Review of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) by Stephen F — 17 Dec 2018

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a rare breed in modern cinema, it's fearless. It doesn't feel beholden to expectations of what you think it should or could be. It feels like it was made in a vacuum like the filmmakers had a clear vision for how to make this work and stand out. How to make it not just another Spider-man movie, of which there are (too) many, but to make it its own beast. Much like our main protagonist Miles Morales having to find his own path to becoming Spider-Man, the secret is to do it your own way, add your own style, rhythm, and pace.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has a style, and rhythm all of its own. I have never experienced anything like it. It is truly a comic book come to life. Nothing about it is traditional, the creative decisions are deliberate yet feel spontaneous and only serve to heighten the experience. This movie begs to be seen on the big screen, it's built for it, and if you choose to wait I feel bad for you that you missed out it on the grandest stage.

So, does that mean that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is all style and no substance? That's the most amazing part, no! Its style is matched completely by its story, heart, and humour. It's a complex story that is never spoon fed to the audience yet you completely get it. This is Miles' story, no doubt, but it has an eclectic group of Spider... people, each with their part to play. For all it's slick visuals and stunning action it takes the time to make you feel, to have you invest yourself completely. And yes, it's funny, genuinely so and for me, it never panders, as animated movies often do, to the little ones. Even though it gets a little dark, it's not disturbing, it's just genuine.

This is the kind of movie that needs a trilogy and/or more. It deserves to be seen and celebrated for the remarkable achievement that it is so that we do get more. More opportunities to push the boundaries and expectations for animated movies and also to see where these characters and the unlimited possibilities of the Spider-Verse can take us.