized character whose arc is so well handled, and his development as an individual is spectacular. Alongside him are the other spider-heroes from different dimensions, but among them, it's Peter B. Parker that has as much of a development and an emotional arc as Miles. And that's what made this film special, it reminds us why Spider-Man is a beloved hero. Spider-Man is perhaps a superhero that feels the most human and the most relatable. No matter how many times he's fallen down, he would always rise up again, and this film doesn't shy away from the web-slinger's vulnerabilities. The only issue with the film is perhaps the main villain, but since this is an animated film clocking in just under two hours, not everyone gets the spotlight. Into the Spider-Verse chooses to develop its heroes more because that's who we're here for after all, and it delivers. Miles' journey throughout may seem like a typical hero's journey, but the film makes sure that it has so much more to it, and that's why it's exceptional.
Stars: 4.5/5
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